Overview |
Crop Production |
Crop Pattern |
Crop Yield |
Irrigation |
Soil Management | Precision Farming |
Relevant Products |
Relevant Links
The use of GPS and mobile mapping for decision-based precision agriculture GIS is the link between the field and the office. GIS allows the producer to
The degree of spatial variability present in a field will determine whether unique treatments are warranted for certain areas. Post harvest analysis of the variation in crop yield and the measured factors influencing crop yield will provide useful information for the next growing season. Each year, the producer is able to look back and benefit from previous year's management decisions to help and guide in making current decisions. The farm map is still the foundation of the farm GIS, but now it is a digital map instead of a sketch or lines drawn on and aerial photograph. Now the digital map includes other information and features, all associated with coordinates and time. All of this is linked in a computer database, able to be queried and analyzed. The real reward to GIS as an information technology for making precision agriculture useful is the way GIS helps the producer to visualize the entire agricultural production system. GIS provides the producer a holistic view; beginning to end. Mobile Mapping Understanding how important information technologies are in precision agriculture, especially GPS and GIS, will provide a real appreciation for mobile mapping. Mobile mapping is the ability to collect field data, with unique geospatial time tags and attributes, for integrating into or updating a GIS. Mobile mapping provides the freedom to collect data anytime, anywhere, in any manner. Mobile mapping is like a memory extension only better. It remembers what was recorded, when, and where. Mobile mapping is more than a concept. Like precision agriculture, mobile mapping is a system with individual components: Ruggedized Handheld Personal Computer (HPC) Generally speaking, an HPC is a computing device that can be held in one hand and operated by the other. They come in various form factors: pad, clamshell or fold-over, and tablet form. Data entry occurs through touch screen - pen based entry, handwriting recognition, and/or attachable keyboard. Most HPCs can synchronize data with desktop PCs via serial or Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports. Some HPCs are able to communicate wirelessly, allowing Internet access on the go. Some preferable characteristics for HPCs are:
br>  HPCs - Pad Form Factor  HPC - "Clamshell" or "Fold-over"  HPC - Tablet Form Factor  HPC - with Keyboard |
