NASA & EPA Team to Improve Crop Management

**G*@aol.com**

An interesting team and application.
Sally

NASA PRESS RELEASE 
NASA HQ
Tuesday, May 3, 2005 
http://www.nasa.gov/

NASA and EPA Team to Improve Crop Management
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16805

Can you see the difference between traditional corn and bio-engineered corn? 
NASA technology is beginning to provide the answer in a snapshot.

The technology is called hyperspectral imaging. It uses a special camera to 
cut one snapshot into 120 color-specific images. Hyperspectral means getting 
many more images within the spectrum of just one picture. Each image shows a 
unique characteristic not visible to the human eye.

The hyperspectral camera and its applications were developed by the Institute 
for Technology Development at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss. The 
Institute is one of several NASA Research Partnership Centers managed by the agency's 
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) teamed with NASA to use the 
technology to ensure appropriate management practices are used to avoid the 
development of resistance in corn pest populations. Pest resistance could severely 
limit the continued use of these new varieties of corn. With more than 25 million 
acres of corn planted this year, it is physically and economically infeasible 
to sample each one. This new technology seeks to provide an active monitoring 
capability to inform the grower of pest resistance development. Early use of 
hyperspectral imaging provides the ability to distinguish between the two types 
of corn and identify pest infestation conditions. Bio-engineered corn has 
inserted genes to make the plant resistant to insects.

The EPA is using a small hyperspectral camera mounted on an aircraft. The 
aircraft flies at approximately 8,000 feet, imaging the same sites every 10 days 
during growing season. The images are put into a computer system, and 
data-mining techniques are used to extract information about the corn.

"This effort will enhance NASA's understanding of image processing techniques 
to extract knowledge from hyperspectral data sets," said Brian Mitchell of 
NASA's Space Partnership Development Program at Marshall. "The research being 
conducted with genetically modified plants and plant growth has the potential to 
contribute significantly in our ability to grow sustainable and nutritional 
crops in space. This could prove vital for long duration exploration missions."

The hyperspectral technology supports the Vision for Space Exploration and 
long-term spaceflight goals. The Vision calls for returning the Space Shuttle to 
safe flight, completing the International Space Station, human and robotic 
exploration of the Solar System.

"This knowledge is vital to future Mars missions," said George May, director 
of the Institute for Technology Development. "When we go to Mars, we will have 
to grow our own food. This technology enables early detection of stresses in 
plants, such as nutrient problems, so corrective action can be taken to 
maintain the food supply."

Hyperspectral imaging may be used to treat crew injuries in space. The 
Institute is working on a portable, handheld camera to take images of a wound site. 
Using that image to identify wound severity and healing progress will allow 
doctors to decide the best treatment. The imaging could save precious diagnostic 
time, which would also improve healing by ensuring timely and proper 
treatment.

Hyperspectral imaging will also detect mold and toxins in spacecraft, a 
needed tool during long-duration missions to ensure crews have a clean, healthy 
environment.

The patented, portable hyperspectral sensor was inducted into the Space 
Foundation's Space Technology Hall of Fame in April. The Space Foundation is one of 
the world's premier non-profit organizations supporting space activities, 
space professionals and education. The Hall of Fame honors innovative technology, 
originally developed for space use, converted for use in commercial products.

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: 
http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html
_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters