PHENORAMA

Hosted by Università degli Studi di Firenze (UNIFI)

Where we are

PHENORAMA is a research infrastructure dedicated to image‑based plant phenotyping integrated with advanced crop modelling to study plant growth and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. It combines 2D/3D imaging, automated analysis algorithms, and crop models to extract detailed phenotypic traits quickly and accurately.
The team is developing a low‑cost automated rail‑based platform for greenhouse phenotyping, capable of acquiring high‑resolution RGB, multispectral, and hyperspectral images. A multi‑sensor rover is also being built to collect high‑resolution data under open‑field conditions.
Crop Models Developed
• Olive Model for olive (Moriondo et al., 2019);
• UNIFI.GrapeM for grapevine (Leolini et al., 2018);
• GrassVistock for herbaceous crops (Bellini et al., 2023)

PHENORAMA aims to build an integrated pipeline that automates the full workflow—from data acquisition to analysis and phenotypic trait extraction—making phenotyping more accessible, accurate, and reproducible. Its interdisciplinary approach supports sustainable varietal selection and precision agriculture in both greenhouse and field environments.

Thanks to the hardware development of the platform and the deployment of the rover in open field conditions, together with the algorithms developed, PHENORAMA aims to build an integrated pipeline capable of automating the entire workflow: from data acquisition to pre processing and analysis, up to the extraction of phenotypic traits in a robust and scalable manner.

Marco BINDI

Marco BINDI

Person in charge

Our Equipment

  • DJI Matrice 300 drone with DJI RTK station for georeferenced surveys
  • Optical and thermal sensors, including the Specim IQ proximal hyperspectral camera, the Specim AFX10 VNIR hyperspectral camera mounted on a drone, the FLIR E5 PRO thermal camera, and RGB camera traps for continuous monitoring
  • Proximal instruments for measuring vegetation indices and physiological parameters: Greenseeker reflectometer, Licor LI‑600N porometer/fluorometer, Grasshopper herbometer, ceptometer, and leaf‑wetness sensors
  • Soil moisture probes and instruments, including sensors at multiple depths and the FieldScout TDR 350 portable meter

Contact Us


All Infrastructures

PhenBiotech

PhenBiotech is an automated Phenospex phenotyping platform installed in a climate-controlled greenhouse with regulated photoperiod lighting. The facility includes four benches and eight scanning blocks, enabling high-precision, automated plant phenotyping under controlled environmental conditions.

PhenoPlant

PhenoPlant is an automated phenotyping platform with 216 potted stations that continuously measures plant weight, controls irrigation, and regulates environmental conditions. Using multispectral imaging from a gantry system, it extracts structural and functional traits to study growth, stress responses, genotype performance, and plant adaptation.

ROOT DISTAL

The Root Phenotyping Platform at DISTAL UNIBO features 100 rhizotrons and A3 scanners for non-destructive root analysis. Plants grow in angled acrylic chambers to enhance root visibility, allowing digital imaging and software-based extraction of architectural root traits for research and breeding applications.

FIELDPHEN

FieldPhen at CREA-CI Foggia is a high-throughput field phenotyping platform for cereals. Using multispectral, hyperspectral, RGB, and thermal drones, it supports breeding and genotype selection for yield, stress tolerance, and resistance, and conducts field trials to test agrochemical and biological products.

DEMETRIS HUB

DEMETRIS HUB offers advanced digital agriculture and high-throughput phenotyping platforms in Metaponto and Sesto Fiorentino. Equipped with rovers, gantry systems, growth chambers, and drones with RGB, thermal, multispectral, hyperspectral, fluorescence sensors, and LiDAR, they enable automated plant analysis in field and controlled conditions.

INFRA-VOL

INFRA VOL is a unique Italian plant phenotyping infrastructure specialized in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Equipped with advanced growth chambers, PTR-TOF-MS, VOCUS-GC-MS, and GC-MS systems, it delivers high-throughput volatilome analysis, experimental design, data processing, and reporting services for sustainable agriculture research.

PHENOLAB 4.0

PHENOLAB integrates greenhouse and open-field phenotyping platforms, including Scanalyzer 3D, PlantEye gantry systems, and field lysimeters. It provides automated imaging, evapotranspiration monitoring, and stress analysis services for genotype comparison and biostimulant testing, delivering full experimental design, management, and reporting support.

AGRIPHEN

AGRIPHEN is an advanced plant phenotyping platform by Agrigeos that delivers high-precision crop analysis services. It measures growth, water use, stress responses, roots, and canopy traits using sensors, imaging, and modeling, supporting research, product testing, and agricultural innovation today.