Assessing Crop Damage After Hurricanes Made Easy by AI

Recovery after a hurricane is no easy task. For farmers, a big part of the post-storm equation involves the painstaking process of assessing crop damage. But thanks to recent research conducted by University of Florida scientists, that task could be made easier thanks to artificial intelligence (AI).

With a new $297,000 grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), University of Florida AI scientist Nikolaos Tziolas is aiming to develop an interactive tool for farmers to assess crop damage after major storms and compare it to previous seasons. How does he plan to achieve this?  According to Tziolas, the AI system will tap into satellite imagery and make it easily accessible and understandable via a simple chat-based interface.

How will it work? Simply. Growers will ask questions. The AI platform will provide answers. For example, users can identify flooded areas or compare crop health before and after a storm and receive accurate and timely insights, Tziolas says. The system will enhance satellite imagery and provide highly detailed information for decision-making.

“Imagine typing something like: ‘How much of my farm is flooded?,’ or ‘How did my crops do compared to last year?,’ and getting answers with maps and numbers tailored to your fields,” Tziolas adds.

In 2024, Florida endured three landfalling hurricanes (Debby, Helene, and Milton). Each caused considerable damage to crops. The more time it takes for growers to properly and accurately assess those damages, the more it adds up in costs.

“By making advanced technology accessible and actionable, this platform will help users reduce costs and improve resilience to extreme weather events in the future – by knowing where to plant,” Tziolas says.

The web-based platform will be compatible with smartphones and computers.

Forecasts for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season are calling for another above-average campaign. Stay tuned for more about this AI tool for assessing crop damage.

For more information, visit ifas.ufl.edu.