Application of Fuzzy Logic in Automated Cow Status Monitoring

Sensors that measure yield, temperature, electrical conductivity of milk, and animal activity can be used for automated cow status monitoring. The occurrence of false-positive alerts, generated by a detection model, creates problems in practice. We used fuzzy logic to classify mastitis and estrus alerts; our objective was to reduce the number of false-positive alerts and not to change the level of detected cases of mastitis and estrus. Inputs for the fuzzy logic model were alerts from the detection model and additional information, such as the reproductive status. The output was a classification, true or false, of each alert. Only alerts that were classified true should be presented to the herd manager. Additional information was used to check whether deviating sensor measurements were caused by mastitis or estrus, or by other influences. A fuzzy logic model for the classification of mastitis alerts was tested on a data set from cows milked in an automatic milking system. All clinical cases without measurement errors were classified correctly. The number of false-positive alerts over time from a subset of 25 cows was reduced from 1266 to 64 by applying the fuzzy logic model. A fuzzy logic model for the classification of estrus alerts was tested on two data sets. The number of detected cases decreased slightly after classification, and the number of false-positive alerts decreased considerably. Classification by a fuzzy logic model proved to be very useful in increasing the applicability of automated cow status monitoring

G08-1614 Drinking Water: Certified Water Testing Laboratories in Nebraska

This 2008 NebGuide explains the certification process water testing laboratories follow, and lists certified government and commercial operated laboratories

G89-907 Drinking Water: Testing for Quality (Revised April 2005)

Why test water quality? Concern about water quality often leads consumers to ask questions such as What is in my water? or Is my drinking water safe? All water from natural sources contains dissolved substances. These substances are often called contaminants, especially when the amounts present are at possibly harmful or problematic levels. The substances in water can result from either natural processes or human activities. At low concentrations, many do not cause known harmful effects and may be beneficial. Research shows some substances may be harmful only when present at high enough concentrations. The only way to know if the water you use for drinking and cooking contains potentially harmful substances at levels high enough to be of concern is to have the water tested. Analytical testing can determine what substances are present and their concentration levels

G89-907 Drinking Water: Testing for Quality (Revised April 2005)

Why test water quality? Concern about water quality often leads consumers to ask questions such as What is in my water? or Is my drinking water safe? All water from natural sources contains dissolved substances. These substances are often called contaminants, especially when the amounts present are at possibly harmful or problematic levels. The substances in water can result from either natural processes or human activities. At low concentrations, many do not cause known harmful effects and may be beneficial. Research shows some substances may be harmful only when present at high enough concentrations. The only way to know if the water you use for drinking and cooking contains potentially harmful substances at levels high enough to be of concern is to have the water tested. Analytical testing can determine what substances are present and their concentration levels

NF03-589 New Onsite Wastewater Treatment Law Protects Nebraska\u27s People and Environment

New Law Requires Certification to Perform On-site Wastewater Treatment Work Beginning Jan. 1, 2004, a new Nebraska law allows only certified professionals or Nebraska-licensed professional engineers to perform work on on-site wastewater treatment systems (septic systems and individual lagoons). There is a concern that failing septic systems are having a negative impact on the environment and creating potentially harmful health conditions. This legislation will protect public health and the environment by authorizing development of a certification system so that people in the industry have, and demonstrate, the knowledge base necessary to minimize risks. This NebFact discusses what this law will cover for Nebraska\u27s people and the environment

EC95-742 Pollution Prevention: A Tool Kit for Vehicle Maintenance Shops

Would you like to: • Reduce your operating costs by using fewer materials and supplies? • Reduce hazardous and nonhazardous waste transportation and disposal costs? • Reduce liability and risks associated with hazardous waste? • Reduce the paperwork and record keeping requirements associated with hazardous waste? • Improve workplace safety and employee health? • Help safeguard the environment? • Improve your company\u27s image? • Increase your company\u27s business activities? If you answered Yes, to any of the above questions, you may want to look at the materials in this pollution prevention tool kit

Improving Accuracy of Unmanned Aerial System Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing for Use in Energy Balance Models in Agriculture Applications

Unmanned aerial system (UAS) remote sensing has rapidly expanded in recent years, leading to the development of several multispectral and thermal infrared sensors suitable for UAS integration. Remotely sensed thermal infrared imagery has been used to detect crop water stress and manage irrigation by leveraging the increased thermal signatures of water stressed plants. Thermal infrared cameras suitable for UAS remote sensing are often uncooled microbolometers. This type of thermal camera is subject to inaccuracies not typically present in cooled thermal cameras. In addition, atmospheric interference also may present inaccuracies in measuring surface temperature. In this study, a UAS with integrated FLIR Duo Pro R (FDPR) thermal camera was used to collect thermal imagery over a maize and soybean field that contained twelve infrared thermometers (IRT) that measured surface temperature. Surface temperature measurements from the UAS FDPR thermal imagery and field IRTs corrected for emissivity and atmospheric interference were compared to determine accuracy of the FDPR thermal imagery. The comparison of the atmospheric interference corrected UAS FDPR and IRT surface temperature measurements yielded a RMSE of 2.24 degree Celsius and a R2 of 0.85. Additional approaches for correcting UAS FDPR thermal imagery explored linear, second order polynomial and artificial neural network models. These models simplified the process of correcting UAS FDPR thermal imagery. All three models performed well, with the linear model yielding a RMSE of 1.27 degree Celsius and a R2 of 0.93. Laboratory experiments also were completed to test the measurement stability of the FDPR thermal camera over time. These experiments found that the thermal camera required a warm-up period to achieve stability in thermal measurements, with increased warm-up duration likely improving accuracy of thermal measurements

G08-1376 Drinking Water: Fluoride

At optimal levels, fluoride in drinking water can be beneficial to dental health. Learn more about fluoride concentration and potential health effects in this 2008 NebGuide

Drinking Water: Nitrate-Nitrogen

Nitrate-nitrogen is sometimes present in drinking water. At certain levels it can present a health risk. Properly locating and constructing wells along with regularly testing water can help to manage the risk

Drinking Water: Nitrate-Nitrogen

Nitrate-nitrogen is sometimes present in drinking water. At certain levels it can present a health risk. Properly locating and constructing wells along with regularly testing water can help to manage the risk