Abstract: In one aspect, a method for detecting terrain variations within a field includes receiving one or more images depicting an imaged portion of an agricultural field. The method also includes classifying a portion of the plurality of pixels that are associated with soil within the imaged portion of the agricultural field as soil pixels with each soil pixel being associated with a respective pixel height. Additionally, the method includes identifying each soil pixel having a pixel height that exceeds a height threshold as a candidate ridge pixel and each soil pixel having a pixel height that is less than a depth threshold as a candidate valley pixel. The method further includes determining whether a ridge or a valley is present within the imaged portion of the agricultural field based at least in part on the candidate ridge pixels or the candidate valley pixels.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for determining soil clods within a field includes receiving one or more images depicting an imaged portion of an agricultural field. The method also includes classifying a portion of the plurality of pixels that are associated with soil within the imaged portion of the field as soil pixels with each soil pixel being associated with a respective pixel height. The method also includes generating a first ray from a local maximum in a first direction and a second ray from the local maximum in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first ray until opposing endpoints are determined based on a detected edge condition. Lastly, the method includes determining whether a soil clod based at least in part the first ray or the second ray of the candidate soil clod.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for detecting residue bunches within a field includes receiving one or more images depicting an imaged portion of an agricultural field, with the imaged portion of the field being at least partially represented by a plurality of pixels within the one or more images. The method also includes classifying a portion of the plurality of pixels that are associated with crop residue within the imaged portion of the field as residue pixels, with each residue pixel being associated with a respective pixel height. Additionally, the method includes identifying each residue pixel having a pixel height that exceeds a pixel height threshold as a candidate residue bunch pixel, and determining whether a residue bunch is present within the imaged portion of the field based at least in part on the candidate residue bunch pixels.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for detecting residue bunches within a field includes receiving one or more images depicting an imaged portion of an agricultural field, with the imaged portion of the field being at least partially represented by a plurality of pixels within the one or more images. The method also includes classifying a portion of the plurality of pixels that are associated with crop residue within the imaged portion of the field as residue pixels, with each residue pixel being associated with a respective pixel height. Additionally, the method includes identifying each residue pixel having a pixel height that exceeds a pixel height threshold as a candidate residue bunch pixel, and determining whether a residue bunch is present within the imaged portion of the field based at least in part on the candidate residue bunch pixels.

Abstract: A method for determining residue length within a field includes receiving, with a computing system, a captured image depicting an imaged portion of the field from one or more imaging devices. Furthermore, the method includes determining, with the computing system, an image gradient orientation at each of a plurality of pixels within the captured image. Additionally, the method includes identifying, with the computing system, a residue piece present within the image portion of the field based at least in part on the determined image gradient orientations. Moreover, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a length of the identified residue piece.

Abstract: In one aspect, an agricultural method for monitoring surface conditions for an agricultural field includes receiving, with a computing system, an image of an imaged portion of an agricultural field, with the imaged portion of the agricultural field being represented by a plurality of pixels within the image. The method also includes identifying, with the computing system, at least one pixel-related parameter associated with the plurality of pixels within the image, determining, with the computing system, whether at least one image quality metric for the image is satisfied based at least in part on the at least one pixel-related parameter, and estimating, with the computing system, a surface condition associated with the agricultural field based at least in part on the image when it is determined that the at least one image quality metric is satisfied.

Abstract: A method for determining residue length within a field includes receiving, with a computing system, a captured image depicting an imaged portion of the field from one or more imaging devices. Furthermore, the method includes determining, with the computing system, an image gradient orientation at each of a plurality of pixels within the captured image. Additionally, the method includes identifying, with the computing system, a residue piece present within the image portion of the field based at least in part on the determined image gradient orientations. Moreover, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a length of the identified residue piece.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for detecting residue bunches within a field includes receiving one or more images depicting an imaged portion of an agricultural field, with the imaged portion of the field being at least partially represented by a plurality of pixels within the one or more images. The method also includes classifying a portion of the plurality of pixels that are associated with crop residue within the imaged portion of the field as residue pixels, with each residue pixel being associated with a respective pixel height. Additionally, the method includes identifying each residue pixel having a pixel height that exceeds a pixel height threshold as a candidate residue bunch pixel, and determining whether a residue bunch is present within the imaged portion of the field based at least in part on the candidate residue bunch pixels.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for determining soil clods within a field includes receiving one or more images depicting an imaged portion of an agricultural field. The method also includes classifying a portion of the plurality of pixels that are associated with soil within the imaged portion of the field as soil pixels with each soil pixel being associated with a respective pixel height. The method also includes generating a first ray from a local maximum in a first direction and a second ray from the local maximum in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first ray until opposing endpoints are determined based on a detected edge condition. Lastly, the method includes determining whether a soil clod based at least in part the first ray or the second ray of the candidate soil clod.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for detecting terrain variations within a field includes receiving one or more images depicting an imaged portion of an agricultural field. The method also includes classifying a portion of the plurality of pixels that are associated with soil within the imaged portion of the agricultural field as soil pixels with each soil pixel being associated with a respective pixel height. Additionally, the method includes identifying each soil pixel having a pixel height that exceeds a height threshold as a candidate ridge pixel and each soil pixel having a pixel height that is less than a depth threshold as a candidate valley pixel. The method further includes determining whether a ridge or a valley is present within the imaged portion of the agricultural field based at least in part on the candidate ridge pixels or the candidate valley pixels.

Abstract: A method for determining residue coverage of a field includes receiving, with a computing system, a captured image depicting an imaged portion of a field from one or more imaging devices. Furthermore, the method includes determining, with the computing system, an image gradient orientation at each of a plurality of pixels within the captured image. Additionally, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a plurality of image gradient orientation densities associated with the captured image based on the determined image gradient orientations. Moreover, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a residue coverage parameter associated with the imaged portion of the field based on the determined plurality of image gradient orientation densities.