Thermal Imaging & Crop Canopy Transpiration Monitoring

Project Overview

As a PhD candidate, you will contribute to developing innovative methods and models to monitor and interpret crop canopy transpiration using thermal imaging combined with microclimate sensing. You will work with advanced camera systems, microclimate sensor arrays, and crop canopy models to quantify how environmental variability affects canopy transpiration and stomatal behavior. Experiments will be conducted in greenhouses and vertical farms. The project is part of the GreenControl programme funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and 11 companies, involving collaboration across several universities and disciplines.

What You Will Do

• Design and conduct experiments using thermal imaging, climate sensors, and multilayer energy-balance modeling to quantify canopy transpiration.
• Develop robust image-processing and data-integration pipelines combining imaging, microclimate and crop structural data.
• Investigate the effects of airflow, temperature, humidity, and light on stomatal behavior and canopy water use, incorporating findings in mechanistic models.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, growers, and industrial partners to translate scientific insights into practical algorithms and control tools.

Expected Outcomes

The research will provide mechanistic understanding and practical control strategies for canopy transpiration under variable environments. It aims to deliver validated models and algorithms ready for integration into climate control systems in greenhouses and vertical farms, improving resource efficiency and crop performance.

Why This Matters

Understanding and controlling crop transpiration is critical for improving water use efficiency and crop yield, especially in controlled environments like greenhouses and vertical farms. This research supports sustainable agriculture by enabling precise climate control tailored to plant physiology, reducing resource wastage, and increasing productivity.