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Chandigarh University researchers use Artificial Intelligence to develop Model for predicting Accurate Crop Yield; Innovation to benefit Indian Farmers

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Researchers have leveraged Climate Data and Satellite Technology for developing the predictive model

CHANDIGARH, India, June 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In a significant advancement for smart agriculture and precision farming, researchers at Chandigarh University have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Transformer Model that is capable of accurately predicting crop yields using satellite imagery, climate data and historical agricultural records.

The innovation would be instrumental in empowering farmers, policymakers and agricultural agencies to make informed decisions while strengthening food security and advancing resilient farm management.

The research, led by Kusum Lata, Assistant Professor Department of Computer Science Engineering, Chandigarh University, Dr Navneet Kaur Professor Department of CSE and Dr Simrandeep Singh Professor from University Centre of Research and Development at Chandigarh University that focuses on improving crop yield forecasting in Punjab’s agricultural heartland. The study, recently presented at the 2026 International Conference on Signal Processing and Electronics Design (ICSPED) at Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Chandigarh that introduces a lightweight transformer-based system that leverages multi-source data to estimate crop production before harvest with greater accuracy and lower computational costs.

Notably, the accurate crop yield prediction has become increasingly important as farmers face growing challenges from climate variability, changing weather patterns and rising food demand. Traditional field surveys are often time-consuming, labour-intensive and limited in scale. The Chandigarh University researchers sought to overcome these limitations by integrating advanced AI techniques with real-time Earth observation data.

Kusum Lata, Assistant Professor Department of Computer Science Engineering at CU said, “The transformer model utilizes data from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites which are advanced Earth observation satellites operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) to continuously monitor agricultural fields and provide information on crop growth, vegetation health, soil moisture and field conditions. The satellite observations are combined with climatic variables such as rainfall, temperature and soil moisture, along with historical crop production records, creating a comprehensive picture of crop performance throughout the growing season.”

Kusum added, “Unlike conventional machine learning models, the newly developed lightweight transformer can identify critical crop growth stages and learn complex temporal patterns that influence final yields. We have designed the model to deliver high predictive performance that require fewer computational resources, making it suitable for practical deployment in large-scale agricultural monitoring systems.”

“The model was evaluated on four major crops cultivated in Ludhiana district, namely paddy, maize, moong and sugarcane, using data collected between 2019 and 2023. Experimental results demonstrated that the transformer model outperformed widely used approaches such as Random Forest and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models, indicating stronger agreement between predicted and actual yields. The framework also recorded lower prediction errors and improved computational efficiency.

Kusum has worked as a Junior Research Fellow in the Agriculture and Crop Monitoring Division at Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), PAU Ludhiana, contributed to geospatial research projects, including crop residue burning analysis using remote sensing and geospatial mapping techniques.

The study further revealed that the lightweight architecture requires nearly 40 percent fewer parameters than conventional transformer models while delivering faster and accurate predictions. This level of efficiency makes this automatic framework suitable for near real-time agricultural applications, including regional crop monitoring, production forecasting and early warning systems.

According to the researchers, the ability to accurately forecast crop yields before harvest can have significant implications for farmers and governments alike. Reliable forecasts can support agricultural planning, optimize resource allocation, strengthen crop insurance mechanisms and improve market management strategies. In a state like Punjab, where agriculture plays a central role in the economy, such technologies can contribute to more resilient and sustainable farming systems.

The researchers also shared that one of the key strengths of the model lies in its ability to combine multiple sources of information into a single predictive model. By integrating satellite-derived observations with climatic and historical datasets, the system captures the complex interactions that influence crop productivity and provides a more robust understanding of agricultural outcomes.

The future developments will also focus on enabling near real-time forecasting through cloud-based platforms, paving the way for broader adoption of AI-driven decision support systems in agriculture, added the Chandigarh University researchers.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

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Vobile Signs Strategic Cooperation and Commercial Agreements with UNN to Build AI Factories in Brunei Darussalam

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September 4, 2026

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SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vobile, a global leader in digital content protection and transaction services, has signed strategic cooperation and commercial agreements with Unified National Networks Sdn Bhd (UNN), an integrated national telecommunication network operator of Brunei Darussalam.

Christopher Phan, Acting Chief Executive Officer of UNN, and Yangbin Wang, Chief Executive Officer of Vobile, Inc., signed the agreements at a ceremony held at UNN’s Tungku Submarine Cable Landing Station on September 3, 2026. The ceremony was witnessed by Yang Mulia Haji Hairul Mohd Daud bin Haji Abd Karim, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Infocommunications), Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, and UNN Board Director.

“The development of AI-ready infrastructure is of critical importance, not only for our two organizations but also for the future growth of Brunei’s digital economy,” said Heiko Trost, Chief Digital Officer of UNN, at the signing ceremony. “We view this relationship with Vobile as far more than a conventional customer-provider engagement. We see it as a partnership built on shared ambition, innovation and mutual success. Together, we have the opportunity to create meaningful value for Brunei, strengthen the nation’s digital capabilities, and explore new opportunities across the region.”

“DreamMaker helps film and television studios, independent producers and creators use AI technologies to create video entertainment while protecting their intellectual property and finding new ways to generate revenue from their work. This is especially important as AI transforms the global creative industry,” said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President of Vobile. “By combining UNN’s infrastructure with Vobile’s AI capabilities, we can help establish Brunei as a leading AI economy in Southeast Asia while delivering sustainable economic growth for the nation.”

UNN’s new AI-capable data center, designed with liquid cooling and high power density to support NVIDIA’s latest GPU systems, will allocate 25MW of capacity to Vobile. An additional 25MW is reserved for Vobile’s future expansion. This enables Vobile to run AI factories that scale its DreamMaker platform and related services to meet growing demand from clients including film and television studios, independent producers, and content creators.

About Vobile

Vobile is the global leader in digital content protection and transaction services, trusted by the world’s premier entertainment companies, platforms, music labels, sports leagues, and publishers. Using AI technologies, Vobile’s solutions make creative content more valuable. Founded in Silicon Valley, Vobile has operations across North America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. For more information, visit www.vobile.com.

Contact:
Vobile
PR@vobile.com

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SOURCE Vobile, Inc.

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MongoDB, Inc. to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences

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September 4, 2026

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NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MongoDB, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDB) today announced that it will present at three upcoming investor conferences:

Citi 2026 Global TMT Conference. The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:50 AM Eastern Time.Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference 2026. The presentation is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 10:10 AM Pacific Time (1:10 PM Eastern Time).Piper Sandler Growth Frontiers Conference. The presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 11:30 AM Central Time (12:30 PM Eastern Time).

A live webcast of each presentation will be available on the Events page of the MongoDB investor relations website at https://investors.mongodb.com/news-events/events. A replay of the webcasts will also be available for a limited time.

About MongoDB

MongoDB is the real-time, intelligent data platform for modern applications in the multi-cloud and AI era. Headquartered in New York, MongoDB helps organizations move faster, build smarter, and simplify complex architectures on a unified platform for operational data, search, real-time analytics, and AI-powered retrieval, coupled with MongoDB Voyage AI’s industry-leading embedding and reranking models. The platform is available as a fully managed service with MongoDB Atlas or self-managed with MongoDB Enterprise Advanced or Community Edition. Millions of developers and more than 70,000 customers, including approximately 75% of the Fortune 100, rely on MongoDB for their most important customer-facing applications. To learn more, visit mongodb.com. 

Investor Relations
Jess Lubert
ir@mongodb.com

Media Relations
MongoDB
press@mongodb.com

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SOURCE MongoDB, Inc.

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AI Can Help CIOs Reclaim Capacity as 83% of IT Spend and 66% of Staff Time Go Toward Keeping the Lights On, Says Info-Tech Research Group

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September 4, 2026

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IT teams are expected to drive innovation, strengthen resilience, and support growth while most of their time and budget remain committed to maintaining existing systems and services. Info-Tech Research Group’s recent blueprint, Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations, helps CIOs identify where targeted AI investments can reduce the KTLO burden, reclaim capacity for higher-value work, and build practical AI skills.

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — Routine IT operations and maintenance consume 82.6% of IT spend and 66% of IT teams’ time and effort, according to Info-Tech Research Group’s IT Spend & Staffing Benchmarking data. That allocation leaves only a fraction of IT capacity available for new technology initiatives, operational improvements, and transformation.

To help organizations address this imbalance, Info-Tech has published its Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations blueprint. The resource helps CIOs identify AI-enabled opportunities to reduce the cost and effort of keeping the lights on (KTLO), quantify their potential value, assess organizational readiness and risk, and build a portfolio of initiatives for launch.

“KTLO has always been treated as an unavoidable tax on IT, but that mindset is outdated,” says Fred Chagnon, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. “Targeted AI investments can help CIOs reduce low-value manual work, reclaim budget and staff time, and reinvest both in innovation. The result is an IT organization that runs smarter and has more capacity to deliver value.”

Info-Tech cautions that common cost-cutting responses can deepen the KTLO problem. Running hardware and software beyond end of life can increase technical debt and security risk; using outsourcing primarily as a cost-reduction strategy can overlook its value in reclaiming capacity and accessing specialized expertise; and eliminating growth or transformation initiatives can starve the business of future value.

Five AI Tactics for Reducing KTLO Cost and Effort
Info-Tech’s research identifies five AI-enabled tactics that IT leaders can assess based on their operational priorities, technology environment, and organizational readiness:

Intelligent incident management and AIOps: Detect anomalies, correlate events across operational silos, support predictive maintenance, and automate common remediation activities.Autonomous patch and vulnerability management: Automate patch prioritization, deployment, and verification to reduce manual effort and support more consistent compliance.Smart data classification, cleaning, and curation: Reduce duplicate and outdated data, storage bloat, and manual data management while strengthening the governed data foundation required for AI.Generative AI service desk and conversational self-service: Deflect routine Tier 1 requests, improve access to support, and free service desk staff to focus on more complex work.AI-assisted script, documentation, and code generation: Accelerate scripting and documentation, preserve knowledge about legacy systems, and reduce the effort required to maintain them.

Info-Tech’s Four-Step Framework for AI-Enabled KTLO Reduction
Identifying a potential use case is only the starting point. CIOs also need to understand its expected value, implementation requirements, and organizational risks before committing resources. To guide that evaluation, the Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations blueprint applies a four-step assessment process across all five tactics:

Uncover opportunities. Identify manual, repetitive, and resource-intensive KTLO activities that could benefit from AI and automation.Quantify the value. Estimate the labor time and costs associated with each activity, then project potential cost reductions, reclaimed effort, and time to value.Assess readiness and risk. Evaluate organizational constraints such as data quality, integration requirements, process maturity, skills, change readiness, and implementation risk.Blueprint for launch. Define viable initiatives, accountable teams, expected outcomes, and actionable milestones, then consolidate them into a Quantified KTLO Reduction Initiative Portfolio.

KTLO reduction can also serve as a workforce development opportunity. Applying AIOps, automation, and generative AI to familiar, measurable processes gives IT teams practical experience in a controlled environment and prepares them to lead broader AI initiatives across the organization.

The Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations blueprint and its supporting Quantified KTLO Reduction Initiative Portfolio provide CIOs with practical guidance for turning assessed opportunities into executive-level investment proposals. By connecting projected cost and effort reductions with readiness, risk, time to value, and implementation milestones, the research helps leaders move KTLO discussions from short-term cost cutting to measurable reinvestment in innovation.

For exclusive and timely commentary from Info-Tech’s experts, including Fred Chagnon, and access to the complete Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations blueprint, please contact pr@infotech.com.

About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is the “get things done” partner for over 30,000 IT, HR, and marketing leaders worldwide. The fastest growing research and advisory firm, Info-Tech enables leaders to make well-informed decisions and transform their organizations through AI, strategic foresight, step-by-step methodologies, practical tools, industry-leading advisory, and training programs. For nearly 30 years, tens of thousands of private and public organizations have trusted Info-Tech to lead their most important initiatives through periods of change and deliver outcomes that truly matter.

To learn more about Info-Tech’s HR research and advisory services, visit McLean & Company, and for data-driven software buying insights and vendor evaluations, visit the firm’s SoftwareReviews platform.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group

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