Michael Asher.
Data & software

Michael Asher

Modelling weather with modern compute @ precip.ai

I've worked across the software stack. Machine learning, web app and devops. Models to estimate crop yields and predict the weather. Front end apps to manage farms and model cities in 3D.

I have enjoyed working on software products that touch the physical world be it weather, urban planning or agriculture.

01

Work

01 Precip 2024 – present Co-founder

Precip

precip.ai

Modelling weather with modern compute. Focussed on hyperlocal rainfall.

Precip web app showing a continental radar rainfall map of the United States
Rainfall obvservations at less than 1 mile resolution
02 Giraffe 2018 – 2024 Co-founder

Giraffe

giraffe.build

Software to empower city makers. Draw simply in 3D on a map — buildings, roads, landscape — and the areas, yields and feasibility update as you move things.

Giraffe urban design app: a 3D masterplan on a map with a properties panel and live urban metrics
A precinct in progress, metrics recomputing live
03 Granular 2018 – 2021 Data science lead

Granular

granular.ag

Farm management software, then part of Corteva. Developed the satellite data based yield model covering the entire United States. Used in Profit Maps. It reached growers through a collaboration with John Deere.

Satellite-derived yield map across several sections of farmland, red through green
Legend: yield in bushels per acre, 122 to 216, red to green
Estimated yield
Granular blog post, Remote Sensing Powers New Granular Profitability Insights
Remote sensing powers Granular profitability insights
04 FarmLogs 2015 – 2018 Lead data scientist

FarmLogs

Machine learning on satellite imagery for farmers. Since acquired by Bushel.

Portfolio / farmlogs

Crop Area Estimation

A machine learning model to estimate crop areas. This involved cleaning and processing large volumes of satellite imagery.

Satellite view of a field before classification
5 in season images
Classified crop areas over the same field
56 ac. corn, 20 ac. replant and 46 ac. beans

Cloud Filter

A deep learning based cloud filter to improve the quality of data going into our models.

Cloud-free satellite scene
Clear
Cloudy satellite scene
Cloudy

Yield Estimation

A model to estimate corn and soy yields based on real time satellite imagery. The model was trained on millions of acres of historical yield files and 8 growing seasons of satellite imagery.

Estimated yield map derived from satellite imagery
Estimated yield
Measured yield map from combine yield monitor data
Measured yield

Prescription Generator

App to automatically generate variable rate seeding and nitrogen prescriptions based on soil maps, climate data, satellite imagery and historical yield files. Users can customize rates and download in the format appropriate for their machinery.

Variable rate prescription editor showing zoned rates over a field
Variable rate prescriptions, ready for the machine
02

CV

Michael Asher

Data scientist and full stack engineer.

Experience
Education
  • Y Combinator W242024
  • PhD, mathematics & computer science ANU — surrogate models for groundwater2013 – 2021
  • BPhil, mathematics & computer science ANU — high distinction average, first class honours2009 – 2012
Selected publications
  • System and method for remote nitrogen monitoring and prescription. US 9,652,840, granted 2017. Shriver, Prasad, Asher, Blackmer.
  • Asher, M. J., et al. A review of surrogate models and their application to groundwater modeling. Water Resources Research 51.8 (2015): 5957–5973.
Awards
  • CSIRO Flagship Scholarship2013 – 16
  • Australian Postgraduate Award2013 – 16
  • Burgmann College Medal2012
  • ANU Merit Scholarship2009 – 12