Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - MSE 460 D100

Precision AgriTech Engineering (3)

Class Number: 4072

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Tue, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Surrey

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Thu, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
    Surrey

  • Prerequisites:

    MSE 310 and MSE 360.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Digital agricultural mapping and technologies. Guidance and path sensing for agriculture including autonomous technologies, drones and AUVs. Sensing technologies including optical, gas, temperatures sensors for aerial and remote sensing of the environment and agricultural products, in natural and controlled settings. Data gathering and management, analysis of sensor data, including the application of variable rate systems.

COURSE DETAILS:

Communications:

All communication and grades post will be sent via Canvas. Please post all questions to the Canvas forums. The instructors and TAs will monitor and post replies only on Canvas forums

Lecture:

All lectures are in-person. The instructor will upload skeleton notes (with list of topics and relevant figures). The students are encouraged to print out these notes and fill them out in class.

Lab:

You will be required to complete all lab exercise. The TA will provide specific instruction on due date and time available. For labs that have a submission, you may defer your submission by 1 week for 50% penalty. No points will be given after 1 week.

Academic Integrity:

Students are always expected to conduct themselves professionally including interactions with professors, teaching assistants, laboratory assistants and fellow students outside of class.

Plagiarism: Any instance of cheating or plagiarism will result in loss of credit for the work, and will be reported to the MSE Department.

Grading rubric:

Assignment Grading: Assignments will be assigned a point value associated with it based on the instructor’s assessment of the degree of difficulty and time required for its completion. The points from all the assignments will be summed, as will the points earned by each student, and a percentage will determined by dividing the points earned by the total points.

Homework: Homework will be assigned along with the due dates will be posted via Canvas. A legible solution should be uploaded onto Canvas (students are responsible to either use scanner or a well-lit photo). Please make a copy of the assignments for your records as assignments may not be returned to the students.

Late Work: Late or missed work will not be tolerated. Failure to meet assignment deadlines will result in a loss of 50% of score for upto 1 week beyond which no grades will be given. If emergencies arise, and sometimes they do, communicate with your instructor to see if the deadline can be moved to help you get back on track.


COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

When you complete the course, you would have an understanding of concepts in agritech, and be able to design methodologies to implement precision agriculture.
You will also learn about geographic information system (GIS) using QGIS-software.

Grading

  • Assignments 10%
  • Lab reports 10%
  • Projects 10%
  • Midterm 30%
  • Final Exam 40%

REQUIREMENTS:

Pre-requisites

MSE 310, MSE 360

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Precision Agriculture Basics, Ed D. Kent Shannon, David E. Clay, Newell R. Kitchen,

Print ISBN:9780891183662 |Online ISBN:9780891183679 |DOI:10.2134/precisionagbasics

(You should be able to download the book within SFU network at

https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.2134/precisionagbasics )

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.