Using XR Technologies to Support Decision Making Across the Agricultural Supply Chain

About this project
 
Develop new immersive visualisation techniques to improve agricultural decision making

Do you want to be at the forefront of technological innovation, exploring how Extended Reality (XR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionise primary industries such as agriculture across Australia? The University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a hands-on project-based PhD within the Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE), in partnership with Think Digital.

This project will explore the use of eXtended Reality (XR) technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), to support decision making across the agricultural supply chain in Australia. XR technologies provide many affordances that potentially benefit agriculture in Australia — they can visualise complex spatial data, exceeding the limits of desktop screens; they can provide in-situ visualisation in the field to permit more accurate and data-driven insights; and they can support remote collaboration across vast physical distances typical of in-field scenarios, enabling expert user input through remote telepresence to distant locations. 

This PhD position is made possible by the CSIRO Next Generation Graduate Program, and as part of the program students will receive addition benefits, including an industry internship, special course on emerging technology, and additional travel and research funding. For full details, see the CSIRO Next Generation Graduate Program.

What you’ll do

Through this project, the PhD candidate will develop new immersive visualisation techniques to display real-time data in the agricultural supply chain. They will examine the use of XR for remote collaboration in the field and will develop new interaction techniques that apply AI methods to support analytics and drive insight. To achieve this, the candidate will work through a human-centred design process to identify the needs of end-users in the agricultural domain, which will be addressed through developing these new XR solutions and evaluated through controlled studies.  

A key objective of this project is to use the research findings to identify a pathway for commercialisation of the innovative solutions developed, ensuring that the potential solutions can solve real-world agricultural problems. The student will have a guaranteed industry internship of a 6-month industry placement with partner company Think Digital. 

Where you’ll be based

You will be based in the Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE) at the University of South Australia. IVE is a world leader in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), and has a unique alignment of faculty and students from computer science, engineering, neuroscience, art, architecture, and design.   

IVE is responding to the challenge of increased demand for AR and VR technologies globally. Our researchers are leaders in many areas of AR and VR research including wearable computing, interface design, empathic computing, 3D visualisation, perception, and telepresence. We have significant experience in advanced manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT), interactive art, and design for healthcare and defence which allows us to work in collaboration with our industry partners to transform industry and solve large-scale societal challenges. Financial Support

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $41,650 per annum is available to Australian or New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $50,291 per annum (2024 rates). A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information.

Eligibility and Selection

This project is open to applications from Australian or New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. Additionally, applicants must meet the project selection criteria: 

• XR/AI savvy: has experience in XR and AI technologies, or in learning XR and AI development
• Entrepreneurial: able to recognise pain-points and propose novel solutions
• Willing to Travel: on-farm engagements and collaboration with our industry partner, Think Digital, will require travel
• Collaborative: ready to work closely with a multidisciplinary team to translate research findings into actionable commercial strategies

All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. A merit selection process will be used to determine the successful candidate.

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our Mawson Lakes campus in the north of Adelaide.

Essential Dates

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on Sunday 5 January 2025.