TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an environmental monitoring method and system for crops. More particularly, the present invention relates to a broadband computerized environmental monitoring and control method and system for crops and plants for detecting of various environmental parameters affecting the growth and health for crops and plants as well as detecting its pests.

EXISTING STATE OF THE ART.

In the state of the art are known several systems of environmental monitoring and detection of highly harmful pests and insect for crops such as vines, olive groves, fruit trees, ornamentals plants etc., such as the red palm weevil hynchophorus ferrugineus), vine borer {Sino>ylon perforans), olive fruit fly Ractrocera oleae) and many others.

These known systems are based on modem detection systems with computer transmission of data by means of analog or digital wired or wireless computer networks and generally use radio, electrical or electronic sensors, such as video cameras, vibration sensors, microphones, etc., fixed on the plant of the crop or close to it, these sensors being configured to locally detect the presence of certain species of highly harmful pests, such as those previously mentioned, and to transmit the detected data in the form of a signal to a central unit by known means of computer transmission wired or wireless type Wi-Fi or Rluetooth.

An example of these well-known systems is the system called "Demetra Sensing", published at the following URL network address: http:/ / www.demetra.net! demetra-sensing-2 / . This system uses devices applicable to plants and provided with electronic sensors to detect vibrations (sounds) present on the trunk or stem of the plant to be monitored. An internal control unit processes the signal of these vibrations and compares it with the sampled data related to the noise of the flight of the beetle specie called red palm weevil Ehynchophorus ferrugineus), a pest of different varieties of palms. The devices applied to the plants to be monitored are connected to a network and to a central unit by known means of radio transmitting and receiving.

These well-known pest monitoring systems have nonetheless operational drawbacks and limitations.

An important operating limitation of the above-mentioned monitoring and detection systems is due to the difficulty in selectively detecting only the various harmful species of pests.

Another important limitation of these well-known pest monitoring and detection systems is due to the fact of being particularly sensitive to electromagnetic and radio noise disturbances. Another limitation of these well-known systems is due to the fact that they are expensive, difficult to install and because they need electrically power, especially if deployed over long distances and large crop areas. The need to power each individual sensor with an internal local battery or electric accumulator makes a limited amount of electrical power available for data transmission to a central processing unit, thus imposing the need to analyse and process data locally while transmitting only a limited amount of data remotely.

Still another limitation of these traditional sensing systems is that they are poorly resistant to moisture and corrosion caused by weathering and outdoor applications.

SCOPE AND SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION The subject of the present invention is to overcome and obviate, at least in part, the above- mentioned drawbacks and operational limitations.

More particularly, it is a subject of the present invention to provide an environmental monitoring method and system for crops FBG sensors, suitable for selectively detecting and localizing in a monitoring area the presence of one or more types or species of insects or plant pests such as, for example, the red palm weevil (rfhynchophorus ferrugineus) , the vine borer {Sino>ylon performs), the Japanese beetle, (rfopillia japonica), the olive fruit fly (rf>actrocera oleae), the asian longhorned beetle (rfPioplophora glabnpennip, and others.

Further subject of the present invention is to make available to the user a computer implemented method and a broadband environmental monitoring system for crops with FBG sensors, suitable for the local detection of additional environmental parameters and data, such as temperature, humidity, chemical detection, etc.

It is further a subject of the present invention to make available for the user an environmental monitoring method and system for crops with FBG sensors, suitable to being insensitive to electromagnetic-type disturbances.

Further subject of the environmental monitoring method and system for crops with FBG sensors is to make available to the user a monitoring system capable of self-learning from collected local data of a monitoring area in such a way as to interpret and filter this data or parameters according to previous events and measures, in order to reduce noises, disturbances, wrong or inconsistent data or parameters.

A further subject of the present invention is to provide the user with an environmental monitoring method and system for crops with FBG sensors capable of being adaptable to any type of pest or weed or other environmental parameters. One more subject of the present invention is to provide an environmental monitoring system for crops with FBG sensors, suitable to ensure a high mechanical strength level and reliability over time and such that being easily and economically built and maintained.

These and other subject are achieved by the environmental monitoring method and system for crop with FBG sensors of the present invention in accordance with the independent claims.

The structural and functional features of the environmental monitoring method and system for crop with FBG sensors of the present invention may be better understood from the detailed description below with reference to the attached drawings representing some preferred and non-limiting embodiments, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a top plant view of a generic crop monitoring area provided with the environmental monitoring system for crop with FBG sensors of the present invention applied to several palm trees (Arecaceae) to be monitored;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a frontal and partial perspective view of the environmental monitoring system for crops with FBG sensors of the present invention applied to some varieties of palm trees (^Arecaceae),-

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a perspective and partial view of the environmental monitoring system for crops with FBG sensors of the present invention applied to a row of vines plants (Vitis Tniferdy,

Figure 4a is a schematic representation of a partial view of the fiber optic cable of the environmental monitoring system for crops of the present invention provided with a plurality of FBG sensors; figure 4b is a schematic representation of a clear detail view IV of figure 4a, showing a single FBG sensor embedded in the fiber optic cable of the environmental monitoring system for crops with FBG sensors of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a traditional optical detection or sensing system operation with FBG-type sensors;

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an example flowchart of the environmental monitoring method for crops with FBG sensors of the present invention;

Figure 7a is a schematic representation of the environmental monitoring method and system for crops with FBG sensors of the present invention, in the operation of the interaction of the grating of an FBG sensor with the vibration produced by the wings of a pest insect;

Figure 7b is a schematic operational representation of the environmental monitoring method and system for crops with FBG sensors, showing the optical spectra graphs of incident light from the source, transmitted light, and retroreflected light from the perturbed FBG sensor, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With generic reference to all the figures and in particular Figure 6, and an environmental monitoring method 100 and system 10 for crops with FBG sensors are described below.

The of environmental monitoring method 100 for crops with FBG sensors, in a general and streamlined embodiment, comprises the steps of:

- providing in a monitoring area contain plants 90 at least a fiber optic conductor 12 comprising a plurality of FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) sensors 14 that may be variously spaced and arranged in proximity to a particular plant 90 which the characteristics and presence of pests are to be monitored; - providing an optical signal to said at least one fiber optic conductor 12 preferably at one end of said fiber optic conductor 12, by means of an optical illuminator (not shown) typically disposed in a control unit 20;

- acquiring 106 a corresponding optical return signal from said at least one fiber optic conductor 12; and;

- providing a corresponding wavelength variation electrical signal of the optical signal as a function of time, wherein said optical return signal reflected by one or more FBG sensors 14 of sound detection, temperature, humidity etc., may be acquired by means of an optical detector (not shown) typically disposed within said control unit 20; obtaining from said wavelength variation electrical signal of measured data of behavioural/environmental quantities; wherein said behavioural/environmental quantities may comprise sounds /vibrations produced by insects, temperature, humidity of the monitoring area and other measurable environmental quantities;

- processing 108 the measured data according to a predictive algorithm that takes into account reference parameters of said behavioural/environmental quantities, preferably by means of a processor or CPU of the control unit 20, wherein with said predictive algorithm it may also be possible to comparing said measured data of sound/vibration, temperature, humidity etc. with threshold values, reference parameters or supplementary data.

- generating 110 from the processing of the measured data, an attack alarm signal when said predictive algorithm detects a risk of insect pests attack of the monitoring area of plant 90, for example in response to the coincidence of the measured data with predeterminate values of physical state parameters or frequency of sounds, sampled at plant 90, with values of sample parameters and sounds of various species of insect pests, with possible creation of alarm and warning scenarios.

The method 100 may comprise successively to the step of providing at least one fiber optic conductor 12, the further step of:

- providing a plurality of fiber optic conductors 12 comprising FBG sensors 14 arranged to define two or more paths, a grid or array 13 arranged on at least a portion of the ground of the monitoring area and at least a portion of a surface of said plants 90.

With particular reference still to Figure 6, the environmental monitoring method 100 for crops may also comprise, prior to the step 108 of processing measured data, the further step acquiring from different sources of additional supplemental data and sampling with at least one additional step of:

- generating 112 a map of the monitoring area indicative of the geographic positioning of the types of plants 90, with a geo-location of the FBG sensors 14 by means of techniques known as stereoscopic photographs or topographic measurements by means of GPS radio -satellite devices, said map of the monitoring area being provided with a resolution preferably in the order of magnitude of one decimeter [dm];

- generating 114 a positioning map of all plants 90 in the monitoring area;

- generating 114' a distribution map of unmonitored vegetation or unmonitored plants

95 in the monitoring area or additional features such as composition of the supporting ground of each plant 90 or unmonitored plant 95; generating 116 a three-dimensional positioning map of the FBG sensors 14 by distinguishing among their type and functionality for each plant 90 on the monitoring area map. The step 108 of processing the method 100, may be preceded by and comprise a step of: generating one or more event predictive algorithms by means of known machine learning techniques, statistical analysis and neural networks.

Said processing step 108 may also be preceded by additional data integration steps:

- using 118 theoretical models and sound/ vibrational sampling data related to specific types or species of insects or crop-damaging pests; acquiring 120 local meteorological data by means of traditional weather stations placed near said monitoring area or said plants 90 to be monitored; acquiring 120' meteorological data by means of known satellite meteorological systems;

- determining 122 environmental parameters of the plants 90, such as: geographic location, altitude, exposure to sunlight etc.;

Said processing and comparison step 108 may be preceded or followed by a step of:

- creating 124 a data archive for storing and storing data and results locally or remotely. The method 100 according to claim 1, may further comprise the further steps of arranging said at least one fiber optic conductor 12 according to at least one of the following:

- along a shorter linear arrangement direction joining the plants 90 to be monitored;

- along curvilinear or mixed linear-curvilinear paths, according to a serpentine.

With particular reference now to Figure 1, the arrangement of multiplicity of fiber optic conductors 12 comprising FBG sensors 14 and arranged in such away as to form a plurality of paths, a grid or matrix, has the important and innovative advantage of being capable to cover a monitoring area or a growing area comprising plants 90 and to monitoring or accurately mapping the physical ground conditions of the monitoring area at each point of the grid or matrix. The greater the number of FBG 14 sensors and the smaller the distance between them, the higher is the resolution and homogeneity of the detected parameters map. The step 102 of providing in a monitoring area at least one fiber optic conductor 12 comprising a plurality of FBG sensors 14, may comprise the additional steps of: arranging at least one portion of an fiber optic conductor 12 parallel along the ground or soil direction of said environmental monitoring area, and; arranging at least a portion of the fiber optic conductor 12 disposed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground, along the direction of gravity or along the surface of the stem or trunk of said plants 90, by means of anchoring of the fiber optic conductor 12.

With particular reference to figure 2, the arrangement of a portion of an fiber optic conductor 12 in a substantially perpendicular direction or along the direction of the force of gravity, or in any case along the surface of the stem or trunk of said plants 90, has the important advantage of being able to provide a plurality of FBG sensors 14 at different heights above the ground, thus to allowing a detection of multiple sets of parameters related to each single quantity, detected at different heights on the same plant 90.

With reference to Figures 5a and 5b, the step 102 of providing in a monitoring area at least one fiber optic conductor 12 comprising a plurality or series of FBG sensors 14 may further comprise a step of: providing anchoring means of said fiber optic conductor 12 to the surface of the stem or trunk of said plants 90 or to the ground.

Being the fiber optic conductor 12 generally a cable having a circular cross-section, typically smooth on the surface and without any roughness, it may advantageously be provided with anchoring means of its outer surface with the surface of the plants 90 to be monitored, with the ground or soil. Said anchoring means are suitable for stabilizing and making the fiber optic conductor 12 fixed with the surface of the plants or the surface of the ground and they may comprise staples, nails, or known types of bonding (not shown), so as to prevent detachment of the same fiber optic conductor 12 under the wind action or external agents. With initial reference to Figures 1 to 4b, it is also subject matter of the present invention to provide an environmental monitoring system 10 for crops suitable for being arranged in a monitoring area provided with plants 90 typically arranged on the ground and comprising:

- at least one fiber-optic conductor 12, generally a conventional circular cross-sectional cable having an optical -transmitting core 15 and a protective coating 16, comprising a plurality of Fiber Bragg Grating FBG sensors 14 formed in said core 15 by means of micro-incisions 14' defining a Bragg grating, said at least one fiber-optic conductor 12 being suitable for being disposed in said monitoring area along the outer surface of the ground, of a plant 90 and connected at one end thereof;

- a control unit 20 comprising an optical illuminator (not shown) configured to send an optical signal through said at least one fiber optic conductor 12, and comprising an optical receiver (not shown) adapted to receive a corresponding optical return signal from said at least one fiber optic conductor 12, said control unit 20, preferably comprising a processor or CPU, being configured to:

- providing a wavelength variation electrical signal as a function of time obtained from said optical return signal; obtaining from the wavelength variation electrical signal measured data of behavioural/environmental quantities, said quantities comprising sounds/vibrations produced by insects, temperature, humidity of the monitoring area;

- processing the measured data according to a predictive algorithm which takes into account the reference parameters of these behavioural/ environmental quantities

- generating, from the processing of the measured data, an attack alarm signal when the predictive algorithm detects a risk of attack by insects in the monitoring area.

Said fiber optic conductor 12 may be generally arranged, in a simple form of embodiment, along the shortest linear arrangement direction joining a plurality of plants 90 to be monitored, but may also be arranged according to other directions, to also form complex curvilinear or mixed-linear paths, such as a serpentine, in order to arrange a greater number of FBG sensors 14 in the monitoring area and/ or on said plant 90.

Said fiber optic conductor 12, in a possible alternative embodiment, may also be suitable to be disposed under the ground surface of the monitoring area and emerging only at the plants 90 to be monitored.

The system 10 may also advantageously comprise a plurality of fiber optic conductors 12 provided with FBG sensors 14, arranged to define two or more paths, a grid or array of FBG sensors 14 arranged to cover at least a portion of the ground surface of the monitoring area and at least a portion of an area of said plants 90.

Said FBG sensors 14 may be generally arranged in series along the same fiber optic conductor 12 and may be uniformly or variously spaced apart such that portions or sections of the fiber optic conductor 12 are defined as more or less dense than FBG sensors 14. A plurality of fiber optic sensors 14 may also advantageously be collected into a bundle or cable of independently optically illuminated conductors configured for branching off and separating along their path in such a way as to selectively disposing themselves in different areas of the monitoring area or plants 90 where is most needed the presence of FBG sensors 14 for samplings.

Said FBG sensors 14 may further be differently configured, independently of each other, in such a way that each may function as: a vibration detector of the surrounding atmosphere suitable for detecting or measuring a sound or sequence of sounds produced by insects;

- a temperature sensor for measuring a thermodynamic temperature or temperature differential;

- an aqueous molecule detector for detecting (measuring or comparing) a change in the relative humidity of the environment.

With particular reference now to Figures 2 and 3, the system 10, wherein said at least one fiber optic conductor 12 is disposed, may advantageously comprise at least a portion or a parallel portion 12' or substantially parallel to the ground, of said fiber optic conductor 12, disposed in the direction or along the ground surface of said monitoring area, and comprise at least a portion or raised portion 12" of said fiber optic conductor 12, said raised portion 12" being preferably disposed in a transverse direction, substantially perpendicular or otherwise not parallel to the ground, along the direction of development or along the surface of said plants 90.

Said raised portions 12", with particular reference to Figure 3, may also be supported or constrained by means of external structures or poles 18, such as for example the structures supporting the rows of vine (l/rf/j- vinifera) plant 90. Said poles 18 may be made of any suitable structural material, such as metal, wood, polymeric materials, concrete, or equivalents.

Said poles 18 may also advantageously be provided with means for securing and supporting (not shown) said fiber optic conductor 12, such as grommets, openings, or support brackets suitable for ensuring support and movement of said fiber optic conductor 12 while preventing damage thereto.

This solution allows said raised portions 12" of said fiber optic conductor 12 to be able to position related FBG sensors 14 at different heights on the plan 90, where different sets of parameters or chemical/ physical characteristics can be detected as a function of distance from the ground.

Said parallel portions 12' and said raised portions 12" of the fiber optic conductor 12 may also advantageously be configured in such a way as to arrange a different number of FBG sensors 14 on each portions, with a different and variable distance between them and configured in such away as to detect or measure different quantities or physical parameters. Referring again to all the figures and in particular to figure 2, in any embodiment of the system 10, suitable for implementing the environmental monitoring method 100 for crops, said fiber optic conductor 12 may advantageously comprise anchoring means suitable for stabilizing and making said conductor 12 fixed with the ground, the ground or the surface of the plants 90. Said anchoring means (not shown) may comprise staples, nails, brackets, hooks, or bonding means suitable for stabilizing said fiber optic conductor 12 with the outer surface of the stem or trunk of plants 90. Said anchoring means may also comprise environmentally friendly adhesive materials suitable for not damaging vegetation and dissolving without polluting the environment. To stabilize said fiber optic conductor 12 to the ground of the monitoring area, said anchoring means 12 may also comprise stakes, staples, or trestles suitable for insertion into the ground.

From the description of the environmental monitoring method 100 and system 10 for crops with FBG sensors of the present invention, is clearly resulting the operation described below. With preliminary reference to Figures 4a, 4b and 5, fiber optic sensors Fiber Bragg Grating type or FBGs are known in the state of the art and they including a plurality of FBG sensors 14 arranged directly along the optical conductive medium or fiber optic conductor 12. Each individual FBG sensor is formed by etching a plurality of micro-incisions 14' directly into the optical-transmitting core 15 of the fiber optic conductor 12 to form a diffractive periodic grating or Bragg grating. Said micro-incisions 14' function as filters of the optical signal that reflect or let through certain wavelengths or colours of the optical spectrum emitted by an optical source (typically a LED).

The detection or sensing portion of an FBG sensor 14 chain comprises FBG segments typically between 10 and 20 millimeters in length, which can be connected along the fiber optic conductor at the exact locations where sampling is required.

A single fiber optic conductor 12 can carry a plurality of FBG 14 sensors connected in series, greatly reducing weight and overall dimension compared to similar sensors based on electrical and electronic technologies, each of which requires dedicated wiring.

This feature makes possible to provide computerized measurement chains of lengths ranging from a few tens of meters to several kilometers and such that they can be easily structured, with elementary wiring and a simple hardware control.

With preliminary reference also to Figure 7, the continuous optical signal emitted by an optical source, typically a super-luminescent or SLED type, is reflected or retro-reflected over predefined wavelengths by the FBG sensor 14 network and detected in return by the spectrometer of an optical receiver (not shown). Both hardware components are extremely small in size and weight and have low power consumption.

The hardware embedded with the FBG network is also extremely small in size and generally comprises a SLED unit, a spectrometer and a processor or CPU of a control unit 20 and several connection interfaces to remote units 70, for on-site or remote data recording, storage or transmission.

External mechanical and physical factors, such as mechanical strain induced on the fiber optic conductor 12, vibrations, thermodynamic temperature etc. lead to a deformation of the Bragg grating, such that the distance between the micro-incisions on the optical fiber is altered and causes a shift in the wavelength of the reflected or retroreflected optical signal.

This wavelength shift of the reflected light, appropriately calibrated, provides a dynamic measure of the strain undergone by the fiber optic conductor 12.

The arrangement of a plurality of FBG sensors 14 configured in series along the fiber optic conductor 12 allows advantageously the real time determination of additional physical parameters in such as for example, temperature, pressure, acceleration.

It is therefore evident how in a single fiber optic conductor 12 it is possible to have the functionality of several detectors and measurement sensors.

The monitoring system 10 of the invention comprises an fiber optic conductor 12, such as a cable or wire, arranged along plants 90 and the monitoring area to be monitored through the use of FBG sensors 14 generally arranged in series along said fiber optic conductor 12. The fiber optic conductor 12 is suitable for being traversed by an optical signal produced by an external illuminator (not shown), without the need of local power supply, and reflected by the FBG sensors 14 over a virtually infinite transmission bandwidth or broadband. Data related to the environmental parameters of the plants 90 and the surrounding environment are extrapolated from the optical signal variation in length, reflected by the FBG sensors 14 back towards the optical source, and processed and analysed in real time by a central control unit 20 which, through known mathematical techniques of signal processing and analysis and machine learning, in addition to recognizing any background noise and disturbances, allow the system to be able to self-leam and interpret the collected data, with the possibility of also adding parameters and information previously unavailable.

Thus, the object of the present invention is a method 100 and a system 10 implementing the method which innovatively integrates fiber optic FBG sensors 14 in a monitoring system for crops, understood as plants of vegetable species, with a broadband transmission of information, in such away as to advantageously and selectively determine the parameters of events and physical phenomena taking place at the same crops and traceable once processed and compared by a control unit 20 with standard parameters pre-sampled, the presence of types or species of pests sought, so as to prevent the proliferation of the same in order to and intervening locally to avoid damage resulting from typical crops and plants of wide use, such as varieties of palm trees Arecaceae), the rows vine (Vitis vinifera), the olive tree {Olea europaed) and others.

The environmental monitoring method 100 and system 10 for crops with FBG sensors comprising the use of one or more fiber optic conductors 12 arranged through a monitoring area, and each plant 90, reached by said fiber optic conductors 12, can be equipped with one or more FBG sensors 14 capable of detecting and collecting required data and measurements. In addition to the presence of insects or pests it can be possible for example to measure and record local temperatures, humidity, vibrations and sounds due to weather events, movement of rigid parts of plants and crops etc.

The FBG sensors 14 of the environmental monitoring system 10 can working without the use of electric power or electronic components but only with the optical signal that crosses the fiber optic conductor 12, in this way the system is also insensitive to electromagnetic disturbances.

The system 10 also has no moving parts and no maintenance is required other than to restore any breakage or interruption of the fiber optic conductor 12.

The frequency band on which the method 100 and the system 10 work is practically unlimited, this allows the detection and broadband transmission of a large amount of data limited only by the processing capacity of the control unit 20 and the processing capacity can grow further by means of machine learning techniques.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the environmental monitoring method 100 and system 10 for crops of the present invention use FBG sensors 14 as a means of monitoring the condition of plants 90 and the surrounding environment in a monitoring area that are subject to be attacked by elements, insects or pests, potentially deleterious to crops, such as a non-limiting), red palm weevil, vine borer, olive fruit fly, and others.

The method 100 and the monitoring system 10 for crops with FBG sensors represent an advantageous system of active security prevention and alert to safeguard more sensitive crops and plants to pest attacks.

Referring again to the appended figures and in particular to Figure 1, the invention works by advantageously arranging at least one fiber optic conductor 12 in such a way that FBG sensors 14 are arranged along a line or path joining a row or series of plants 90 to be monitored in a defined monitoring area.

The optical signal, generated by an optical source or illuminator advantageously comprising a super luminescent diode SLED placed in the control unit 20 and subsequently sent through said fiber optic conductor 12 through which it is reflected by the FBG sensors 14, is detected in return by an optical detector placed in the same control unit 20.

With particular reference also to Figures 7a and 7b, any sound, vibration or perturbation in the proximity of a sensor placed on the plants 90, as well as a change in temperature, humidity or other parameters, causes an elongation of the Bragg gratings of the FBG sensors 14 such that the transmitted optical signal changes and the peak of the reflected optical signal shifts more or less on the x-axis of the graphs of Figure 7b, depending on the intensity of the perturbation. This variation and wavelength shift of the retroreflected optical signal is detected by the optical detector and processed and compared by a processor of the control unit 20 with threshold values and other information, such that the output provides information about events and conditions around the plants 90 to be monitored, in such a way as to selectively and locally intervening to eliminate and prevent the spread of insect pest elements or species revealed by the FBG sensor data 14, before they can spread within the monitoring area.

The collected data by the monitoring system 20 may be stored on an internal memory of the monitoring system 20 itself or may be sent via known wired or wireless transmission means to a remote unit 70 for further processing or archiving.

The environmental monitoring system 10 of the present invention advantageously has, in addition to parallel portion 12' of fiber optic conductor 12 parallel to the ground development of the monitoring area, also raised tracts 12 of fiber optic conductor 12 that are detached from the ground surface and substantially extend vertically along the direction or along the surface of the stem or trunk of the plants 90, such that physical parameters such as sounds /vibrations of the surrounding air, temperature, humidity etc. can be detected at different elevations above the ground on the plants 90. These differences also provide useful information for machine learning algorithms in order to be able to analyse the behaviour and predict the evolution of the system over time.

With particular reference also to Figures 6a and 6b, an arrangement of the fiber optic conductor 12 on non-linear, curved or mixed linear paths, as well as an arrangement of a plurality of fiber optic conductors 12 arranged according to two or more paths, a grid or an array, advantageously provides real-time mapping of the entire monitoring area where the plants 90 to be monitored are located.

This mapping, which can be the more defined the greater the number of FBG 14 sensors deployed and the smaller the distance between them, can be useful for machine learning predictive systems and algorithms that use the amount and accuracy of data provided by FBG 14 sensors to determine what types of events or phenomena are occurring in the monitoring area and on the plants 90 being monitored. This mapping also makes possible to determining whether these phenomena may be dangerous and such as to jeopardize the subsistence of plants or crops, such as selectively detecting the localized presence at one or more locations in the monitoring area, of types or species of elements, pest or insect capable of attacking plants and crops.

As can be seen from the foregoing, are evident the advantages that the environmental monitoring method 100 and system 10 for crops of the present invention achieves. The environmental monitoring method and system 10 for crops with FBG sensors is particularly advantageous because makes available to the user an effective monitoring, prevention and active extremely simple safety system which is easy to install, simple to maintain and of low invasiveness and environmental impact, being completely and easily removable.

A further advantage due to the environmental monitoring method 100 and system 10 with for crop with FBG sensors of the present invention is that, unlike conventional electric and electronic radio systems, the FBG sensors 14 are particularly advantageous for outdoor applications, being insensitive to breakage or malfunction due to thermal expansion, oxidation and corrosion, thus allowing contact with atmospheric agents such as water and humidity and high temperature changes.

A further advantage due to the environmental monitoring method 100 and system 10 for crops with FBG sensors of the present invention is that, unlike traditional radio electric and electronic systems, the FBG sensors 14 are completely insensitive to electromagnetic disturbances, an advantage that makes them particularly suitable for use in areas where sudden and frequent electrical discharges due to lightning or other electromagnetic phenomena may occur.

A further advantage due to the environmental monitoring method 100 and system 10 for crops with FBG sensors of the present invention is that it makes available to the user a computer system for detection and broadband transmission of data from the FBG sensors. A further advantage of the environmental monitoring method and system for crops with FBG sensors of the present invention is that it make available to the user a system that can be implemented through algorithms and computer processing software configured for self- learning operating, by means of predictive algorithms or machine learning in such a way as to provide not only a system of monitoring and prevention but also a system of statistical analysis of events. Such analyses prolonged in time allow the system object of the present invention to improve its sensitivity and accuracy, thus making it a system also called and definable "expert".

Although the invention has been described above with particularly reference to some preferred embodiments, given for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, numerous modifications and variations will be clear to a person skilled in the art in light of the above description. The present invention, therefore, is intended to encompass all modifications and variations falling within the scope of protection of the following claims.