Thermography for Livestock Health Monitoring
Overview
Thermography is a non-invasive technology that detects temperature variations to monitor livestock health. My project explored how to make this tool more practical and accessible for farmers by designing an easy-to-use data collection system using affordable thermal cameras. This project was done at the Concordia Innovation Lab In collaboration with Kirkview Farms.
[Fig 2] Kirkview Farms
Challenge
Farmers need a cost-effective, low-labor way to monitor animal health, especially for early disease detection. Existing thermal cameras are expensive, and interpreting thermographic data requires expert knowledge. The goal was to bridge this gap by designing a solution that simplifies usage and enhances decision-making.
Process
[Fig 2] Thermal Scan of Anterior Cattle foot
Research & Testing
Analyzed 50+ clinical studies on thermography in livestock health monitoring.
Conducted thermal scans at Kirkview Farms to test different camera models and data collection methods.
Prototype Development
Designed a workflow using an affordable smartphone-enabled thermal camera.
Implemented intermittent scanning to track temperature changes over time.
User-Centered Database Design
Proposed an intuitive database to help farmers compare thermal scans with healthy benchmarks.
Explored machine learning integration to automate disease detection.
Outcome
Demonstrated that budget-friendly thermal cameras can effectively detect injuries and infections.
Identified key usability improvements for farmers, including an accessible temperature reference database.
Proposed AI-driven analysis to further enhance detection accuracy.
[Fig 3] Thermal Scan of Cattle Foot
Next Steps
In Spring 2025, a long-term prototype will be deployed at Kirkview Farms to evaluate real-world implementation. The project aims to refine the system’s usability and lay the path for AI-assiste
d thermography for livestock health.
You can read my full report in the document below.
By leveraging technology and user-centered design, this project transforms complex thermal imaging into an accessible tool for farmers.
I’m still working on fully realizing the proposed solution. Contact me to collaborate!
