Agricultural Interoperability and Analysis System (ATLAS)
Open, distributed and extensible data Interoperability Network based on a service-oriented digital architecture
Description
ATLAS is a research and innovation solution aimed at the development of an open interoperability network of agricultural applications in support of data-driven agriculture. The main purpose of the service-oriented ATLAS architecture is to interconnect the different technologies employed by end-users. The users thus gain access to an interconnected ecosystem of digital solutions for the automation of farm governance, as well as information collected by multiple applications held in a centralized service registry, supporting their analysis and decision-making activities. The service-oriented architecture offers a high level of scalability, from a single farm to a global community, and will be tested with pilot studies on a multitude of use cases – so-called ‘Innovation Hubs’, e.g.: precision agriculture tasks, sensor-driven irrigation management, data-based soil management and behavioural analyses of livestock.
Technology
The ATLAS network is a set of applications and devices that collect information from the field, onboard machine processing and livestock behaviour. Data is then aggregated within a single database and service register that users can leverage for their data-analysis and decision-making needs. The different databases have direct interconnections for peer-to-peer exchanges of data, above all are connected to the central components individually. Communication is ensured through common digital standards, protocols, and APIs for software communication, while data are collected through various technologies, including drones and remote sensors. The technical partners bring a diverse range of expertise to the project with the development of digital solutions that make use of augmented reality, IoT for precision agriculture, GIS for field mapping, GPS for automated guidance of devices, machine learning and AI for advanced data analysis (big data), and robotics for autonomous devices.
Target
The main users are large- and medium-sized farms that benefit from the digital network of ATLAS. Farm advisors can utilize the freely accessible information shared by the consortium, including numerous publications, to advise farmers and potentially assist in the implementation of the network. Academia and research institutions are involved in the project as partners, providing digital expertise, and along with the private sector, can respond to the yearly calls launched by ATLAS to implement innovative solutions to strenghten the network. Furthermore, a network of end-users, service providers, researchers and policy makers along the agricultural value chain can make use of the “Innovation Hubs” to disseminate the benefits of digital agriculture among a larger audience.
Business model
ATLAS has received public funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme. The consortium launches yearly open calls to choose innovative solutions for development of new services in alignment with agricultural use cases of the consortium. The winners receive seed funding for the services they provide through the ATLAS interoperability network. Winning solutions are supposed to offer added value to customers or other stakeholders along the agricultural value chain.
Impact
ATLAS consortium recognizes that farmers have access to a multitude of mature tools, and already make use of various specialized systems. Despite utilizing these “best-in-class” systems, the ATLAS consortium highlights that the lack of interoperability may hinder current and future use cases. As such, the overall goals of ATLAS are the development of an open digital interoperability network that supports innovative data-driven agriculture, and the establishment of a sustainable ecosystem of interconnected digital solutions that leverage existing technologies and facilitate the exchange of data. The ATLAS network and its technologies are continuously improved and expanded through open calls, offering new opportunities to all stakeholders and fostering more advanced and innovative solutions. Furthermore, making use of the knowledge garnered through pilot studies, ATLAS aims to contribute to the definition of the next generation of standards in support of data driven agriculture.
Partners
Fraunhofer; Agricircle Ag; Certh; Agro Apps I.K.E.; University Of Salento; Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche; National Observatory Of Athens; Agrosphere Institute; Soil And Water Resources Institute; Th Köln – University Of Applied Sciences; Statiunea De Cercetare Dezvoltare Pentru Viticultura Si Vinificatie Murfatlar; German Agricultural Society; Robot Makers Gmbh; Meteomatics Ag; Libelium Comunicaciones Distribuidas Sociedad Limitada; Seelmeyer & Woltering Kg; Latvia Fruit Growers Association, Ngo; Etam Sa – Consulting Services; Politecnico Di Bari; Dev.House Gmbh; Hencol Ab; Myeasyfarm; Bovicom; Estrela Sustentavel Lda; Zirak Srl; Politecnico Di Bari; Dev.House Gmbh; Hencol Ab; Myeasyfarm; Bovicom; Estrela Sustentavel Lda; Zirak Srl
Four Betters
Better production
