Spectroscopy solutions built around calibration.
Our platform starts with a Ventenata prototype and expands to customer-requested plant targets for mixed media or direct plant confirmation.
Why detection is hard
Plant targets vary by medium, moisture, and region.
Subtle signatures
Spectral signals are faint when plants are mixed with other material or environmental noise.
Field variability
Different growth stages and moisture levels can shift spectra in unpredictable ways.
Slow confirmation
Lab methods like DNA testing can be accurate but are not practical for real-time decisions.
Our solution approach
Targeted calibration with repeatable field workflows.
Controlled capture
- Close-range geometry and internal illumination
- Smartphone-based workflow for rapid results
- Designed for mixed media and direct plant scans
Customer-requested targets
- Ventenata is the prototype calibration
- Plan to calibrate for any customer-requested plant
- Field validation tied to real-world samples
The science behind the solutions
NIR spectroscopy and machine learning make fast, field-ready plant confirmation possible.
NIR spectroscopy and plant chemistry
Near-infrared light measures overtone and combination bands tied to O-H, C-H, and N-H bonds. Differences in water, cellulose, lignin, protein, and mineral content create repeatable spectral fingerprints across plant species.
ML detection in mixed media
We use preprocessing and models like PLS-DA, SVM, and lightweight neural networks to isolate species signatures. Training across diverse mixtures enables detection even when targets are diluted in other materials.
Hardware exists, application is new
Miniaturized NIR sensors, stable illumination, and smartphone inference are commercially available and research-backed. To our knowledge, no one has applied them as field-ready solutions for invasive species detection across mixed media and direct plant confirmation.
Prototype plan
Phase I focuses on the Ventenata use case as proof of the calibration platform.
Build the labeled dataset
Collect spectra from mixed media and direct plant samples, with metadata for variability.
Train and validate
Quantify performance and document failure modes in field conditions.
Deploy prototype solutions
Ship handheld units to pilot partners and collect feedback.
Prototype targets (Ventenata)
Clear performance thresholds for Phase I decisions.
Targets
- At least 95% sensitivity and 90% specificity on held-out samples
- Stable performance across mixed media and moisture ranges
- Documented failure modes and mitigation steps
Why it matters
- Validates the calibration platform for new targets
- Proves faster-than-DNA confirmation in the field
- De-risks future customer-requested calibrations
Need a custom calibration solution?
Tell us your target species and sampling context.
Request a consultation