PIVOS
PIVOS
PIVOS
- Funding entity: Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. R&D&I projects
- Reference: PID2019-104289RB 2020-2023
- Period: From 1/6/2020 to 31/5/2023
- Project Coordinator: UMA-UPC
- Website: www.pivos.upc.edu
A little bit about the project:
PIVOS is a national research project aimed at demonstrating the benefits of smart spraying as a key strategy for a more sustainable, efficient, and responsible use of phytosanitary products in vineyards and olive groves. Its approach combines technological innovation, sustainability, and operational improvement in order to maintain treatment effectiveness while reducing both economic costs and environmental impacts.
The project is carried out within the research activity of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), through the Agricultural Mechanization Unit (UMA).
Main objective
To validate and promote smart spraying systems that allow phytosanitary treatments to be adjusted to the actual vegetation conditions, ensuring effective crop protection with minimal input use.
Why Smart Spraying?
Traditional management of phytosanitary applications is usually based on uniform doses, which can lead to:
- Over-application in areas with sparse vegetation.
- Spray drift and losses to the surrounding environment.
- Higher economic costs and environmental risk.
PIVOS proposes an alternative based on advanced sensing, automation, and data analysis technologies, which make it possible to adapt the application to the actual needs of the crop.
Lines of action
The project integrates optical sensors, vision systems, and monitoring equipment that allow real-time characterization of vineyard and olive grove vegetation.
The acquired data are analyzed and transformed into agronomic indicators (leaf density, canopy structure, vegetative volume) to determine the optimal dose for each zone of the field.
PIVOS develops and validates systems capable of:
- Automatically adjusting spraying according to detected vegetation.
- Modifying flow rates, pressure, or application patterns in real time.
- Recording data for traceability and continuous improvement.
The results serve as a basis to promote Best Management Practices that facilitate the adoption of smart spraying technologies by farmers, technicians, and machinery manufacturers.
-
Contribution to the Agricultural Sector
PIVOS provides significant advances toward a more sustainable and technologically advanced agriculture:
- Reduction in the use of phytosanitary products without loss of efficacy.
- Reduction of drift, runoff, and other environmental risks.
- Economic savings thanks to more efficient application.
- Greater precision and control over the treatment process.
A Decisive Step Toward Smart Agriculture
The project establishes the scientific and technological foundations that enable the development of variable and automated application systems, laying the groundwork for subsequent projects such as ADOPTA and contributing to the digital transformation of viticulture and olive cultivation.