Projects
Research projects and academic work
Satellite-based Monitoring of Livestock in the Alpine Region (Virtual Shepherd)
Satellite-based monitoring and edge computing for sustainable livestock grazing
Project Overview
Virtual Shepherd is a research project focused on satellite-based monitoring, edge computing, and geospatial AI to support sustainable livestock grazing in the Alpine region.
The system enables fenceless farming by guiding cattle using smart collars, while reducing conflicts between hikers and livestock and improving animal welfare.
Funding & Project Details
- Funding Programme: FFG Austrian Space Applications Programme (ASAP) 2022
- Project Duration: 2023 – 2025
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Project Link:
https://projekte.ffg.at/projekt/5122077 - Project Coordinator: Johannes Scholz
- Co-Principal Investigator: Ivona Brandić
System Architecture
Virtual Shepherd integrates multiple technologies:
- GNSS for precise positioning
- LoRaWAN for low-power long-range communication
- 4G/5G for high-bandwidth data transfer
- Edge Computing to process data locally
- Geospatial AI for behavior analysis and anomaly detection
Edge-based processing reduces bandwidth usage and improves system resilience in challenging alpine environments.