[Defended thesis] Laëtitia Lemière: Augmented reality to support agroforestry systems design

Augmented reality to support agroforestry systems design

My name is Laëtitia Lemière and I'm a PhD student in the AbSys unit at Inrae, Montpellier center. After a DUT in Computer Science in Dijon, I moved to Canada to pursue my studies with a double degree (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi). Back in France, I took the SIAD master's degree (Information and Decision Support Systems) in Clermont-Ferrand. I decided to pursue my studies with a thesis, in order to achieve my objective: to carry out research at the interface between the IT and environmental fields.

My thesis focuses on the design of agroforestry systems. There are currently workshops for designing agroforestry systems, focusing on either the spatial aspect (spatial heterogeneity) or the temporal aspect (tree evolution). Using augmented reality, we aim to take both aspects into account. Eventually, applications will be developed for the design of agroforestry systems, and their impact will be assessed. This subject is in line with my career path, since it covers both computer science and the environment.
One of the main interests of this work is also the numerous exchanges with agronomists, farmers and students who are the future users of the applications we want to create. These discussions with users motivate me and give me a better understanding of their needs and difficulties.
This thesis will lead to the creation of an educational tool for students and a decision-support tool for the development of agroforestry by farmers.

• Starting date : 1st October 2020
• University: University of Montpellier – MUSE Montpellier Université d’Excellence
• PhD school: GAIA
• Scientific field: IT, agronomy
• Thesis management: Marc Jaeger, AMAP, Cirad
• Thesis supervisors: Marie Gosme, AbSys, Inrae et Gérard Subsol, Lirmm, Université de Montpellier
• Funding: #DigitAg – Inrae
• #DigitAg : Cofunded thesis – Axe 2 : Innovations en agriculture numérique, Axe 6: Modélisation et simulation, Challenge 1 : Le challenge agroécologique, Challenge 8 : Développement agricole au Sud

Keywords: Augmented reality; agroforestry; geometric and topological modeling, plantation design; visual impact

Abstract: Agroforestry is recognized as a way of developing sustainable, resilient agriculture and combating climate change. However, the number of species combinations, spatial configurations, tree and crop management options is vast. The choices must be adapted to the pedo-climatic and socio-economic contexts and to the objectives of the farmer, who therefore needs support to design the system. New technologies can facilitate this support and promote the adoption of agroforestry. Augmented reality (AR, the superimposition of digital objects on real-world images) makes it possible to visualize different future scenarios in order to choose the most desirable one, to begin a process of change. Agroforestry is an ideal case study: the introduction of trees profoundly modifies the appearance of plots and landscapes, so visualization tools would be very effective; and tree growth is slow and the consequences of the farmer's choices are only revealed several decades later. The aim of the thesis is to develop two AR applications, and to evaluate them with farmers, agricultural colleges and agroforestry advisors. The first will improve the design of agroforestry systems by allowing interactive comparison of configurations and visualization of the evolution of vegetation dynamics. This approach will be tested in agroforestry system design workshops. The second will realistically visualize in situ the growth of trees in agricultural plots, allowing the farmer to visit his plots and visualize their appearance 10, 20 or 40 years later. This research work aims to integrate growth models into AR technologies and the participatory approach to meet farmers' needs.

Contact :  laetitia.lemiere [AT] gmail.com​ – Tel: 06.83.65.35.94