1. Coordination and support of setting up a network for developing
a system for common data exchange in the agricultural sector
The aXTool: a supportive tool in data exchange
harmonization work for interoperability of
information systems in agriculture
Sjaak Wolfert (LEI Wageningen UR, NL)
Liisa Pesonen (MTT Agrifood research, FI)
Esther Mietzsch (KTBL, DE)
EFITA 2013
Turin, Italy, 26 June 2013

2. Problem statement
• increasing, complex requirements for
handling of data that are part of various
processes
• how to deal with existing installed base of
information systems?
• how to integrate these systems smoothly?
– need for integrative framework
– need for coordination network

3. Objective: Living Lab platform
cases
discussion
forum
creates coherencedevelops
creates/adds
uses boosts
initiates
Integrative
framework
Standards, we
b
services, guide
lines
• precision fertilization
• spraying advice
• controlled traffic farming
• sensor-based data processing
• sustainability reporting
• land parcel identification and
registration
• benchmarking
• Geo-Field-Optimisation-Service
• Quality Management System

4. Target groups
• directly: information systems/tools
developers, standardization bodies
• indirectly: farmers, advisors, etc.
• Challenges:
– Support in looking for existing solutions
– Ability to contribute knowledge and solutions
Build interactive, information-rich community
of practice

5. Work packages
WP1Projectcoordinationandmanagement
WP5 Synthesis, recommendations and
defining SRA
WP3 Set-up of agriXchange platform
WP4 Development of a reference
framework for interoperability
(tested against use cases)
WP2 Analysis of current situation in
EU-27
WP6Stakeholderintegrationanddissemination

6. Use Case modelling – wide scope

7. Interfaces between
actors can be
picked up
Use cases - narrow scope
”Arrows”
- data content
- data format
- protocols
- existing standards
- best practices
- dictionaries, ontologies

8. Use case description template
• Name of the use case *
• Short description*
• Relevance for European
agri-sector
• Relevant countries or
regions
• Relevant parties
• Relevant “conditions” *
– Standards used in the use
case
– Dictionaries
– Regulations and legislation
– Technologies
• Definition of use case
variants
• Description of the
information exchange
processes and exchanged
data; data dictionaries and
their interconnection *
• Known issues and
bottlenecks for
harmonization
• Proposed recommendations
and solutions for
harmonization

9. Defining information flows

10. axRIM: Reference Information
Model

11. Snapshot of the platform

12. aXTool
Wide Scope
Use case
Name & purpose
Details;
- diagram
- information model
Narrow Scope
Interface
Name & purpose
Details;
- meta data
- new
- modified
- user experience
- links; std., apps
- recipe
- examples
Usage
Grouping
Interest
groups
Theme
groups
Users
Developers
Modellers
Business
users
Scope
Narrow
Wide
Quality
management
Contributors
Name
email address
Organisation
Community + link
Search
Contribute
Discussion
> forming networks
Evaluation by user
experience
Functions
Content classified
according to aXRIM

13. agriXchange reference framework
• provides structured aid for developing interoperable
systems in agriculture
• contributor is guided step-by-step, supported by
intelligent search functions
• provides a rich knowledge base of existing use cases
• knowledge is structured so that it can be re-used
easily
Current platform contains 9 use cases, 24 interfaces and
20 standards
Conclusions

14. • Platform is established
– network of people (community of practice)
– LinkedIn community: > 900 users!
• How can the platform become self-
supportive after the end of the project?
– Platform for other projects (e.g. ICT-agri)?
– Adopted by standardisation bodies?
Beyond agriXchange?

15. Coordination and support of setting up
a network for developing a system for
common data exchange in the
agricultural sector
contact:
Sjaak Wolfert (coordinator)
LEI Wageningen UR
sjaak.wolfert@wur.nl
mobile: +31 624 135 790
more information:
www.agriXchange.eu