The Andrews Labor Government is helping Ararat farmers track and respond to local weather and climate conditions with greater certainty than ever before and drive economic development across the region.
In partnership with Ararat Rural City Council, the Labor Government’s Digital Twin Victoria is trialing how to help make smart farming technologies even more powerful.
Ararat farmers will trial connecting existing digital infrastructure on farms, like weather stations, soil monitoring data and even tank water levels, to the ever-expanding data available on Digital Twin Victoria, helping farmers to interpret and respond to local conditions and manage their land.
Through the technology farmers will be able to create local weather maps with increased site-specific detail to help them plan when to sow and when to harvest.
The technology can also provide a bird's eye view of paddocks and compare past and present satellite imagery to help identify trends or changes and inform ongoing land management.
The Government has invested $37.4 million in Digital Twin Victoria, creating a digital version of Victoria online. The platform enables government, industry and the community to collaborate through a shared network to benefit infrastructure development, agriculture, building and planning.
The program brings together 3D and 4D spatial data, artificial intelligence and sensor data in one user-friendly place, to visualise and model places and conditions virtually. The technology is also a key driver in developing smart cities where data is used to achieve better town planning and service provision outcomes.
Digital Twin Victoria will also be able to help the council with planning, asset maintenance, tourism and emergency management.
For more on Digital Twin Victoria visit:
Quotes attributable to Minister for Planning Richard Wynne
“Pairing Digital Twin Victoria with existing smart farming technologies is a huge opportunity for the agriculture sector, driving efficiencies and informing decision making.”
“We’re ensuring our farmers have the information they need to plan where to plant and when to harvest - that’s a great thing for an industry that supports so many Victorians.”
Reviewed 15 December 2021