Centre for Agricultural Engineering (CAE)

University of Southern Queensland

Formerly known as National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture

Smarter irrigation rig from NCEA

The Centre for Agricultural Engineering develops solutions for a sustainable and profitable rural sector with research focusing on sustainable agriculture, energy use, water resources and food security. The Centre undertakes engineering research in agriculture and related environmental areas relevant to improving the profitability, environmental sustainability and socio-economic wellbeing of rural industries and their natural resource base, as well as the manufacturing and service sectors which support them. This research is promoted via relevant extension and training programs and most importantly through commercial interaction with industry.

CAE acts as a focus for agricultural engineering Australia-wide via development of joint projects and supports professional development programs.

Website
https://agengineering.usq.edu.au/
Organisation type
  • University Research Centre
Number of research staff
20-100 research staff
Address
P9 Handley St, Darling Heights QLD 4350

Strengths and capabilities

  • Automation and robotics
  • Precision irrigation systems
  • Precision agriculture
  • Controlled|traffic farming
  • Decision support tools
  • Renewable energy sources
  • Image analysis
  • Bio energy and waste recovery
  • Crop monitoring and soil health

Facilities and major equipment

  • Soil and environmental research laboratory
  • Agricultural field research station
  • Shimadzu Gas Chromatograph Autosampler
  • Renewable energy and waste laboratories
  • Commercial collaborator irrigation field trial sites
  • Radiometer analytical TetraLab Autotitrator
  • MeterLab ION 450 pH and EC meter
  • Perkin Elmer inductively couple plasma|mass spectrometer

Lead researchers

  • Director Bernadette McCabe—Australian national team leader of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Task 37 – Energy from Biogas.

Achievements of the centre

  • Research partnership with John Deere research centre in Iowa USA has resulted in a world first commercialised plant-by-plant (See and Spray) farm equipment
  • ACIAR projects in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia collaborating with international partners on soil and water efficiencies
  • Linkages and collaboration with international organisations through the International Energy Agency (IEA) on bioenergy issues

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

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