Agricultural, Biosystems and Environmental Engineering

Agricultural, Biosystems and Environmental Engineering

National Ag Day 2012Welcome!

Get better quality picture2The good old daysthey were terrible!Norman Borlaug

A civilization will flourish only when it can produce food in excess of farmers needsAuthor unknownPhotos: USDA-NRCSWhere we came from3

Where we are todayPhotos: Gabriele OnoratoUsed under a Creative Commons LicenseSome measures of successUS agricultural output quadrupled between 1930 and 2000, while aggregate inputs remained similar (Gardner, 2003)21.5% of Americans were directly employed in agriculture in 1930 in 2000 it was less than 2% (Dmitri et al., 2005)320,000 farm operators (0.1% of population) produce 90% of US agricultural output (Conkin, 2008)In 1930, there were 18.7 work animals and 920,000 tractors by 1970, tractors had essentially replaced animal power (Dmitri et al., 2005)In 1900, it took 147 hours of labor to produce 100 bushels of corn it took 3 hours in 1990 (Conkin, 2008)Success comes at a costAir and water pollutionReliance on fossil fuelsUnsustainable water useHealth effects of agricultural chemicalsImpact of intensive agriculture on ecological services

World population expected to hit 9 billion by 2050Finding Solutions for Life on a Small PlanetGrowing world population requires more food, water, energy, goodsLimited resources demand we do more with less, without degrading our natural world

7The problem: growing population, finite resourcesFood and Bioprocess EngineeringInformation & Electrical Systems Structures & EnvironmentBiological EngineeringNatural ResourcesEnergySpecialty AreasForest EngineeringAquacultural EngineeringSafety, Health, ErgonomicsNursery & Greenhouse EngineeringPower Systems & Machinery Design

8Biological and agricultural engineering embraces a variety of specialty areas. As new technology and information emerge, specialty areas are created, and many overlap with one or more other areas. Biological EngineeringApplying engineering practice to problems and opportunities presented by living things and the environmentPest controlHazardous waste treatmentEnvironmental protectionBioinstrumentationBioimagingMedical implants and devicesPlant-based pharmaceuticals and packaging materials

9One of the most rapidly growing of the BAE specialties, biological engineering applies engineering practice to problems and opportunities presented by living things and the natural environment.

Biological engineers are involved in a variety of exciting interests that continue to emerge as our understanding of science and nature grows.

Areas of interest range from environmental protection and remediation, to food and feed production, to medicine and plant-based phamaceuticals and packaging materials.

Some BAEs with expertise in biological engineering design medical implants and other devices, or bioinstrumentation and imaging products.

Others develop strategies for natural pest control and treatment of hazardous wastes, for composting, and for enzyme processing of biomass, food, feed, and wastes. Natural ResourcesImproving conservation by understanding the complex mechanics of soil and waterWetlands protectionWater control structures: dams, reservoirs, floodways DrainageErosion controlPesticide and nutrient runoffCrop water requirementsWater treatment systemsIrrigation

10Our environment is fragile. The 1930s Dust Bowl and climatic events like the El Nino phenomenon remind us that our soil and water are vulnerable to natural and man-made forces.

BAEs work to better understand the complex mechanics of these resources, so that they can be used efficiently and without degradation.

Food and Process EngineeringUsing microbiological processes to develop useful products, treat municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes, and improve food safetyPackaging, storage, transportation of perishable productsPasteurization, sterilization, irradiation techniquesFood processing techniques & technologiesBiomass fuelsNutraceuticals, phamaceuticalsBiodegradable packaging materials

11Food, fiber, and timber are only the beginning of a long list of products that benefit from efficient use of our natural resources. The list is growing and is limited only by the creative vision of food and bioprocess engineers. These engineers understand microbiological processes and use this expertise to develop useful products, to treat municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes, and to improve food safety.

They work with industry to develop economical and responsible manufacturing methods. And they look for ways to reduce waste by devising alternatives for treatment, disposal and utilization.

Information & Electrical TechnologiesPerhaps the most versatile specialty area, its applied to virtually all othersData acquisition and Bioinformaticsbiorobotics, machine vision, sensors, spectroscopyElectromagnetics

Global positioning systemsMachine instrumentation and controls

12Opportunities for BAEs with an interest in electrical and electronic technologies are endless: soil and water quality testing, food quality and safety, grain handling, machinery design, electrical power generation. . .

Structures & EnvironmentEngineering a healthy environment for living thingsAnimal housingGrain storage Waste storage, recovery, reuse, transportClimate, ventilation, disease control systems

13BAEs understand the importance of creating and maintaining a healthy environment for growing agricultural commodities and for the laborers who produce them.

Expertise applied to animal housing, agricultural storage structures, and greenhouses (ventilation systems, temperature and humidity controls, and structural strength).

Expertise also used in devising practices and systems for storing, recovering, reusing, and transporting waste products.

Power Systems & Machinery DesignImproving efficiency and conservation in agricultural, food, and biological systemsAgricultural tractors, combines, implements, and transportation equipmentTurf and landscape equipmentEquipment for special crops

Irrigation equipmentFarmstead equipmentFood processing equipment

14The profession evolved out of efforts to bring power to the farm and to reduce the backbreaking drudgery of farming. BAEs designing todays power equipment are making it more efficient and less demanding of our natural resources.

Also: equipment for food processing, highly precise crop spraying, agricultural commodity and waste transport, and turf and landscape maintenance, as well as equipment for such specialized tasks as removing seaweed from beaches and cranberry harvesting (shown in slide).

Their work remains challenging as technology advances, production practices change and equipment manufacturers expand globally. (Note: many countries outside North America and Western Europe have yet to replace beasts of burden with power machineryso there is still much to be done worldwide.)

EnergyDeveloping renewable energy sources, devising energy conservation strategies to reduce costs and protect the environment

Devising new ways of meeting the energy needs of agricultureMeeting the energy needs of the general population by using agricultural products and by-productsBiomass, methane, vegetable oilsWind and solar energy

15Our high standard of living and comfort is a result of the numerous machines, devices, and systems in our homes and workplaces. These require energy, but many energy sources are nonrenewable and create undesirable byproducts. BAEs are helping develop

--renewable energy sources--energy conservation strategies to reduce costs and protect the environment, --improvements in traditional and alternative systems for more efficient on-farm energy sources.

Aquacultural EngineeringPreserving our natural fish populations and habitats through improved aquacultural practices.

System design for fish farmsWater quality, machinery, feeding, ventilationPollution reduction and water conservationEcological reuse or disposal of waste Product harvesting, sorting and processing

16The demand for aquacultural engineering is increasing as natural fish supplies are threatened. BAEs--Help design farm systems for raising fish and shellfish, also ornamental and bait fish. --Specialize in water quality, biotechnology, machinery, natural resources, feeding and ventilation systems, and sanitation. --Look for ways to reduce pollution from aquacultural discharges, to reduce excess water use, and to improve farm systems. Nursery & Greenhouse EngineeringA microcosm of large-scale production agriculture, with similar needsIrrigation, mechanizationDisease and pest controlTemperature, humidity, ventilation controlPlant biology: tissue culture, seedling propagation, hydroponics

17In many ways, nursery and greenhouse operations needs are similar to those of large-scale production agricultureirrigation, mechanization, disease and pest control, and nutrient application.

In addition, nurseries require equipment for transplantation; control systems for temperature, humidity, and ventilation; and plant biology issues, such as hydroponics, tissue culture, and seedling propagation methods.

Interesting fact: BAEs at NASA are designing greenhouse systems to support a manned expedition to Mars! ForestryApplying engineering principles to forestry management and conservation

Machine-soil interaction and erosion controlOperations analysis and improvementEquipment designWood product designAccess systems design and construction

18Engineering skills and expertise are needed to address problems related to: --equipment design and manufacturing; --forest access systems design and construction; --machine-soil interaction and erosion control; --forest operations analysis and improvement; --decision modeling; and --wood product design and manufacturing.

Safety, Health and ErgonomicsMaking agriculture safer, more efficient, and more economical

Compile and analyze health and injury dataStandardize equipment for component compatibilityEncourage safe use of machinery, equipment, and materials through better design and better communication

19Farming is one of the few industries in which entire familieswho often share the work and live on the premisesare vested and are at risk for injuries, illness, and death. BAEs constantly look for ways to improve materials, equipment, and agricultural practices. They do this by

--analyzing health and injury data, --helping identify safer, more efficient ways of accomplishing tasks--studying the use and possible misuse of machines, and equipment compliance with standards and regulations--educating the public about safe practicesDefinitionAgricultural and Biological Engineering is the discipline of engineering that applies engineering principles and the fundamental concepts of biology to agricultural and biological systems and tools, ranging in scale from molecular to ecosystem level, for the safe, efficient and environmentally sensitive production, processing, and management of agricultural, biological, food, and natural resources systems.

Source: http://www.asabe.org/news-public-affairs/about-this-profession.aspxWorking with NatureSame equations different applicationSystems approachUnderstand natural and biological processesInherent variation in our mediaBiological components integrated in everything we doSustainabilityBalance Environmental, Economic, and Societal BenefitsExampleLike other farmers in the West, Roger Barton must irrigate the alfalfa hay he raises for horse owners. And like many farmers, Barton has to be creative to make ends meet. When diesel costs rose to $4.25 per gallon a couple of years ago, Barton came up with a new, non-diesel-powered way to run his center pivot irrigation system. With the help of a Conservation Innovation Grant from NRCS, Barton worked with a pump company and NRCS engineers to design a hydroturbine system that generates electricity to power his pivot irrigation system. (USDA-NRCS website)Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at SDSUWater and ClimateAnimal Production SystemsMachineryFood and Fuel ProcessingAgricultural & Biosystems EngineeringWater & Climate

Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringFood & Bio-Renewable Processing

Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringAnimal Production Systems

Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringAgricultural Machinery Engineering

If you see a tractor, high probablility an SDSU grad had something to do with it. We have grads working for all major manufacturers. Biological and Agricultural Engineerswhat do they do?Develop solutions for responsible, alternative uses of agricultural products, byproducts and wastes and of our natural resources - soil, water, air, and energyDevise practical, efficient solutions for producing, storing, transporting, processing, and packaging agricultural products Solve problems related to systems, processes, and machines that interact with humans, plants, animals, microorganisms, and biological materials

28Water and ClimateAnimal Production SystemsMachineryFood and Fuel ProcessingCheck steam pressureTest water qualityTest dust concentrationBust a trussInspect construction progressTest engine performanceTest sprayer uniformityMeasure water flow rateCheck the material handling line

Who Employs Agricultural and Biological Engineers3MAbbott LabsAGCOAnheuser BuschArcher Daniels MidlandBASFBriggs & StrattonCampbell's SoupCaterpillarCH2M HillCase CorpDoleDow ChemicalExxon MobilFlorida Light & PowerFord Motor CoGeneral MillsGrinnell Mutual ReinsuranceJohn DeereKellogg'sLockheed MartinM & M MarsMonsantoMorton BuildingsNASANew HollandRalston PurinaSunkistUSDA Agricultural Research ServiceUSDA Natural Resource Conservation ServiceUS Department of EnergyUS Environmental Protection AgencySource: ASABE. http://www.asabe.org/news-public-affairs/about-this-profession.aspxAgricultural and Biosystems Engineers in the CommunityNRCSEngineering Staff in South DakotaHuron State OfficeBrookings Field Support OfficePierre Field Support OfficeRapid City Field Support OfficeOther government agenciesSouth Dakota DENRConsulting EngineersAgricultural and Biosystems Engineers in the CommunityEquipmentBuhler Industries SalemEquipment DealersPrecision AgRaven IndustriesAg StructuresLandmark Builders

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers in the CommunityFuel ProcessingPOET Sioux Falls (Headquarters)ValeroFood ProcessingDaviscoBel BrandsHormel

Making the World a Better PlaceProducing and Processing Food, Feed, and FuelManaging and Protecting our Environment and Natural Resources

Waterand ClimateAnimal Production SystemsMachineryFood and Fuel ProcessingManaging and Protecting our Environment and Natural ResourcesProducing and Processing Food, Feed, and Fuel

Safe and abundant food and water

Plentiful and renewable energy resourcesA healthy environment in which to liveTimber and fiber for shelter and clothing

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