Weeds Wither As Spraying Becomes Spot-on

A sensor detects the presence of weeds in the City of Logan.
Logan City Council officers Michael Moody (seated left) and Zacary Brits with the new weed sensor technology being used by Council.

Technology is calling time on those weeds which seem to find a way to sprout in local footpaths, gutters and road edges.

Logan City Council is using a state-of-the-art sensor that detects the presence of weeds creeping up through cracks or pavement joins and targets them directly with herbicide.

Previously, it took up to a year for staff on foot to patrol the city and spray weeds.

The truck-mounted sensor with an infra-red beam does the job in an environmentally friendly way.

The sensor is triggered by the presence of the pigment chlorophyll in weeds.

It the applies a targeted and precise application of herbicide, which reduces overall chemical usage and minimises harm to non-target plants and ecosystems.

The new technology, which comes at no additional cost to ratepayers, helps minimise weeds from growing into the drainage system and clogging stormwater run-off.

Logan is the first Council in Queensland to acquire and use the technology from the United States.

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