Degree Course: Digital management of agriculture and mountain areas Syllabus for A.Y. 2022/2023  

The objective of the "SENSOR" module of the Fundamentals of digital engineering applied to agriculture course is to provide the student with full knowledge of both the correct metrological language and the functioning of the main measuring instruments for digital agriculture applications. The sensors will be analyzed both considering the design process and the operating principle. The expected results according to the Dublin descriptors are the following:

- Knowledge and understanding: Know the definitions of the static and dynamic meter characteristics, know the definitions of the units of measure, understand the meaning of probability distribution linked to the measure in order to be able to define the extended uncertainty, understand the concept of sampling and analog-digital conversion, includes the operation of a measuring instrument for the electrical evaluation of mechanical and thermal quantities and in digital agriculture applications.
- Ability to apply correct knowledge and understanding: Having an understanding of the scientific approach in the field of measurements. Have the ability to independently carry out a calibration and associate the correct uncertainty in the function of the instruments used. Understanding the significance of the results through applied statistics. Have the ability to carry out a dynamic study of first and second order measuring instruments.
- Judgment skills: The student will be able to evaluate the sensors most suitable for a given use and will be able to select the correct application in the world of agriculture.
- Communication skills: The student will acquire the skills to be able to argue the metrological concepts and uncertainty in the exam, as well as the operating principle of sensors and the importance of the world of measurements in the agricultural field.
- Ability to learn: The student will acquire the skills to be able to independently deepen the study of advanced sensors or the use of such as artificial intelligence, in addition to the basic ones seen above.

The objective of the "Fundamentals of Mechatronics and IOT" module of the Fundamentals of digital engineering applied to agriculture course is to provide the student with full knowledge of the mechatronics fundamental components: automation and electronics with application to digital agriculture.
The expected learning results are: (i) the knowledge of the theoretical contents of the course (Dublin descriptor n°1), (ii) the competence in presenting technical argumentation skills (Dublin descriptor n°2), (iii) autonomy of judgment (Dublin descriptor n°3) in proposing the most appropriate approach to argue the request and (iv) the students' ability to express the answers to the questions proposed by the Commission with language properties, to support a dialectical relationship during discussion and to demonstrate logical-deductive and summary abilities in the exposition (Dublin descriptor n°4).

The aim of the course is to give students the core information needed to handle entomological problems in agricultural and natural environments using a contemporary, digital approach. At the end of the course the student will have to know the latest digital tools and biotechnological methodologies for the management of insect pests in both agriculture and forestry to prevent and/or contain their detrimental effects.
The course pursues the following learning objectives:
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Knowledge of the main methods of crop pest management, traditional pest monitoring and control strategies and application methodologies. Knowledge of potential innovations in pest monitoring: proximal and remote sensing and machine learning. Knowledge of case studies for the extension of the principles acquired in the course to other cases. Knowledge and application of mathematical and statistical models for the description and prediction of insect populations. Examples of software used and their application to other case studies.
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Understanding of innovative entomological approaches discussed in lectures and their application to specific cases in agricultural and forestry environments.
MAKING JUDGEMENT
Application of knowledge acquired in the course to case studies. Application of the acquired knowledge to the identification of innovative strategies discussed for sustainable management of phytosanitary problems.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Use of the correct technical-scientific terminology in the description of the course topics. Synthesis skills and communicative effectiveness in the description of the course topics.
LEARNING SKILLS
Knowledge of the course topics and critical ability to understand the crucial aspects of a phytosanitary problem, how to apply the currently available technological innovations and how to carry out the necessary investigations.

The course aims to provide students with the fundamental knowledge for a modern approach to the (eco)sustainable management of phytosanitary issues related to abiotic and biotic stress, the latter with specific reference to fungi, bacteria, and viruses in agricultural and natural ecosystems. At the end of the course the student will be able to choose the latest digital tools and biotechnological methodologies to be used in the different contexts in which plant diseases can occur in both agriculture and forestry to prevent and/or contain their detrimental effects.KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND
Acquisition of a comprehensive knowledge of the basics of plant protection in the context of digital agriculture: understanding of the ways of occurrence and spread of plant diseases and how to evaluate them with innovative tools; understanding of the main innovative diagnostic strategies and how to apply them correctly; solid knowledge of the latest technological innovations for preventive and containment defense from phytosanitary adversities.
The course pursues the following educational objectives:
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Acquisition of a comprehensive knowledge of the basics of plant protection in the context of digital agriculture: understanding of the ways of occurrence and spread of plant diseases and how to evaluate them with innovative tools; understanding of the main innovative diagnostic strategies and how to apply them correctly; solid knowledge of the latest technological innovations for preventive and containment defense from phytosanitary adversities.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Application of the management of phytosanitary problems through digital and innovative approaches; awareness of pre- and post-onset strategies to be implemented to minimize phytopathological damage.
MAKING JUDGMENTS
Ability to face a phytosanitary problem with the methodologies discussed in class or similar to them, and to draw on the knowledge acquired in the course to manage it better.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Use of the correct technical-scientific terminology in the description of the course topics. Synthesis skills and communicative effectiveness in the description of the course topics.
LEARNING SKILLS
Knowledge of the topics of the course and critical ability to fully understand the crucial aspects of a phytosanitary problem and how to deal with it with the latest methods.

At the end of the course, the student acquires knowledge on precise and sustainable cultivation techniques for orchard management according to the type of cultivation, planting layout and the chosen plant training. Acquires knowledge on the use and installation of SMART technological tools, including artificial intelligence, for the management of orchard cultivation techniques. The student acquires knowledge on prescription models for managing nutrition, irrigation, canopy management, fruit load and fruit quality. The student possesses skills to organise cultivation strategies for fruit species based on sensors, models and artificial intelligence applications, and acquires knowledge to correct anomalies in orchard production performance related to plant-climate-soil interaction.

To provide students with the ability to use digital tools and technologies for the monitoring, analysis and management of cropping systems and for the application of precision agronomic techniques for open field applications with particular regard to herbaceous cultivation systems

The course aims to provide the elements for learning the basic physiological processes of plants that are related to the main issues of plant ecophysiology: photosynthesis, metabolism, plant-light radiation relationship. At the end of the course, the student must have acquired in-depth knowledge useful for understanding the interactions that the plant establishes with the environment and be able to discuss the different types of plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress, have acquired the ability to identify and analyze the impact of global changes and understand how these can affect plant physiology.

Il corso si propone di fornire agli studenti le conoscenze necessarie all’esecuzione di un rilievo topografico, sia con le tecniche tradizionali sia con quelle moderne: GPS/GNSS, Sistemi Aeromobili a Pilotaggio Remoto.
Dopo il necessario richiamo dei concetti base del rilievo topografico verranno fornite le conoscenze utili per un corretto uso del sistema di posizionamento globale.
Verranno analizzati la costellazione satellitare, i sistemi di controllo ed il segmento utente a terra.
Successivamente verranno affrontati gli aspetti relativi alla conoscenza e all’uso del rilievo mediante APR (Aeromobili a Pilotaggio Remoto). Particolare attenzione verrà riservata al quadro di riferimento normativo, ai tipi di APR e alla pianificazione del volo aerofotogrammetrico. Verranno trattati anche le elaborazioni e le restituzioni, i software e le tecniche di elaborazione.
Infine, verranno fornite anche le conoscenze di base per l’esecuzione del rilievo topografico tradizionale.