GIS: The Systematic GIS: The Systematic Approach to Precise Approach to Precise Farm ManagementFarm Management

Robert BiffleRobert BifflePrecision AgriculturePrecision Agriculture

April, 21 2003April, 21 2003

Statement of the ProblemStatement of the ProblemIn the ever changing markets of In the ever changing markets of today’s economies, data needs to be today’s economies, data needs to be processed into information quickly and processed into information quickly and scientifically while being transferred to scientifically while being transferred to decision makers in a timely manner. decision makers in a timely manner. Decision makers can then make Decision makers can then make decisions that are timely and accurate decisions that are timely and accurate for their application specific situation, for their application specific situation, which in our case is farm management.which in our case is farm management.

Project GoalsProject Goals► ““Accurate and precise” collection of field data Accurate and precise” collection of field data

using using CalibratedCalibrated InstrumentsInstruments

► Use of technology (Use of technology (i.e.,i.e., GIS systems) to quickly GIS systems) to quickly and carefully process data into information. and carefully process data into information.

► Using technology to apply information to gain Using technology to apply information to gain knowledge about in-field phenomena. knowledge about in-field phenomena.

► Increase profit and decrease cost for the Increase profit and decrease cost for the operation through better management operation through better management practicespractices

Methodology: Data SourcesMethodology: Data Sources►1 meter imagery, courtesy of SST and 1 meter imagery, courtesy of SST and

the Certified Reflectance Imaging the Certified Reflectance Imaging System (CRIS) projectSystem (CRIS) project

►1 meter DOQQ and soil types map 1 meter DOQQ and soil types map from the USGSfrom the USGS

►Base data (state and county maps) Base data (state and county maps) from ESRIfrom ESRI

Methodology: Data Methodology: Data PreparationPreparation

►Visually inspect data for errors during Visually inspect data for errors during collectioncollection

►Use SSTReflector program to calibrate Use SSTReflector program to calibrate (remove irradiance) on remotely sensed (remove irradiance) on remotely sensed imagesimages

►NDVI creation and NDVI creation and scalingscaling with PCI with PCI softwaresoftware

►Surface generation and information Surface generation and information analysis using SSToolboxanalysis using SSToolbox

Visual Inspection of Camera Visual Inspection of Camera FileFile

Transposed Data

Ref

lect

ed

Ligh

t

Inco

min

g Li

ght

Camera

Radiometer

Using radiometers in the field to capture incoming light, takes the place of older tarp methods which are more costly and cumbersome

to use

Visual Inspection of Radiometer Visual Inspection of Radiometer FileFile

Data Preparation: ImagesData Preparation: ImagesOriginal TIFF Image (ODR)

Image Reflection CalculationsImage Reflection Calculations

Image Reflection CalculationsImage Reflection Calculations

Normalized Reflectance Normalized Reflectance ImageImage

NDVI CreationNDVI Creation►Using the standard Normalized Difference Using the standard Normalized Difference

Vegetative Index (NDVI) equation (NIR-R) / Vegetative Index (NDVI) equation (NIR-R) / (NIR+R) yields the single band TIFF image(NIR+R) yields the single band TIFF image

►Calibration of NDVI to a standard scale Calibration of NDVI to a standard scale with the following equation (NDVI + 1) * with the following equation (NDVI + 1) * 100100

►This creates a scale from 0 to 200 which This creates a scale from 0 to 200 which can be compared to other NDVI images can be compared to other NDVI images created with the same methodologycreated with the same methodology

Scaled NDVI ImageScaled NDVI ImageWhite dots

are trees and higher NDVI

values

Lower NDVI

values

Surface CreationSurface Creation► Using ToolBox the NDVI image can be made Using ToolBox the NDVI image can be made

into a surface, from which further into a surface, from which further informational analysis can be achieved. informational analysis can be achieved.

Management Zone CreationsManagement Zone Creations► Using the NDVI surface, Toolbox can create Using the NDVI surface, Toolbox can create

management zones (based on NDVI).management zones (based on NDVI).

Surface Creations Surface Creations cont.cont.►With the continual collection of data, With the continual collection of data,

time series analysis can be preformed.time series analysis can be preformed.

►The same procedures were used for The same procedures were used for both dates of the NDVI surface both dates of the NDVI surface creationscreations

►The difference NDVI or time series The difference NDVI or time series surface is made by subtracting the surface is made by subtracting the NDVI values from each dateNDVI values from each date

NDVI Difference SurfaceNDVI Difference Surface

USGS General Soil Types MapUSGS General Soil Types Map

Bad Soil Areas

Low Reflectance

LOW NDVI

Problem Verification in the Problem Verification in the FieldFieldActual bad trees in the problem areas of the field pictured below

Interpretation of ResultsInterpretation of Results► Normalization of the NDVI images allows the Normalization of the NDVI images allows the

time series and a safe method of comparing time series and a safe method of comparing digital numbers over timedigital numbers over time

► Combination of imagery, soil types, and in Combination of imagery, soil types, and in field verification can greatly increase field verification can greatly increase management information and decision management information and decision making accuracy and/or verification of making accuracy and/or verification of current management practicescurrent management practices

► ““Problematic areas” identifiable on final Problematic areas” identifiable on final map as well as imagery and NDVI surfacesmap as well as imagery and NDVI surfaces

► Imagery must have field verification to yield Imagery must have field verification to yield the most useful informationthe most useful information

Project ConcernsProject Concerns►Scientific research and development is a Scientific research and development is a

costly venture and takes capitalcostly venture and takes capital

►NDVI, soil data, and hand held recordings NDVI, soil data, and hand held recordings still need field verifications such as actual still need field verifications such as actual yield amounts, and inspection of trouble yield amounts, and inspection of trouble spots identified by imageryspots identified by imagery

►NDVI alone is hard to trouble shoot what NDVI alone is hard to trouble shoot what is going on in the field, this is where the is going on in the field, this is where the trained human brain will prevailtrained human brain will prevail

ConclusionConclusion► Imagery can assist in the monitoring of in-field Imagery can assist in the monitoring of in-field

variation, and allow early detection of plant variation, and allow early detection of plant stressstress

► Imagery data Imagery data alonealone is not sufficient for a is not sufficient for a management program, there are too many management program, there are too many factors at work and the resolution is not as good factors at work and the resolution is not as good as hand held sensorsas hand held sensors

► Although, the cost is cheaper, and in high end Although, the cost is cheaper, and in high end crops such as pistachios, strawberries, lettuce, crops such as pistachios, strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, and citrus, the added cost of imaging tomatoes, and citrus, the added cost of imaging is lessened by the amount of land flownis lessened by the amount of land flown

Conclusion Conclusion cont.cont.► High end crops can be monitored weekly by aerial High end crops can be monitored weekly by aerial

flights like CRISflights like CRIS

► Risk in farming is guaranteed, but imaging can help Risk in farming is guaranteed, but imaging can help tilt the table in the farmers direction with early tilt the table in the farmers direction with early detection of plant problems identifiable by NDVIdetection of plant problems identifiable by NDVI

► GIS is the key to combining and comparing sources GIS is the key to combining and comparing sources to derive a new product to assist management to derive a new product to assist management decisionsdecisions

► GIS allows its users to store, organize, and analyze, GIS allows its users to store, organize, and analyze, large amounts of data it over timelarge amounts of data it over time

► The recording and storing of data allows for the The recording and storing of data allows for the betterment of decisions making based on the betterment of decisions making based on the amount of information that can be obtained. amount of information that can be obtained.

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

COMMENTSCOMMENTS