Facilities & Infrastructure
Facilities & Infrastructure
At our research center, we bridge the gap between advanced data science and practical agriculture. Our cutting-edge technical infrastructure is divided into two core pillars: Advanced Remote Sensing & Field Phenotyping Instrumentation for high-fidelity data collection, and a High-Performance Computing (HPC) Center designed to process massive datasets and train complex AI models.
To fuel our machine learning and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models, our center is equipped with a comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art sensing technologies. These instruments allow us to capture high-resolution spectral, spatial, and environmental data across laboratory and field settings:
Hyperspectral & Thermal Imaging: Features a mobile hyperspectral imaging system alongside advanced thermal cameras to capture precise plant signatures and water stress levels.
Active Remote Sensing & Spectroscopy: Equipped with a ground-based LiDAR system for detailed 3D structural mapping, as well as a portable Raman spectroscopy system and a fluorometer for physiological and molecular analysis.
High-Precision Spatial Tracking: Utilizes a GPS RTK receiver to ensure centimeter-level geospatial accuracy during data collection.
Microclimate & Soil IoT Sensors: Includes specialized soil sensors, stomatal conductance meters (porometers), and a mobile meteorological station to monitor real-time environmental and plant-water dynamics.
Field Phenotyping Platforms: Features standard high-resolution RGB color cameras and a dedicated, specialized field phenotyping system (Phenomobile) designed for high-throughput crop analytics.
Generously funded by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, our dedicated supercomputing hub provides the immense computational horsepower required to store, analyze, and deploy next-generation AI pipelines:
Processing Power: Powered by a robust cluster of 26 CPU servers paired with 36 high-end GPU systems optimized for parallel processing and intensive deep learning workloads.
Scalable Storage Tiering: Features a dual-tier storage architecture, offering 350 TB of ultra-fast flash storage for active computational workloads and 500 TB of long-term archival storage for large-scale historical datasets.
High-Speed Interconnects: Utilizes ultra-fast, low-latency networking systems to ensure seamless, high-bandwidth communication between processing nodes and storage tiers.
Software & AI Frameworks: Fully backed by comprehensive system operation licenses and premium commercial software suites tailored to support advanced artificial intelligence and data science development.