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2.2.3.1.5 Potential Applications

Sensor networks for crops

These are effectively the combination of different sensor technologies described above with a means to communicate this to a central processing unit.  Ideally they would be distributed over the area to be monitored (e.g. a field) and provide sufficient real-time data or the farmer to be able to monitor any localised changes in the environment, crop or livestock.  Such systems exist and are already in use for the high value crops, e.g. vineyards, however they are expensive and relatively bulky (being based on microsytems).  Nanotechnology advances could have a real impact through decreased size, cost, durability and longevity through advances not just in sensor technologies, but in energy supply and durability of materials.

Monitoring livestock

By monitoring variables such as body temperature, heart and respiration rate, and eating and drinking frequency, farmers can evaluate livestock, compare with previous statistics and make informed decisions in case of deviation.  Of all of these parameters, respiration rate has been shown to be a good indicator of animal stress[i].  However, conventional systems are ill-suited to the task of automated recording of such physiological data.  Where monitoring livestock is not possible, then measuring local weather conditions can be used to infer impacts on respiration rate.