Geographic information system (GIS) and its application in precision farming. GIS integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS is important for precision horticulture as it allows farmers to analyze spatial data on elevation, soil properties, climate and natural factors to make informed decisions on crop planning and management.
2. Precision Horticulture is the application of
technologies and principals to manage spatial and
temporal variability associated with all aspects of
horticultural production for the purpose of
improving crop performance and environmental
quality
What is Precision Horticulture?
The required information for Precision
farming is obtained with the help of
technologies like geographic information
system (GIS), Global Positioning System
(GPS), remote sensing (RS)
3. • Geoinformatics deals with integrating computer science &
geosciences to solve complex scientific questions.
• It is the science of gathering, analysing, interpreting,
distributing and using geographic information.
• Geoinformatics includes surveying and mapping, RS, GIS,
and GPS.
Geoinformatics for Precision Farming
4. What is Geographical Information System?
A geographic information system (GIS)
integrates hardware, software, and data
for capturing, managing, analyzing, and
displaying all forms of geographically
referenced information
• A powerful set of tools for collecting,
storing, retrieving, transforming, and
displaying spatial data from the real
world. (Burroughs, 1986)
5. Principle
Preparing Result
One of the most exciting aspects of GIS technology is the
variety of different ways in which the information can be
presented.
Data Capture
Data sources are mainly obtained from manual digitization and
scanning of aerial photographs, paper maps, and existing digital
data sets.
Database Management and Update
Data security, data integrity, and data storage and
retrieval, and data maintenance abilities
Geographic Analysis
• The collected information is analyzed and interpreted
qualitatively and quantitatively.
6. Functions
Visualization
• This represents the ability to display your data, your maps, and information.
Data Capture
• The input of data into a GIS can be achieved through many different methods
of gathering. For example, aerial photography, scanning, digitizing, GPS or
global positioning system is just a few of the ways a GIS user could obtain
data.
Data Storage
• Some data is stored such as a map in a drawer, while others, such as
digital data, can be as a hardcopy, stored on CD or on your hard drive.
Data Manipulation
• The digital geographical data can be edited, this allows for many attribute to
be added, edited, or deleted to the specification of the project.
Query And Analysis
• GIS was used widely in decision making process for the new
commission districts. We use population data to help establish an equal
representation of population to area for each district.
7. Components
Method
• The map creation can either be automated raster to vector creator or it can be
manually victories using the scanned images.
Hardware
• Computer System, Scanner, Printer, Plotter, Flat Board
Software
• GIS software in use are MapInfo, ARC/Info, AutoCAD Map, etc.
• The software available can be said to be application specific.
Data
• A GIS will integrate spatial data with other data resources and can even use
a DBMS, used by most organization to maintain their data, to manage
spatial data.
People
• GIS users range from technical specialists who design and maintain.
8. Geographic Information Technologies
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Software systems with capability for input, storage,
manipulation/analysis and output/display of geographic (spatial)
information
Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
• a system of earth satellites which can provide precise location
on the earth’s surface
Remote Sensing (RS)
• use of satellites or aircraft to capture information about
the earth’s surface
• Digital ortho images a key product (map accurate
digital photos)
9. There are two main forms of GIS data
Most GIS software can now handle both forms: vector and raster
Vector Model
In vector data sets, map features such as points, lines, and
polygons are organized and manipulated in a database.
The fundamental concept of vector GIS is that all geographic
features in the real work can be represented either as:
points or dots (nodes): trees, poles, airports, cities
lines (arcs): streams, streets
areas (polygons): land, cities, counties, forest, rock type
10. Raster Model
In raster data sets, the data are organized as a
matrix of numerical values and referenced spatially
by row and column position.
area is covered by network with (usually) equal-sized, square
cells attributes are recorded by assigning each cell a single
value based on the majority feature (attribute) in the cell,
such as land use type.
Image data is a special case of raster data in which the
“attribute” is a reflectance value from the geomagnetic
spectrum
cells in image data often called pixels (picture elements)
11. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
0 R T
1 R T
2 H R
3 R
4 R R
5 R
6 R T T H
7 R T T
8 R
9 R
Real World
Vector Representation
Raster Representation
Concept of
Vector and Raster
line
polygon
point
12. Street Network layer: lines Land Parcels layer: polygons
Raster (image) Layer
Digital Ortho Photograph Layer:
Digital Ortho photo: combines the
visual properties of a photograph
with the positional accuracy of a
map, in computer readable form.
Vector
Layers
Layers
0 1500 3000 Feet
13. DATA analysis
• This map shows the elevation of the site selected. If this is a large
field we can select the crops according to the elevation.
• But this selected area is very small and elevation only varies between
27m-44m. Therefore we can select one common crop which is
suitable for low lands for the whole field.
• The importance of the elevation
map of this small field is we can
apply the management practices
according to the elevation.
• Specially we can apply soil
conservation measures in the
areas where the outlines are
present in more closely.
Importance of elevation
14. A pH reading is a measurement that expresses the degree of
acidity or alkalinity, very much like heat and cold are expressed in
degrees Centigrade or Fahrenheit. The pH scale has 14 units and
is centered on 7, which is neutral. Levels below 7 are considered
in the acid or sour range and readings above 7 are alkaline or
sweet.
Soil nutrients are at their optimum availability in the range
between 6 and 7.
The pH level greatly affects the fertility of soil and quality of plant
growth.
Importance of soil pH
15. Under alkaline conditions, the
solubility of minerals decrease to
the point that nutrient deficiencies
occur.
Under acidic conditions, many
soil minerals dissolve and
increase the concentration of
metal ions to toxic levels.
16. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is a measurement that correlates with soil
properties that affect crop productivity, including soil texture, cation
exchange capacity (CEC), drainage conditions, organic matter level,
salinity, and subsoil characteristics.
By horticultural standards, soils with an EC greater than 4 dS/m are
considered saline.
Importance of soil EC
17. Why is GIS so important for horticulture?
• The basic principle of a farm works on the quantity of input
and output, that means demand and supply.
• Farmers need to balance both, the input and output for
maximum crop yield and profitability.
• GIS has the ability to analyze and visualize horticultural areas
and workflows, this makes it beneficial for farmers in the
farming industry.
• Positive farming is dependent on making informed decisions on
where, what, and when — spatial phenomenon through GIS.
18. • GIS has been playing an important role in horticulture development around
the globe.
• It helps farmers elevate crop production, reduce raw material cost, and
manage land resources very efficiently through the integration of GIS
technology.
• Horticulture mapping plays a crucial role in management of soil types and
irrigation methodologies for any farm area.
• This helps farmers, especially in India control and manage horticultural
resources.
• This information can be easily used by farmers through geographically
referenced information.
19. • Crop mapping
• Crop analysis
• Landscape Mapping for Irrigation
• Soil Analysis
• Soil Erosion Analysis
• Studying various crop models
• Drainage systems through elevation models
Some of the benefits using GIS for horticulture
are listed below
20. Mapping and Identification
Geographic Information System plays a crucial role in identification
and mapping of fields for optimizing the crop yield in other areas.
Increasing crop yield is one of the most important aspects and
requirements of horticulture, GIS can be used to reorder crops
patterns to manage food security, or even ensure maximum
productivity from various soil types.
Mapping is also used to trace areas that are vulnerable to drought
and flood.
This valuable information can be used by farmers to prepare
possibility plans or even take informed decisions to grow the right
crops.
21. • Ground below the soil can have slopes that can affect drainage
and water access to the crops, this means it can either deliver
excess water to the crops or dehydrate the soil due to less water.
• Other factors include the intensity of sunlight, the amount of
rainfall, man-made structures, industries around the field,
pollution levels and more.
• All these factors can be taken into account through GIS for
horticultural planning, as these factors can affect the quality of
crops to a large extent.
Natural Factors
22. Climate changes can significantly affect soil erosion, soil quality,
and in-turn damage crops.
These are disasters that can be avoided through the application of
GIS, change in weather patterns can cause –
• Changes in precipitation
• Changes in temperature
• Increase in crop pricing & more
Climate Change
