Dr. Sigfredo Fuentes is an Associate Professor in Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine Sciences (DAFW) at the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences (SAFES), in the Faculty of Science, at the University of Melbourne, Australia. 

In addition, Professor Fuentes is the International Coordinator for The Vineyard of The Future Initiative, which is an international collaboration that strives to establish a fully-instrumented vineyard that uses the Internet of Things (IoT) for data capture and meaningful analysis of climate change on Viticulture and Oenology in Australia, with the goal of transferring these technologies to all fields of agriculture.

He has taught courses on subjects such as sensory evaluation, plant growth and processes, and applications in precision agriculture, to name a few.

He has over 28 projects and 206 scholarly works both active and completed. He is currently working on two main projects: “Deep learning modeling for hyperspectral imagery” funded by the Australian Government Department of Defence and the Center of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S), which has the goal to develop plants to support long-term space missions to the Moon (2030) and to Mars (2040).

His research efforts and teaching interests are focused on the use of the latest technology for plant physiology and viticulture, as well as in the areas of irrigation science, irrigation scheduling, remote sensing, and climate change. Other research interests are the development of computer programs for agricultural research and applications; the creation of new methodologies to assess plant physiology and growth using image analysis and technology; and the implementation of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for agriculture, food, animal, and wine sciences.

Professor Fuentes has collaborated as a reviewer for more than 30 scientific journals since 2006 in the areas of plant physiology, soil sciences, sensor technology, plant biology, irrigation science, and agricultural modeling, to name a few. Among his collaborations, he is Editor-in-Chief at Frontiers in Horticulture - Specialty Pomology and Viticulture; Associate Editor in the Irrigation Science Journal for Springer Nature; Editorial Board Member and Academic Editor of the section “Smart Agriculture” for the Sensors Journal (MDPI); Guest Editor and Editorial Board Member for Frontiers Journal; and Guest Editor for Food Journal (MDPI).

He has given presentations worldwide in Europe, Asia, South Africa, North America, and South America on topics like artificial intelligence in plant prototyping, viticulture and winemaking; food; sustainability in agriculture 4.0 and 5.0; among many others.

Professor Fuentes has recently been appointed as chief investigator for the Center of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S) funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) with partners such as the Australian Space Agency and NASA (2023 – 2029) and a budget of 35 million Australian dollars. In previous years, he has won the Bayer Grant4Ag Award in the areas of AI and pest management. This award has only 24 awardees from over 600 applications in 39 different countries (2021). Also, he won the teaching award given by the Australian Society of Plant Scientists (ASPS) in plant physiology at a university level (2019) and was named Institute Fellow for Digital Agriculture, Food, and Wine for the Networked Society Institute (NSI) of the University of Melbourne (2017-2019).

He is a member of important scientific communities such as the Australian Society of Plant Scientists (ASPS), the International Society of Horticultural Sciences (ISHS), and the Australian Society of Horticultural Sciences (ASHS).

Sigfredo Fuentes joined Tecnológico de Monterrey as Distinguished Visiting Professor in Digital Agriculture and Food Sciences for the School of Engineering and Sciences.

•  Ph.D., Plant Physiology, University of Western Sydney, Australia
• B.Sc., Agronomy, University of Talca, Chile
• B.Sc., Agricultural Sciences, University of Talca, Chile
   

• Shin, M., Gonzalez Viejo, C., Tongson, E., Wiechel, T., Taylor, P. & Fuentes, S. (2023). Early detection of Verticillium wilt of potatoes using near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning modeling. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 204 doi:10.1016/j.compag.2022.107567

• Harris, N., Gonzalez Viejo, C., Barnes, C. & Fuentes, S. (2022). Non-Invasive Digital Technologies to Assess Wine Quality Traits and Provenance through the Bottle. Fermentation, 9(1), pp. 10-10. doi:10.3390/fermentation9010010

• Fuentes, S., Gonzalez Viejo, C., Tongson, E., Dunshea, F., Dac, H. & Lipovetzky, N. (2022). Animal biometric assessment using non-invasive computer vision and machine learning are good predictors of dairy cows age and welfare: The future of automated veterinary support systems. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 10 doi:10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100388

• Ashfaq, W., Brodie, G., Fuentes, S. & Gupta, D. (2022). Infrared Thermal Imaging and Morpho-Physiological Indices Used for Wheat Genotypes Screening under Drought and Heat Stress. PLANTS-BASEL, 11(23), pp. 22-. doi:10.3390/plants11233269

• Dac, H. H., Gonzalez Viejo, C., Lipovetzky, N., Tongson, E., Dunshea, F. R. & Fuentes, S. (2022). Livestock Identification Using Deep Learning for Traceability. SENSORS, 22(21), pp. 19-. doi:10.3390/s22218256

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Dr. Sigfredo Fuentes is an Associate Professor in Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine Sciences (DAFW) at the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences (SAFES), in the Faculty of Science, at the University of Melbourne, Australia. 

In addition, Professor Fuentes is the International Coordinator for The Vineyard of The Future Initiative, which is an international collaboration that strives to establish a fully-instrumented vineyard that uses the Internet of Things (IoT) for data capture and meaningful analysis of climate change on Viticulture and Oenology in Australia, with the goal of transferring these technologies to all fields of agriculture.

He has taught courses on subjects such as sensory evaluation, plant growth and processes, and applications in precision agriculture, to name a few.

He has over 28 projects and 206 scholarly works both active and completed. He is currently working on two main projects: “Deep learning modeling for hyperspectral imagery” funded by the Australian Government Department of Defence and the Center of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S), which has the goal to develop plants to support long-term space missions to the Moon (2030) and to Mars (2040).

His research efforts and teaching interests are focused on the use of the latest technology for plant physiology and viticulture, as well as in the areas of irrigation science, irrigation scheduling, remote sensing, and climate change. Other research interests are the development of computer programs for agricultural research and applications; the creation of new methodologies to assess plant physiology and growth using image analysis and technology; and the implementation of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for agriculture, food, animal, and wine sciences.

Professor Fuentes has collaborated as a reviewer for more than 30 scientific journals since 2006 in the areas of plant physiology, soil sciences, sensor technology, plant biology, irrigation science, and agricultural modeling, to name a few. Among his collaborations, he is Editor-in-Chief at Frontiers in Horticulture - Specialty Pomology and Viticulture; Associate Editor in the Irrigation Science Journal for Springer Nature; Editorial Board Member and Academic Editor of the section “Smart Agriculture” for the Sensors Journal (MDPI); Guest Editor and Editorial Board Member for Frontiers Journal; and Guest Editor for Food Journal (MDPI).

He has given presentations worldwide in Europe, Asia, South Africa, North America, and South America on topics like artificial intelligence in plant prototyping, viticulture and winemaking; food; sustainability in agriculture 4.0 and 5.0; among many others.

Professor Fuentes has recently been appointed as chief investigator for the Center of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S) funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) with partners such as the Australian Space Agency and NASA (2023 – 2029) and a budget of 35 million Australian dollars. In previous years, he has won the Bayer Grant4Ag Award in the areas of AI and pest management. This award has only 24 awardees from over 600 applications in 39 different countries (2021). Also, he won the teaching award given by the Australian Society of Plant Scientists (ASPS) in plant physiology at a university level (2019) and was named Institute Fellow for Digital Agriculture, Food, and Wine for the Networked Society Institute (NSI) of the University of Melbourne (2017-2019).

He is a member of important scientific communities such as the Australian Society of Plant Scientists (ASPS), the International Society of Horticultural Sciences (ISHS), and the Australian Society of Horticultural Sciences (ASHS).

Sigfredo Fuentes joined Tecnológico de Monterrey as Distinguished Visiting Professor in Digital Agriculture and Food Sciences for the School of Engineering and Sciences.

•  Ph.D., Plant Physiology, University of Western Sydney, Australia
• B.Sc., Agronomy, University of Talca, Chile
• B.Sc., Agricultural Sciences, University of Talca, Chile
   

• Shin, M., Gonzalez Viejo, C., Tongson, E., Wiechel, T., Taylor, P. & Fuentes, S. (2023). Early detection of Verticillium wilt of potatoes using near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning modeling. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 204 doi:10.1016/j.compag.2022.107567

• Harris, N., Gonzalez Viejo, C., Barnes, C. & Fuentes, S. (2022). Non-Invasive Digital Technologies to Assess Wine Quality Traits and Provenance through the Bottle. Fermentation, 9(1), pp. 10-10. doi:10.3390/fermentation9010010

• Fuentes, S., Gonzalez Viejo, C., Tongson, E., Dunshea, F., Dac, H. & Lipovetzky, N. (2022). Animal biometric assessment using non-invasive computer vision and machine learning are good predictors of dairy cows age and welfare: The future of automated veterinary support systems. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 10 doi:10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100388

• Ashfaq, W., Brodie, G., Fuentes, S. & Gupta, D. (2022). Infrared Thermal Imaging and Morpho-Physiological Indices Used for Wheat Genotypes Screening under Drought and Heat Stress. PLANTS-BASEL, 11(23), pp. 22-. doi:10.3390/plants11233269

• Dac, H. H., Gonzalez Viejo, C., Lipovetzky, N., Tongson, E., Dunshea, F. R. & Fuentes, S. (2022). Livestock Identification Using Deep Learning for Traceability. SENSORS, 22(21), pp. 19-. doi:10.3390/s22218256

More publications

Dr. Thomas Kurfess is Chief Manufacturing Officer at the Georgia Institute of Technology (GT), Executive Director of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI), and HUSCO Ramirez Distinguished Chair in Fluid Power and Motion Control at GT. He is also Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology and  Professor and BMW Chair of Manufacturing Emeritus at Clemson University. Previously, he was Assistant Director for the Advanced Manufacturing Office of Science and Technology Policy for the Executive Office of the President of the United States of America (2012-2013), and the Chief Manufacturing Officer of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2019-2021). During the early stage of his career, he was an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. 

He has taught courses in subjects such as advanced manufacturing systems; quality control and quality assurance; vehicle testing; automotive electronics; real-time signal processing and control; precision systems and manufacturing; robotics and advanced dynamics.

Dr. Kurfess' research focuses on manufacturing, automation, and mechatronics; precision manufacturing, metrology, and technology policy. Also, on the design and development of advanced manufacturing systems by integrating new technologies into production operations and on national and international manufacturing policy issues.

He is an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering; currently Chair of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) study on “Options for a National Plan for Smart Manufacturing”; member of the U.S. National Materials and Manufacturing Board; and a member of the Board of Governors of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), to name a few.

Since the early ’90s and up to this day, he’s been Principal and Co-Principal Investigator in over 120 projects with grants and/or contracts like the “Fog-based Data Analytics and Embedded Sensors for Predictive Maintenance and Process Control - Phase 2” project for Ford Motor Company (Jan. 2020 - Dec. 2021); the “Systems Monitoring Platform for Manufacturing Operations” project for Georgia Pacific (Feb. 2020 - Jan. 2021); the “Data Sensing and Total Preventative Maintenance – Phase 3” project for Delta Airlines Technical Operations (2020), among many others. 

Dr. Kurfess has collaborated with multiple top-range scientific journals. He is currently an Honorary Editor for the Computer Aided Engineering and Applications journal and he also worked as an Associate Editor in publications such as Research in Engineering Design and Computer Aided Engineering and Applications.

Professor Kurfess led the “Autonomous Materials Discovery and Optimization: A DMMI Workshop” as Vice Chair in Washington, D.C. (Nov. 2022) and has also participated remotely as keynote speaker in conferences such as the 2020 International Symposium on Flexible Automation by ASME, with a presentation on “Integrating Hybrid Manufacturing Processes via the Digital Thread” (2020), to name a few.

In addition to his current positions as chair and/or member of the most prestigious engineering/manufacturing boards in the U.S., Professor Kurfess has also been awarded several important recognitions such as the Albert M. Sargent Progress Award (2021) by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), in the United States; the IAAM Scientist Medal (2021) by the International Association of Advanced Materials; the Thatcher Brothers Prize by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (England) - Manufacturing Industries Division Board (2016), and several more.

Thomas Kurfess joined Tecnológico de Monterrey as Distinguished Visiting Professor in Advanced Manufacturing for the School of Engineering and Sciences.

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• S.M., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT
• S.M., Mechanical Engineering, MIT
• S.B., Mechanical Engineering, MIT
   

• Lu, L. Kurfess, T.R., Saldana, C.J., “Effects of Extrinsic Noise Factors on Machine Learning Based Chatter Detection in Machining,” International Journal of Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing, 2021, accepted.

• Miers, J.C, Tucker, T.M., Kurfess, T.R., Saldana, C.J., “Voxel-Based Modeling of Transient Material Removal in Machining,” International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2021, accepted.

• Parto Dezfouli, M., Urbina Coronado, Saldana, C.J., Kurfess, T.R., “Cyber-Physical System Implementation for Manufacturing with Analytics in the Cloud Layer,” ASME Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering, 2021.

• Feldhausen, T., Saleeby, K., Love, L., Kurfess, T.R., “Spinning the Digital Thread with Hybrid Manufacturing,” ASME Smart and Manufacturing Letters, Vol. 29, pp. 15-18, doi.org/10.1016/j.mfglet.2021.05.003, 2021.

• Castro‐Martin, A.P., Ahuett‐Garza, H., Guamán‐Lozada, D., Márquez‐Alderete, M.F., Urbina Coronado, P.D. 1, Orta Castañon, P.A., Kurfess, T.R., González de Castilla, E., “Connectivity as a Design Feature for Industry 4.0 Production Equipment: Application for the Development of an In‐Line Metrology System,” Applied Science, Vol. 11, doi.org/10.3390/app11031312, 2021

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Dr. Thomas Kurfess is Chief Manufacturing Officer at the Georgia Institute of Technology (GT), Executive Director of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI), and HUSCO Ramirez Distinguished Chair in Fluid Power and Motion Control at GT. He is also Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology and  Professor and BMW Chair of Manufacturing Emeritus at Clemson University. Previously, he was Assistant Director for the Advanced Manufacturing Office of Science and Technology Policy for the Executive Office of the President of the United States of America (2012-2013), and the Chief Manufacturing Officer of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2019-2021). During the early stage of his career, he was an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. 

He has taught courses in subjects such as advanced manufacturing systems; quality control and quality assurance; vehicle testing; automotive electronics; real-time signal processing and control; precision systems and manufacturing; robotics and advanced dynamics.

Dr. Kurfess' research focuses on manufacturing, automation, and mechatronics; precision manufacturing, metrology, and technology policy. Also, on the design and development of advanced manufacturing systems by integrating new technologies into production operations and on national and international manufacturing policy issues.

He is an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering; currently Chair of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) study on “Options for a National Plan for Smart Manufacturing”; member of the U.S. National Materials and Manufacturing Board; and a member of the Board of Governors of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), to name a few.

Since the early ’90s and up to this day, he’s been Principal and Co-Principal Investigator in over 120 projects with grants and/or contracts like the “Fog-based Data Analytics and Embedded Sensors for Predictive Maintenance and Process Control - Phase 2” project for Ford Motor Company (Jan. 2020 - Dec. 2021); the “Systems Monitoring Platform for Manufacturing Operations” project for Georgia Pacific (Feb. 2020 - Jan. 2021); the “Data Sensing and Total Preventative Maintenance – Phase 3” project for Delta Airlines Technical Operations (2020), among many others. 

Dr. Kurfess has collaborated with multiple top-range scientific journals. He is currently an Honorary Editor for the Computer Aided Engineering and Applications journal and he also worked as an Associate Editor in publications such as Research in Engineering Design and Computer Aided Engineering and Applications.

Professor Kurfess led the “Autonomous Materials Discovery and Optimization: A DMMI Workshop” as Vice Chair in Washington, D.C. (Nov. 2022) and has also participated remotely as keynote speaker in conferences such as the 2020 International Symposium on Flexible Automation by ASME, with a presentation on “Integrating Hybrid Manufacturing Processes via the Digital Thread” (2020), to name a few.

In addition to his current positions as chair and/or member of the most prestigious engineering/manufacturing boards in the U.S., Professor Kurfess has also been awarded several important recognitions such as the Albert M. Sargent Progress Award (2021) by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), in the United States; the IAAM Scientist Medal (2021) by the International Association of Advanced Materials; the Thatcher Brothers Prize by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (England) - Manufacturing Industries Division Board (2016), and several more.

Thomas Kurfess joined Tecnológico de Monterrey as Distinguished Visiting Professor in Advanced Manufacturing for the School of Engineering and Sciences.

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• S.M., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT
• S.M., Mechanical Engineering, MIT
• S.B., Mechanical Engineering, MIT
   

• Lu, L. Kurfess, T.R., Saldana, C.J., “Effects of Extrinsic Noise Factors on Machine Learning Based Chatter Detection in Machining,” International Journal of Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing, 2021, accepted.

• Miers, J.C, Tucker, T.M., Kurfess, T.R., Saldana, C.J., “Voxel-Based Modeling of Transient Material Removal in Machining,” International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2021, accepted.

• Parto Dezfouli, M., Urbina Coronado, Saldana, C.J., Kurfess, T.R., “Cyber-Physical System Implementation for Manufacturing with Analytics in the Cloud Layer,” ASME Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering, 2021.

• Feldhausen, T., Saleeby, K., Love, L., Kurfess, T.R., “Spinning the Digital Thread with Hybrid Manufacturing,” ASME Smart and Manufacturing Letters, Vol. 29, pp. 15-18, doi.org/10.1016/j.mfglet.2021.05.003, 2021.

• Castro‐Martin, A.P., Ahuett‐Garza, H., Guamán‐Lozada, D., Márquez‐Alderete, M.F., Urbina Coronado, P.D. 1, Orta Castañon, P.A., Kurfess, T.R., González de Castilla, E., “Connectivity as a Design Feature for Industry 4.0 Production Equipment: Application for the Development of an In‐Line Metrology System,” Applied Science, Vol. 11, doi.org/10.3390/app11031312, 2021

More publications