AGRIBUSINESS

Tracking device and app to help farmer safety

AirAgri is a new portable tracking device to help with farm safety and security.

Staff writer

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Brothers James and Paul Diamond, Mansfield, Victoria, operate AirAgri and have launched a mobile app which works in conjunction with a pocket-sized iOT (Internet of Things) tracking device.

The tracking device uses the Telstra Cat M1 network and costs $1 a day, although several levels are available including a free digital property mapping option.

"This network gives beyond the cell tower coverage. Every 10 minutes the tracking device will ping its location back to AirAgri and the system uses a set of proprietary rules to determine if that person is in trouble or not," AirAgri co-founder, James Diamond, said.

"If the person doesn't dismiss the alarm or audible cue, an alert is sent to the registered users.

"AirAgri provides a series of automated safety notifications using proprietary rules, location, emergency and medical information, along with access to inventory and safe handling working documents like a digital filing cabinet sitting on the farmer's phone."

AirAgri was one of 20 emerging Ag Tech start-ups to benefit from a $50,000 grant under the Victorian Government's $1 million AgTech Grants Program.

The business was supported by the Victorian Government's $15 million AgTech Regional Innovation Network (AgRIN) to complete the "Rocket Seeder" and the Farmers2Founders pre-accelerator programs helping them refine their idea and develop their business skills.

Within AirAgri, 100 per cent of the data is stored and sovereign in Australia and is owned by the individual, who at any time can delete their data.

The farmer can download their digital map and export it in a global format into a competing platform or another format for later use, or in turn, AirAgri can import data from other platforms.

"We have been using the application in a closed beta for over two years, with over 200 properties on board," James said.

AirAgri provides an invitation-only rental service to rural businesses for the tracking devices at $1/day whereby the farmer doesn't have the worry of a Telstra account.

AirAgri plans to also develop a wrist band version of the tracking device, giving core body temperature and location, via an integrated iOT simcard.

"All of our software runs in the cloud - there is nothing to download or install, and all our software works offline which is important for the rural sector."

For more information on AirAgri, visit www.airagri.com.au

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