We are offering five pre-conference workshops. The workshops will take place on 21 July 2024. Workshops are only available as an add on to a 16th ICPA conference registration.
Pre-Conference Workshops
R Shiny Workshop
21 July 2024
Description:
This 2-3 hour workshop will instruct the participants on the use of R Shiny Apps.
This is an R software package that can be implemented with the aim of developing interactive tools.
It doesn't matter if it is a simple web application that does just a couple of simple calculations or a complex application that processes and stores data, this promising package will allow us to achieve these results.
In this workshop, we aim to help researchers and practitioners understand the basics of creating a simple R Shiny application with geospatial data, providing the opportunity to transform this static data into interactive web tools and applications with practical applications for users.
Workshop Session Times:
There are two opportunities to attend this in-person workshop.
Instructors:
Ignacio Ciampitti, Carlos Hernandez, Gustavo Santiago, Pedro Cisdeli
Bayesian Modeling for Agricultural Data
21 July 2024
Description:
Bayesian models are now used for applied data analysis almost as regularly as classic methods such as t-tests, regression, and ANOVA. Data generated from agricultural systems, whether from a designed experiment, on-farm trials, or opportunistic observations, can benefit from using Bayesian models. Bayesian statistics enables researchers to build bespoke statistical models tailored to the specific research question or application. Furthermore, Bayesian models enable fully probabilistic and statistically valid inference not only on model components (e.g., slope parameters) but also on other indirect quantities of interest (e.g., probability yield is below a certain threshold). In this workshop, we aim to enable practitioners to understand the basics of Bayesian models, demystify standard Bayesian techniques such as Markov chain Monte Carlo, and provide real-world, hands-on agricultural data examples where Bayesian models enable new and essential insights.
Workshop Session Times:
There are two opportunities to attend this workshop.
Instructors:
Dr. Trevor Hefley, Dr. Josefina Lacasa, Francisco Palmero
GIS-based Spatial Interpolation Methods
21 July 2024
Description:
Modern GIS software allows users to apply a range of spatial analysis models across a spectrum of analytical sophistication from simple (but informative) descriptive statistics to powerful explanatory models. In this workshop, we’ll examine spatial interpolation methods as one approach to predictive modeling that helps practitioners determine the value of an important agricultural or environmental variable where it hasn’t been measured using a control point dataset of known values recorded at specific locations. Spatial interpolation methods can be categorized broadly into deterministic and geostatistical approaches. We will explore techniques within each category to better understand their purpose, appreciate their strengths and weaknesses, and how to evaluate which technique is best for a given modeling scenario. Learning will take place for two one-hour studio sessions featuring both lecture discussion and practical hands-on work. A final practical exercise will be used to reinforce concepts and allow participants to work independently with a new dataset to produce predictions with cross-validated model performance metrics.
Workshop Session Times:
There are two opportunities to attend this workshop.
Instructors:
Dr. Shawn Hutchinson, Carlos Hernandez, Dr. Trevor Hefley
Agriculture Robotics 101: “From Sub-Systems to Integration"
21 July 2024
Description:
In this workshop, we will explore the exciting world of agricultural robotics, where technology meets farming to address the challenges of modern agriculture. We will delve into the core sub-systems that power these robotic solutions and understand how they seamlessly integrate to revolutionize farming practices. We will learn about the system built by the SIMPL Project and go through its various sub-components. We will jump on to essential hardware selection for Ag robots for real-time applications and present case studies on successful hardware implementations. Then we will learn to get to learn the basic concepts of robotic operating systems and its tools. Finally, we will learn to integrate and collaborate to make real-time systems to address the current needs of agriculture.
Workshop Session Times:
There are two opportunities to attend this workshop.
Instructors:
Dr. Ajay Sharda, Harsha Cheppally, Jose Persch, Nirajan Piya