Machine learning and artificial intelligence are part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's leading-edge efforts to use technology to improve agricultural production and sustainability.
Derek Heeren, a professor and irrigation engineer, is a co-investigator along with prinicpal investigator Yeyin Shi, on a research effort to incorporate artificial intelligence into irrigation systems. He teaches courses in agricultural systems technology and agricultural engineering.
Bio
Derek Heeren, a professor and irrigation engineer, teaches students to be wise managers of irrigation, water resources and agricultural systems. He teaches courses in agricultural systems technology and agricultural engineering. His students get hands-on experience with irrigation technology while working with industry partners. He is the author of “Irrigation Systems Management,” a textbook published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. He is coordinator of irrigation and agricultural water management education for the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute.
Wei-zhen Liang
faculty
Rsch Asst Professor
Biological Systems Engineering
3086321230
wei-zhen.liang@unl.edu
Wei-zhen Liang leads several innovative projects at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is the UNL lead on two USDA projects focusing on custom-designed camera systems for grapevine fields in Florida, aimed at developing solutions for disease detection, monitoring canopy development, developing yield estimation model (2023-2027). She also leads an NSF-funded project centered on enhancing STEM education for community college students through hands-on learning experiences (2023-2026). Additionally, Dr. Liang serves as the PI for a USGS 104b project that aims to develop a lawn irrigation sensor platform for local homeowners (2024-2025). As the PI for the Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard Educational Foundation project (2024-2026), she focuses on creating a custom-designed camera and sensor platform, with a strong emphasis on supporting Nebraska growers, as well as STEM education and outreach initiatives.
Bio
Wei-zhen Liang is a research assistant professor at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center near Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Her focus is on precision agriculture and custom-designed camera systems for crop monitoring. Her expertise includes image analysis, advanced modeling for crop and livestock management, the Internet of Things and precision agriculture. Her current studies involve developing artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques for digital agriculture, plant phenotyping technologies, and precision engineering systems for water management, disease detection and weed detection across vineyards, dry beans and sugar beats. She actively contributes to STEM education through hands-on experiential learning and training programs. Liang's published research includes innovation in irrigation water management and monitoring crop health in dry edible bean, soybean and corn crops. (Updated November 2024.)