The Laboratory for Geospatial Information in Agriculture (LIGeA) conducts research focused on the generation, integration, interpretation, and application of geospatial information to characterize, monitor, model, and manage agricultural systems. Its mission is to transform spatial data into knowledge and technologies that support decision-making and promote a more efficient, sustainable, and data-driven agriculture.
The laboratory's research integrates precision agriculture, digital agriculture, satellite and drone remote sensing, proximal sensing of soils and crops, artificial intelligence, geographic information systems (GIS), spatial data science, and other geospatial technologies applied to agriculture. These tools are employed in scientific research and in the development of methods, algorithms, software, and decision support systems for practical agricultural applications, including digital soil mapping, crop monitoring, high-throughput phenotyping, and variable-rate input management.
LIGeA provides dedicated infrastructure for field data acquisition, laboratory analyses, and computational processing, supporting both field- and laboratory-based research. Its main research equipment and platforms include: (1) an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a multispectral camera; (2) proximal sensors for measuring apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) and soil magnetic susceptibility; (3) a Vis-NIR-SWIR diffuse reflectance spectroradiometer; and (4) an instrumented all-terrain vehicle (ATV) equipped with a hydraulic soil sampler and an electronic cone penetrometer.
LIGeA supports undergraduate and graduate courses at the School of Agricultural Engineering (FEAGRI), develops research projects funded by national and international agencies, offers extension and professional training programs, and collaborates with universities, research institutes, public agencies, and private companies to develop, validate, and transfer innovative technologies for digital agriculture. The laboratory also hosts the Interdisciplinary Group on Precision Agriculture Technology (GITAP).
Through its research, education, and outreach activities, LIGeA contributes to the training of highly qualified professionals and has established itself as a reference center for research, innovation, and the development of geospatial information-based solutions for agriculture.
Laboratory Director
Lucas Rios do Amaral, Ph.D.
Agronomist | Ph.D. in Crop Science | Associate Professor
Research Expertise
- Precision Agriculture
- Digital Agriculture
- Digital Soil Mapping
- Remote Sensing
- Drone-Based Remote Sensing
- Proximal Soil Sensing
- Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Geospatial Software Development
- Spatial Data Science
- High-Throughput Phenotyping
