The objective of the event is to make a plan for the affinity group and to discuss the group's structure. Please register here prior to the event.

Ultrasonic Arrays for Pasture Biomass Estimation and Grape Occlusion Detection Dr Mathew Legg / Baden Parr The ability to accurately measure pasture biomass can have a significant effect on the profit farmers can achieve from their pastures. One method previously used to estimate pasture biomass has been to measure pasture height using ultrasound. A transducer is fixed to a farm bike and the distance to the top of the grass is measured. This method assumes that the ground is a set distance below the transducer. However, errors occur when the bike tilts and bounces and when pasture density varies. This talk will describe the development of a novel air-coupled ultrasonic array system for pasture biomass estimation developed by Mathew and Stuart Bradley. Improved biomass estimation is achieved by imaging through the grass to estimate both pasture density and ground location. It is the first pasture biomass estimation system to have reported these capabilities using proximal (remote) sensing techniques. This talk will also describe a study performed by Baden and Mathew using a high-resolution ultrasonic array to image through leaves to detect occluded grapes. This is the first-time ultrasound has been used to image fruit occluded by leaves. This has the potential for helping to improve automated grape yield estimation. Detecting and Counting Sheep in UAV Videos Farah Sarwar The focus of this research work is to detect, count and monitor livestock in a paddock using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It involves no disruption to the farm animals as the UAV will barely be noticeable from the chosen flight altitude. Recorded images and videos are processed using a combination of deep learning and machine learning algorithms to perform the aforementioned tasks. The data set was designed after collecting data from different paddocks to cover a variety of background, weather and paddock conditions. The achievement of 98% recall for object detection and high accuracy for multiple object tracking suggests that this research will be beneficial for farmers in terms of saving time and reducing costs. Speaker(s): Dr Mathew Legg, Dr Farah Sarwar Agenda: 12:00 Dr Mathew Legg/Baden Parr: Pasture Biomass Estimation and Detection of Occluded Grapes using Ultrasonic Arrays 12:30 Farah Sarwar: Detecting and Counting Sheep in UAV Videos Room: Room ALR6/421W-501, Level 5, Bldg: Architecture and Planning Building (421), University of Auckland, City Campus, , Symonds Street, Auckland, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, 1010, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/315457

Join the Electrical Engineering Group for a presentation by Dan Martin (ETEL transformers) and Russell Watson (Northpower) on ‘Preparing Networks for Electric Vehicles’. In addition to our Electrical Engineering Group members, we extend the invitation to members of the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) , the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE). Join us for two discussions about how distribution substation engineering is evolving to meet the challenges of decentralisation and electric transport. As more public chargers are connected, how do we make the best use of our networks before augmenting? Currently, it is usual to reserve capacity in a distribution substation for the continuous peak rating of the charger. However, in low usage EV-charging areas it might be better to monitor usage rather than reserve. This is useful before mass uptake occurs, and the utility has actual charging data on which to make planning decisions. Dan Martin will talk about understanding and specifying distribution substation technology, with a case study on improving the substation utilization with public EV chargers being connected. Russell Watson will present engineering considerations of connecting electric transport to a network. Following the presentation Dan and Russell will be available to answer your questions. The key outcomes of this presentation will be: An overview of the latest challenges and opportunities for networks, as transport is electrified. Understanding some of the applicable standards, and how to keep compliancy. Methods that can defer distribution network capacity upgrades. About the speakers: Dan Martin is the innovation manager at ETEL transformers, and he is both a Chartered member of Engineering NZ and a Senior member of the IEEE. He has twenty years of power engineering experience. He currently chairs NZ’s power transformer engineering group at CIGRE. Russell Watson is a principal engineer at Northpower, who has a keen interest in electric transport, and will discuss his first-hand experience from a rural network as the Northland region readies for electric transport. He has many decades of engineering experience with utility networks. Virtual: https://www.engineeringnz.org/courses-events/event/preparing-networks-for-electric-vehicles/

A post summarising this event is available here. Join the Manawatū Branch and IET and IEEE as they host Prof. Bob Hodgson for a presentation on his pathway to an Engineering Excellence Award and a Distinguished Fellowship – a professional journey with many projects. Bob will describe how his life path from Schoolboy Electronics Enthusiast to Professional Engineer and Senior Engineering Educator has involved successions of projects of increasing complexity. Bob says “I just love doing projects! My schoolboy electronics hobby led me to a sandwich degree, that is, an engineering degree with thirty months of integrated industrial experience working in avionics in the UK Aircraft Industry. This included the avionics for several then state-of-the-art aircraft including the Concord, the Harrier Jump Jet and the DC10. All very exciting!” The final stage in his initial formation involved PhD study working on a UK Ministry of Defence Contract relating to visual perception when using image intensifiers. This involved mathematical modelling, the development of simulation displays and human performance measurement. Success in his PhD led to his initial appointment to a University Lectureship and his lifelong research into machine vision. He will share some projects including applications in astronomy, remote sensing and industrial measurements as well as developments in techniques including pattern recognition based on aspects of human vision and nonlinear filtering. He has also been involved in a wide range of professional and educational activities including the supervision of the research of numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students. These include 27 Masters and 14 PhDs, the publication of over 150 papers and the winning of the Supreme New Zealand Engineering Excellence award in 2013. He has also served on numerous professional panels and degree accreditation teams. Finally, he will explain in some detail the project that has led to the establishment of the Massey University spin-off and award-winning company Veritaxa Limited. His team designs and manufactures automatic, (slightly!) intelligent digital microscopes, called the Classifynder. The main use is in counting and classifying pollen on slides and has many applications including, climate research and honey analysis. They cost about $30,000 each and we have supplied about thirty to users in countries that include the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Austria and Crete. Bldg: Hancock Community House, 77-85 King Street, Palmestorn North, North Island, New Zealand

The 2022 IEEE NZ Central Section Postgraduate Networking event will be held on Monday 27th June 2022 (6-8 pm) at AM 102 & 104, VUW (Kelburn campus). You are more than welcome to join us in person at the orange COVID-light situation as you do not need to wear a face mask when attending this event, but it is encouraged. Your benefit: the opportunity to join the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) NZ Central Section organisation, an introduction to some future study options, some upcoming events, an excellent networking opportunity, and a free registration with free food and drinks. If you are interested, you can register via https://forms.gle/FvGq11bkq7AFQzva9 before 24th June 2022. See the other upcoming Events for our Section.