Moving Agricultural Productivity Forward Using Advanced Computational Technologies

Approach:
The agreement will support temporary expertise in 8 week increments to accomplish direct project objectives requiring artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, computer and hardware engineering techniques. Collaborative agreement initiation meetings will be held to develop a work plan for the 8 week increment. Reviewed and finalized work plan will be reviewed and presented. University employees will work directly with ARS research groups and a University expert faculty mentor over the 8 week increment to produce a functional product. Objectives 1 and 2 of the agreement will support temporary expertise in 8 week increments to accomplish direct project objectives requiring artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, computer and hardware engineering techniques. Collaborative agreement initiation meetings will be held to develop a work plan for the 8 week increment. Reviewed and finalized work plan will be reviewed and presented. University employees will work directly with ARS research groups and a University expert faculty mentor over the 8 week increment to produce a functional product. Objectives 3 and 4 are more extensive length projects related to modeling of animal disease spreading including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to commercial poultry flocks while the other portion is related transmission and movement of disease due to ventilation systems which are variable related weather conditions. By better understanding the movement of disease within and between hen houses producers can take measures for preventing disease spread or limiting transmission. The university partner has computational expertise not available by the ARS scientists to help with the modeling work. Travel to USDA-ARS locations as necessary during the work project will support the work plans. Functional product will be validated and tested as outlined in the outlined work plan. Project reports will be developed and presented at the end of the project.