{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T00:56:45Z","timestamp":1760144205938,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,27]],"date-time":"2024-03-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1711497600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000001","name":"National Science Foundation (NSF)","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["EEC-1941529"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["EEC-1941529"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000001","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Almond Board of California","award":["EEC-1941529"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["EEC-1941529"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study introduces a neural network-based approach to predict dust emissions, specifically PM2.5 particles, during almond harvesting in California. Using a feedforward neural network (FNN), this research predicted PM2.5 emissions by analyzing key operational parameters of an advanced almond harvester. Preprocessing steps like outlier removal and normalization were employed to refine the dataset for training. The network\u2019s architecture was designed with two hidden layers and optimized using tanh activation and MSE loss functions through the Adam algorithm, striking a balance between model complexity and predictive accuracy. The model was trained on extensive field data from an almond pickup system, including variables like brush speed, angular velocity, and harvester forward speed. The results demonstrate a notable predictive accuracy of the FNN model, with a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.02 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.01, indicating high precision in forecasting PM2.5 levels. By integrating machine learning with agricultural practices, this research provides a significant tool for environmental management in almond production, offering a method to reduce harmful emissions while maintaining operational efficiency. This model presents a solution for the almond industry and sets a precedent for applying predictive analytics in sustainable agriculture.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s24072136","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,27]],"date-time":"2024-03-27T12:41:57Z","timestamp":1711543317000},"page":"2136","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Predictive Neural Network Modeling for Almond Harvest Dust Control"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"24","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3254-282X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Reza","family":"Serajian","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5441-7982","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jian-Qiao","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5184-0363","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jeanette","family":"Cobian-I\u00f1iguez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6498-9079","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Reza","family":"Ehsani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2024, January 15). Flory 850 Low Dust Harvester. Available online: https:\/\/www.goflory.com\/index.php\/products\/item\/860-pto-nut-harvester."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"(2024, January 15). Weiss McNair 9800 California Special. Available online: https:\/\/www.weissmcnair.com\/9800p-harvester."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"(2024, January 15). Jackrabbit Equipment, Lower Dust Cleaner Product Faster Speed. 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