AUT-SXAU Joint Research Laboratory for AI and Intelligent Agriculture
The AUT–SXAU Joint Research Laboratory for AI and Intelligent Agriculture is a collaborative research initiative between Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and Shanxi Agricultural University (SXAU) in China. It brings together leading researchers from AUT School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences and SXAU Faculty of Software Technologies to shape the future of agriculture and farming. Our mission is to harness the power of artificial intelligence, robotics and smart sensing technologies to make agriculture more sustainable, efficient and resilient. From intelligent crop monitoring to fully automated farming systems, we aim to create solutions that benefit both people and the planet. The laboratory also serves as a vibrant training ground for emerging researchers and innovators who will drive the global transformation toward intelligent and sustainable agriculture.
This laboratory is located both on the City Campus of AUT and the Taiyuan Longcheng Campus of SXAU in the Province of Shanxi in China. As such, the laboratory offers unique opportunities for continuous experimentation, data collection, and technology validation by leveraging the complementary seasonal cycles of the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Current projects
- Grape ripeness sensing
Leading investigators: Dr Mathew Legg and Professor Fakhrul Alam - Automated apple and pear harvesting
Leading investigators: Professor Edmund Lai, Dr Jing Ma and Dr Daniel Konings - Vineyard micro-climate monitoring
Leading researcher: Dr Akbar Ghobakhou
Members
Directors
AUT Members
- Professor Fakhrul Alam
- Dr Jing Ma
- Dr Daniel Konings
- Dr Akbar Ghobakhlou
- Dr Anuradha Singh
- Dr Thein Than Tun
New Zealand Skills and Education (NZSE) College Affiliated Members
- Dr Mathew Legg
- Mr Eric Shengjun Ma
SXAU Members
- Professor Zidong Wang
- Professor Hua Yang
- Professor Wuping Zhang
- Professor Zhenyu Liu
- Professor Sen Li
- Professor Guozhu Song
- Professor Pavlova Svitlana
- Professor Xiaoying Zhang
- Professor Juxia Li
- Professor Zongwei Jia
- Assoc Professor Lijun Cheng
- Assoc Professor Wangli Hao
- Assoc Professor Lu Jia
- Assoc Professor Yubo Zhang
- Assoc Professor Jie Hu
- Assoc Professor Yongmei Zhang
- Assoc Professor Xuefeng Deng
- Assoc Professor Lian Bai
- Assoc Professor Juan Liu