Shane Ward

• University College Dublin

Due to complex feature abstraction and learning power, CNNs have been the most successful machine learning algorithms for image classification tasks. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for extracting underlying complex features and recognize these patterns towards the task of detecting h...

Continuous monitoring of food loss and waste (FLW) is crucial for improving food security and mitigating climate change. By measuring quality parameters such as temperature and humidity, real-time sensors are technologies that can continuously monitor the quality of food and thereby help reduce FLW. While there is enough literature on sensors, ther...

Purpose – This research aims to explore retail managers’ views on how food waste (FW) management activities contribute to sustainable value creation and how the customer value proposition (CVP) for a given food retailer interacts with their approaches to FW management. Design/methodology/approach – A three-stage exploratory qualitative approach to...

Purpose Since the end of the latest rice-pledging scheme, Thai rice farmers have had more freedom in selecting marketing channels. Understanding the determinants of farmers' decision-making associated with these channels is of particular interest to multiple stakeholders in the rice value chain. This study aims to examine how economic, relational a...

Food waste is a global challenge that has significant environmental, social and economic implications. Food retailers are in a powerful position to influence food waste reduction by producers, manufacturers and consumers. There is a paucity of worldwide understanding regarding the scope and scale of operations by retailers in minimising/managing fo...

Chicken manure is an agricultural by-product that is a problematic feedstock for anaerobic digestion due to its high nitrogen content inhibiting methane yields. This research examines a novel pilot-scale method of ammonia stripping, the nitrogen recovery process (NRP) developed by Alchemy Utilities Ltd. The NRP was designed to remove and recover ni...

Continuing population growth and increasing consumption are driving global food demand, with agricultural activity expanding to keep pace. The modern agricultural system is wasteful, with Europe generating some 700 million tonnes of agrifood (agricultural and food) waste each year. The Agricultural Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems (ACSES) at H...

Agriculture is a critical sector of the EU economy, providing the food, feed, and bioresources that help sustain society. This sector in particular is at the centre of the challenges associated with population growth, food security, climate change and resource scarcity. In the last 50 years, agriculture has become more resource intensive, relyi...

Average bird weight is the primary measure of crop yield and is the basis for calculating payment for the grower by the wholesaler. Furthermore the profit per bird is very small. Thus very tight control of growing process that is essential to ensure average bird weight is maximised. The important factors (air temperature, air humidity, carbon dioxi...

Agriculture is the primary contributor of atmospheric ammonia in Ireland, where it accounts for 98% of emissions. In order to comply with the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), and subsequent devolved National European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (SI 477/2011) it is necessary to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that agri...

The Food Harvest 2020 (FH2020) strategy aims to increase Irish primary agricultural production by 33%. Following the increase in total annual national ammonia emissions from 1990 at 107 Gg to the 1998 high of 121 Gg, ammonia emissions had decreased to an 11 year low of 103 Gg by 2011. Considering agriculture accounts for 98% of Ireland's ammonia em...

Sustainability requires organizations not only consider the monetary impact in their decision architecture but also the environmental and social impact. The purpose of this section is to detail the functioning of modern day supply chains/networks and will introduce the readership to the fact that sustainability requires a multi-layered conformance...

The Smart Systems Unit (SSU) in the School of Biosystems Engineering at University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland, has applied a variety of technologies to capture three different biometrics, facial recognition, muzzle patterns, and the patterns of retinal blood vessels for animal ID. Facial recognition is based on the location and shape of facial a...

Increased fuel and feed prices are placing a significant burden on the poultry industry in Ireland and worldwide. For producers to meet their financial targets, increased performance and output is a key issue, now more than ever. To optimise performance in broiler production houses, the effect of environmental and air quality parameters on bird per...

A Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) was developed to identify the unit processes in the life-cycle of biogas production and utilization offering the greatest opportunities for emission to air reduction, hence potential for environmental improvement. The systems investigated included single feedstock digestion and multiple feedstock co-digestion, small (<5...

This study assesses, from an economic standpoint, the most suitable production, provision and conversion paths for converting biomass (straw, willow, Miscanthus) into liquid fuels in Ireland. Results showed that an intermediate conversion step increased biodiesel production costs except at transport distances greater than those expected in Ireland....

The feasibility of using DataMatrix (DM) barcodes laser printed onto the beaks of poultry as a possible method of identification and therefore traceability of the individual was examined in this study, including a preliminary live trial on broiler chicks in a commercial environment. In vitro trials were initially conducted to select the optimal las...

The feasibility of using GS1 DataMatrix (GS1 DM) barcodes laser printed onto the beaks of poultry as a possible method of identification and, therefore, traceability of the individual were examined in this study, including a preliminary live trial on layer hens. The optimal laser type and settings for this particular application had been selected d...

Irish peat soils are extensive, covering approximately 14–20% of the national land area. They contain between 53% and 62% of the national soil organic carbon stock. Montane blanket bog covers approximately 25% or 242 650 ha of the total peatland area in Ireland and is the dominant peatland type covering the upland area of Wicklow. Blanket bogs are...

In January 2010, electronic identification of sheep was introduced within the European Union. This article presents an alternative method of verification of sheep identity. Current identification protocols implement a system in which the tag number is traced throughout the traceability system and not the animal; this can lead to misidentification a...

Energy security concerns and the need for mitigation of environmental impacts associated with energy generation from fossil fuels (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions), has accelerated the deployment of renewable fuels such as biogas. The objective of this study was to conduct an attributional Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of multiple biogas production an...

As a result of recent food scares, increasing pressure has been placed on food producing industries to incorporate a farm-to-fork traceability system. Conventional methods of traceability while reasonably successful are not without their disadvantages. These include potential damage and limited data capacity in the case of bar codes, unacceptable d...

While proven to be a hugely successful method of identification in modern day food supply chain management applications barcodes have disadvantages such as limited data capacity, reliance on a direct line-of-sight with reader, potential warping in challenging production environments, damage through overhandling and abrasion resulting in unreadable...

A method for estimating the three-dimensional (3D) footprint of a 16.9R38 pneumatic tyre was developed. The method was based on measured values of contact pressure at the soil–tyre interface and wheel contact length determined from the contact pressures and the depths and widths of ruts formed in the soil. The 3D footprint was investigated in an ar...

The energy efficiency of different biogas systems, including single and co-digestion of multiple feedstock, different biogas utilization pathways, and waste-stream management strategies was evaluated. The input data were derived from assessment of existing biogas systems, present knowledge on anaerobic digestion process management and technologies...

The effect of conveyor speed, test sample size, antenna to sample distance, antenna polarization and ideal tag location in relation to the coupling capabilities of ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification on optimal reader antenna placement were studied. The influence of each individual factor and its interaction was determined using the...

The prospects for expanded utilization of biogas systems in German was analysed, by identifying the operational and policy factors affecting the complete chain of processes from implementation process for biogas plants, through to biogas production and utilization. It was found that the Renewable Energies Act (EEG) and energy tax reliefs provide ba...

A preliminary study on the potential application of electronic tracking in poultry in vivo has been conducted. The experimental procedure for this study was based on previous in vitro findings (Fröschle et al., 2009) as part of the same research programme. The study consisted of two phases whereby an initial experiment using inkjet printing of 10 ×...

While there are advantages to employing a traceability system based on RFID tags utilising the EPCglobal Network for the exchange of information, there are some considerations that have to be taken into account. Currently the average herd size in Ireland is 55 head, however 41 % of herds have less than 25 head of cattle (DAFF, 2008); and it may not...

Undetected RFID tags make the potential benefits of RFID unattainable. This study aimed to determine the most significant factors that affect RFID and particularly its application to the traceability of meat. Experimental parameters included five RFID tag inlays, two levels of conveyor speeds, five variations of beef sample and an empty container,...

An economic assessment was conducted on five biomass-to-ethanol production pathways utilising the feedstock: wheat, triticale, sugarbeet, miscanthus and straw. The analysis includes the costs and margins for all the stakeholders along the economic chain. This analysis reveals that under current market situations in Ireland, the production of ethano...

A non-linear finite element (FE) model of the interaction of a tractor tyre with soil surface was developed as a procedure for analysing the contact pressure distribution for varying wheel loads and tyre inflation pressures. The tyre model considered the geometry and orientations of the tyre cords in each ply, the near-incompressible property of th...

This project developed a cost model for the mechanical harvesting of fast-growing Eucalyptus plantations. With such a model, forest managers can check the profitability of a prospective operation under different work conditions and assess the competitiveness of alternative options, which in turn will lead to supply chain optimization. The model is...

The effects of packaged content, packaging material, transponder inlay design, reader antenna polarization, interrogation power and transponder orientation on the detection rate of ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF RFID) passive transponders were studied. The influence of individual factors and their interactions were determi...

Contemporary Precision Livestock Technology in poultry production is very limited and does not meet European standards for traceability and Best Available Technology (BAT), as laid down in EN ISO 2205:2007 standards (2007) and the European Directive 2008/1/EC (2008). A worldwide occurrence of Avian Influenza additionally calls for a fraud-proof tag...

In today's globalized world, to ensure effective traceability, food-producing animals must be identified by a tamper-proof and durable technique. This article investigates the avian comb profile as a potential biometric-based method for the traceability of poultry. Forty mature hens were used for this experiment. Video was acquired of comb profiles...

A system that can be used to identify all aspects of beef traceability from farm to slaughter has been laid out based on pertinent European Union law and global standards. An integrated traceability system involving all of the stakeholders along the supply chain can serve to increase consumer confidence in beef products by making traceability data...

To analyse the off-road tyre-road contact pressure distribution as a function of inflation pressure and normal load, a non-linear multi-laminated model of a tractor tyre was developed. The modelling process is based on the 3D pressure fields obtained through the non-linear static stress analysis of a finite element (FE) tyre model, which considers...

A methodology to estimate the volume of compacted soil as a function of inflation pressure and load for a 16.9R38 pneumatic tractor tire was proposed. The estimation was based on 'on -the -move' monitoring of soil-tire interface pressure and the composite contact length determined from the contact pressures and the depths and widths of ruts formed...

The objective of this study was to develop a quantitative Monte Carlo exposure assessment model for mycotoxins in dairy milk and to assess the potential human exposure levels. Mean concentrations of mycotoxins in milk were estimated using the simulation model (Aflatoxin M1=0.0161μg/kg, Ochratoxin A=0.0002μg/kg, Deoxynivalenol=1μg/kg, Fumonisin B1=0...

The inclusion of glass contaminants in a horticultural peat product supplied to the domestic market, where it may be manipulated by hand, exposes customers to the risk of injury, especially if the fragment is encountered at a sharp edge or pointed corner, and at a high enough velocity. Fragment shape is considered the most important factor in the p...

While there is strong evidence supporting retinal vascular pattern as a distinctive marker for sheep, it would be advantageous to get an insight into its robustness; in other words, to determine whether retinal recognition of young animals (lambs) can reach as good a matching performance as the one demonstrated for adult sheep. To this aim, a longi...

Horticultural peat supplied to the domestic market is mainly hand manipulated by gardeners. For a glass contaminant to cause injury it must be angular (or pointed) and must have a significant protrusion at its angular end. These features are easy to identify visually, and shape measures specific to the determination of high-injury-risk do not exist...

We used satellite remote sensing data; fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by vegetation ( f PAR) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in combination with tower eddy covariance and meteorological measurements to characterise the light use efficiency parameter ( ? ) variability and the maximum ? ( ? <su...

In order to assure effective traceability, food-producing animals must be identified by a tamper-proof and durable technique. With the advance in human biometric technologies, the deployment of retinal recognition technology for cattle identification and verification has been prompted. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of a com...

Since the 1970s, decision support systems (DSS) have become popular as computer technology has developed. A DSS aims to support the solving of specific problems with both human and computer techniques. The purpose of this research was to design and develop a DSS for application to cost and revenue calculations of contracted timber haulage in Irelan...

Contamination of bagged peat by glass fragments needs to be detected before point-of-sale to protect users from cut injuries. In order to evaluate the potential for designing a microwave detection system, a bootstrap Monte Carlo simulation of transverse-electric plane microwave reflection from glass-contaminated random flat strata of wet peat and c...

Since the late 1980s, GIS (geographical information systems) have evolved to fully enable the range of capabilities needed in transportation routing, research and management. The objective of this paper was to analyse the designation of articulated haulage routes from one central depot to various destinations around the country of Ireland in terms...

A tractor tyre was instrumented with six miniature pressure transducers, amplifiers and a unique wireless data communication system. The pressure sensors were located on the face of one lug and undertread region. The instrumented tyre (16.9R38) was run at a constant forward speed of 0.27 m/s and 23% slip on a soft soil, 0.48 MPa cone index, 25.63%...

A tractor tire was instrumented with six miniature pressure transducers, amplifiers, and a unique wireless data communication system (EZ-Logger). The pressure sensors were located on the face of one lug and undertread region. The instrumented tire (16.9R38) was run at a constant forward speed of 0.27 m s -1 and 23% slip on a soft soil, 0.48 MPa con...

A three-step methodology to assess the carbon sequestration and the environmental impact of afforestation projects in the framework of the Flexible Mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol (Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism) was developed and tested using a dataset collected from the Jonkershoek forest plantation, Western Cape, South Afr...

The mechanical properties of two forest soils in Ireland were determined in order to model the pressure−sinkage characteristics of the forest floor. The stiffness values of the surface mat and the underlying weak peat substrata, and Young's modulus were determined from in situ load–sinkage experimental data obtained from the sites. The measured mea...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the positional accuracy of dynamic non-differential global positioning system (Non DGPS) for tracking articulated trucks across the Irish road network. The study was carried out using a Trimble GeoXT handheld GPS unit in the non-differential mode. The data was logged through Environmental Systems Research I...

Arising from the current need for positive identification for cattle traceability, the objective of this work was to investigate the feasibility of using muzzle pattern as a biometric-based identifier for cattle by acquiring muzzle patterns through lifted ink prints and through digital images. A three-stage matching algorithm was evaluated for scan...

The microwave dielectric properties of horticultural peat and compost peat were measured with a HP85107C network analyser in conjunction with a HP85070B open-ended coaxial dielectric probe for the frequency range 0.5–20 GHz. Loose samples had volumetric water contents ranging from 0.11 to 0.24 Mg m-3. For analysis, samples were compressed to 1.0× (...

The purpose of this study was to measure and evaluate the dynamic non-differential positional accuracy of two global positioning systems (GPS) receivers. The two receivers used were the Trimble GeoXT handheld and the Garmin GPSMAP 76. Both units are single-frequency, twelve-channel GPS receivers. The units were tested for horizontal root mean squar...

Peatlands have been recognized as being an important global C pool and make significant contributions to national C fluxes. In Ireland, they cover a considerable amount of the national land area, but no recent inventory or mapping has been undertaken to quantify the spatial extent of this important resource. This study used a rule-based methodology...

The suitability of face recognition was investigated as a biometric-based identifier for sheep using a holistic analysis of face images by the independent components technique. Algorithm training was performed independently on several normalized face images from 50 sheep (sets of two, three, and four training images per sheep). The performance of t...

Automatic identification and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) are the two most applicable electronic tools for food and feed traceability. This work has presented the main features of printed graphic identifiers, radio frequency identifiers, and electronic data interchange protocols that have potential for the traceability of food and feed. Two-di...

Due to the ban on meat and bone meal (MBM) as an animal feed, combustion with energy recovery has been considered a viable alternative usage for the mounting stocks of MBM. The effects of the co-combustion of MBM and peat on flue gas emissions and fluidisation were studied using a bubbling fluidised bed (BFB) test facility (20 kW). The dispersion o...

Air- dried milled peat (0.45 g g-1 wet weight basis) is used as an electricity generating fuel in Ireland. It is stored on peat bogs in triangular section stockpiles. These stockpiles comprise of milled peat of varying types, classified by poured density, and are subject to rewetting during storage which incurs an economic penalty. A water applicat...

Horticultural peat supplied for the domestic market is mainly hand manipulated by gardeners. For a glass contaminant to cause injury it must be angular (pointed) and must have a significant protrusion at its angular end. Identification of high-injury risk glass fragments must quantify angularity and protrusion. In this study, glass contaminants inc...

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi when cereals or animal feed are colonised by moulds. Toxins may be excreted from milk produced by bovines which have been fed mycotoxin contaminated feed; this may represent a human health risk. The objective of this study was to develop a quantitative risk assessment model for mycotoxins in da...

Operator field of view is of primary importance for efficient and safe operation of field machines such as tractors, forest harvesting machines, and earthmoving equipment. This research uses a light source with a series of light sensors, and a contour plot of a derived visibility index, to quantify the masking effect of obstructions on the light so...

Operator field of view is of primary importance for ergonomic, efficient and safe operation of field machines such as tractors, forest harvesting machines, and earthmoving equipment. This paper describes a technique that could be used for an objective assessment of operator cabin features that degrade the field of view.

The influence of machine function (tree felling and processing, and machine movement over the terrain) on operator exposure to whole-body vibration in a cut-to-length (CTL) timber harvester was evaluated. Vibrations were measured on the seat and the cabin chassis in three orthogonal (x, y, z) axes for the tree felling and processing, and during mot...

The influence of tyre inflation pressure on whole-body vibrations transmitted to the operator during the movement of a cut-to-length timber harvester was evaluated. Vibration measurements were taken in three orthogonal (x, y, z) axes at tyre pressure settings of 138, 345 and 414 kPa. Vibration was predominant in the vertical (z) direction with the...

This rule-based GIS model was designed as a decision tree with a filtering system that allows pixels that do not comply with the initial rule not to be discarded but to be reexamined by the subsequent rules. There are three main rules in the decision tree. Both the first and second steps rely solely on primary data while the third step relies on se...

Time and motion studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of terrain characteristics and work methods on forwarder productivity in cut-to-length timber harvesting system. Time elements of the forwarder operation that were recorded included: loading time, unloading time, and travel times for the loaded and empty forwarders. Productivity was eval...

The application of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to the detection of glass contamination in horticultural peat was studied using contaminated peat specimens, imaged with X-ray energies of 40 and 70 kVp and without any physical disruption of the peat samples. The source was an uncollimated beam from an industrial X-ray non-destructive testi...

2004. Comparison of short-wood forwarding systems used in Iberia. Silva Fennica 38(1): 85–94. Time studies were conducted to quantify the productivity and the operational cost of mechanized wood extraction in the Iberian Eucalyptus plantations. The key objectives were: to determine the signifi cant variables that infl uence machine productivity and...

The effects of wood harvesting and extraction machinery traffic on sensitive forest sites with peat soils were characterised with the objective of quantifying the threshold levels beyond which significant site impacts (compaction and rutting) would occur. The treatments involved running the machines in selected extraction racks (i.e., 3 m wide mach...

A computer-based model for the evaluation of energy use in mechanized wood harvesting systems (EnergyCalc) was developed with aid of life cycle analysis methodologies. The system boundaries were determined "from stump to roadside" with wood volume over bark (m3) as the functional unit. The computer model (based on a database system) used a Visual B...

Ethiopian farmers normally spread seed and fertilizer by broadcasting causing uneven distributions of plants and nutrients and sub-optimal production. Low-tech, animal-powered distributors have been designed which work at a single application rate, but no design has been generally accepted. The potential for using an orbital hub gear to design an a...

The probability and severity of an adverse event can be analyzed by quantitative exposure assessment (QEA). This methodology was applied to model the human health risks associated with the combustion of specified risk material (SRM) derived meat and bone meal (MBM) in a combustion facility. The identification of MBM and SRM as significant factors i...

The performance of alternative equipment for the whole-tree harvesting of eucalypt stands was evaluated, using data from five different commercial operations. The study covered three machines for felling and bunching, two for extraction (skidding), and two for combined delimbing, debarking and chipping. Productivity and operating cost models were e...

The identification of meat and bone meal (MBM) as a significant factor in the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has resulted in the introduction of restrictions on the use and movement of MBM and tallow. This has led to a requirement for alternative uses for these products. This paper reports on a risk assessment performed on the use...

The design and testing of roll-over protective structures (ROPS) present considerable challenges for small-to medium-sized agricultural tractor manufacturers. Moreover, these manufacturers experience di$culties in using commercial "nite element packages. As a consequence, a "nite element program, previously described (Fabbri, 1996, 1999, 2000), has...

Two Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) scenes of the same area of the midlands of Ireland were required to be radiometrically normalized. Standard techniques were reviewed and considered unsuitable. A hybrid approach was adopted that used linear transformation functions. As part of this approach, a novel thresholding-based method for extracting reference...

Time-motion studies were conducted to evaluate the productivity and cost of harvesting Eucalyptus globulus stands on flat and steep terrain, using excavator-based cut-to-length timber harvesters. The recorded data was comprised of 11 time elements of the harvester functions, including the following: machine movement and positioning of the harvestin...

Restrictions on the use of meat and bone meal (MBM) as a feed ingredient were introduced by the European Commission as a result of the BSE crisis. This paper describes the development of species specific PCR assays to detect bovine, ovine, porcine and poultry species content in MBM. A simple lysis based extraction procedure and a commercial DNA ext...

The in-service behaviour of a standard Irish Dense Base Coarse Macadam mixture (DBC) was evaluated by using the material to overlay a road section, which was based upon a weak pavement structure. The response of the layer under a fully laden dual axle truck was examined using a series of pressure cells and asphalt strain gauges that were embedded i...

Field experiments between 1996 and 2000 compared the efficacy of fungicide programmes applied in accordance with the NegFry and Met Éireann (MÉ) decision support systems (DSS) for the control of late blight with 7- and 10-day routine fungicide programmes. The MÉ DSS reduced fungicide use by 68% and 54% respectively while NegFry reduced fungicide us...

Physical methods that examine water content and movement in soils are often based on assumptions that the soil is isotropic and homogeneous. For a non-cohesive, porous material such as milled peat, these assumptions are likely to be unrealistic. Soil morphology provides data that cannot be obtained by physical methods, although such measurements ar...

Optimization of the performance of a closed-loop, milling depth control system for a peat milling machine was undertaken. The system was optimized using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, set at a proportional gain of 50, and derivative and integral times of 0·5 and 0·89 s, respectively, giving a bandwidth of 66 rad s−1with a resp...

The Arc View® network analyst program was used to designate timber transportation routes on the basis of shortest distance, and road maintenance costs for a sample forest access road network in Ireland. Road sections were costed separately on the basis of measured transient pavement surface deflections and attribute information. Direct cost compari...

A closed-loop control system to alleviate the problems of variation in the layer thickness of a milled peat crop (crop depth) has been developed for a peat milling machine (miller). The main enabling technology behind the system, an electromechanical sensor developed to give real-time measurement of crop depth, is designed to act as the feedback el...

Predictive models have been used to monitor and analyse the future course of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and provide estimates of biological parameters to assess the risks to both animal and human health. Risk assessment models have illustrated that oral transmission is the primary cause of BSE (90% of cases) and have shown that horizont...