Use of Geographical Information System (Gis) in Agriculture

USE OF GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) IN AGRICULTURE:

ABSTRACT

India has a large population and economy of India mostly depends on Agriculture. Our country should take advantage of new technologies like Geographical Information System (G.I.S.), Global Positioning System (G.P.S.) and Remote Sensing to improve agricultural production, crop distribution, crop-condition, disasters and yield estimation, quality and quantity of resources and their changes.

WHAT IS GIS?

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist, and events that happen on earth. GIS technology is a special case of information systems where the database consists of observations on spatially distributed features, activities, or events that are definable in space as points, lines, or areas. It manipulates data about these, lines, and areas to retrieve data for ad hoc queries and analysis.

·  GIS is an integrated system of Hardware, Software & Human are applied to geographic data for solving complex planning and management problems.

·  GIS is a rapidly advancing computer based technology where information is organized, analyzed and presented with reference to a location.

·  GIS described as a spatial process has revolutionized the way geographic information such as map, air photographs, satellite images, geographical statistics are used in research and design making.

·  GIS approach has increased manifolds as more and more organizations and individuals have discovered the advantages of viewing their data in a spatial context.

·  GIS helps in decision-making process faster as it provides all information on computer monitor screen especially in critical situation such as floods, earthquakes and other disasters. In this field marketers and businessmen required detailed information on consumption patterns, retail outlets, costumer preferences and demand, and these are generally linked with the network information of roads and social/cultural/economic patterns. Queries like "Where are many customers and competitors?" are best answered in GIS domain.

·  GIS provides solid, reliable systems for integrating your data, performing analysis, and visualizing your result. Taking care of business means leveraging technology that helps you see the big picture, make the best decisions, and capitalize on your organization's investments in data and resources.

·  GIS offers innovative solutions that will help you create, visualize, analyze, and present information better and more clearly.

·  GIS understands the complex nature of spatial integration and application development.

DEFINITION OF GIS

A GIS is basically a computerized information system like any otherdatabase, but with an important difference: all information in GIS must be linked to a geographic (spatial) reference (latitude/longitude, or other spatial coordinates).
There are many different definitions of GIS, as different users stress different aspects of its use. For example:

1.  ESRI defined GIS as an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze and display geographically referenced information.

2.  ESRIalso provided asimpler definition of GIS as a computer system capable of holding and using data describing places on the earth’s surface).

3.  Dueckerdefined GIS as a special case of information systems where the database consists ofobservations on spatially distributed features, activities or events, which are definable in space as points, lines or areas. A GIS manipulates data about these points, lines or areas to retrieve data for ad hoc queries and analyses.

4.  The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defined A GIS as a computer hardware and software system designed to collect, manage, analyze and display geographically (spatially) referenced data. This definitionis a fairly comprehensive andis suitablefor agricultural application of GIS.

WHAT A GIS CAN DO

There are five basic questions, which a complete GIS must answer. These are:

1. What exists at a particular location? Given a geographic reference (e.g. lat, long) for a location, the GIS must describe the features of that location.

2. Where can specific features be found? This is the converse of the first question. For example, where are the districts with rainfall greater than 500 mm and less than 750 mm?

3. Trends or What has changed over time? This involves answering both questions above. For example, at what locations are the crop yields showing declining trends?

4. What spatial patterns exist? If occurrence of apest is associated with a hypothesized set of conditions of temperature, precipitation, humidity, where do those conditions exist?

5. Modeling or What if? This is a higher-level application of GIS and answers questions like what would be the nitrate distribution in groundwater over the area if fertilizer use is doubled?

GIS APPLICATIONS

GIS can provide solutions including data conversion and action plan. Providing high quality data for incorporation into powerful geographical information System (GIS) is an important part of the work of geographic. The services include the field capture of data the conversion of existing records into format required by a particular GIS, and the delivery of digital mapping solutions. /
The solutions utilize the software strengths of Geographic to offer powerful methods of storage, retrieval, manipulation and analysis of geographically referenced data. These methods are used across a range of industries and organization including utilities, transportation companies.
The more complex solutions use multi media techniques, which allow video stills or moving video sequences to be incorporated in the GIS. This allows the user to view pictures of the locations on the PC screen, removing the need for on site inspection. Using these techniques a user can simulate driving along a road network while at the same time displaying the position on a map through the use of split screens.

LAND INFORMATION SYSTEM

It is a GIS database supporting the needs of tax and revenue planning, demographic analysis, social services planning, property assessment and so on. /

NAVIGATION SYSTEM

/ If merged with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, wheel rotation sensors and gyros for determining location. The GIS provides the back-drop database for location determination, path finding, address matching, and traffic restrictions.

CENSUS APPLICATION

The role of GIS in the census and counting of resources is of high order. GIS can underpin the pre-planning phase and data compilation, analysis, dissemination and display. A major concern in this area is the privacy of personal information. /

MINERAL PROGNOSTICS

/ Geological, geophysical and geochemical maps require a comprehensive spatial database. Thus determining the spatial associations of known patterns, extrapolating the model calculations, simulating newer maps showing different conditions and interactively probing the result.

LAND USE AND PLANNING

It is a series of maps of the current status of land. This also includes applications for land evaluation, capability and suitability assessment. Access a set of land and soil data and determine the suitability of land for growing various crops, setting up industries, planning a particular land use, sitting of important structures (nuclear plants, power station). /

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

/ It gives asses to areal units for capability to support agriculture so as to identify developments needs in agricultural land. Agricultural data can be integrated with land capability, groundwater potential and land use to identify the shortfall in agricultural development in each village.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION ASSESSMENT

This application is based on air, land and water pollution data. Environmental sensitivity zones can be assessed quality and land condition parameters. /

LAND MANAGEMENT

In this case, information on slope, groundwater prospect, land uses and soil are integrated to derive a composite map. For each composite unit, a prescription for land resource development- as a conservation or as a management practice can be made.
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
·  Salt effected land
·  Waterlogged land
·  Marshy / swampy land
·  Gullied / Ravenous land
·  Land with scrub
·  Land without scrub
·  Sandy area ( Coastal and desertic)
·  Mining / Industrial waste land
·  Barren rocky / stony waste / sheet rock area

WASTELAND DEVELOPMENT

Integrated analysis for wasteland development planning is based on the integration of the people's needs and preferred use to which the land could be put. /

URBAN MANAGEMENT

/ GIS is increasingly finding use in urban and town management, where the emphasis is not only on the organization of database but also on providing answers to queries like land suitability for urbanization, emergency planning, locating facilities and crime control.

INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

This calls for an integrated plan involving the assessment of the existing levels of physical, economic and social resources of the region and their spatial distribution. A variety of data on physical and natural resources, human resources, social practices and economic aspects are required. An endeavour entails harmonious development of land, water, vegetation and other resources of a region in sustainable manner, so that the changes proposed to meet the needs of development are brought out without diminishing the potential for their future use. Thus GIS can be applied for nation, state, district, taluka and village level depending upon the requirement. /

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

/ Typical application includes forest inventory and management, crop production estimation and management, and soil resource assessment watershed development and action plan and wasteland development.

USE OF GIS IN AGRICULTURE

“Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian Economy”- said Mahatma Gandhi five decades ago. Even today, as we enter the new millennium, the situation is still the same, with almost the entire economy being sustained by agriculture, which is the mainstay of the villages. Not only the economy, but also every one of us looks up to agriculture for our sustenance too. It is here the challenge arises considering the implementation of the technology at various levels in the Global community. The need of the hour is not application of the technology but the adoption of appropriate technology, which would suit the particular level of the global community. In India, the farming practices are too haphazard and non-scientific and hence need some forethought before implementing any new technology.
Applications of agricultural inputs at uniform rates across the field without due regard to in-field variations in soil fertility and crop conditions does not yield desirable results in terms of crop yield. The management of in-field variability in soil fertility and crop conditions for improving the crop production and minimizing the environmental impact is the crux of precision farming. Thus, the information on spatial variability in soil fertility status and crop conditions is a pre-requisite for adoption of precision farming. Space technology including GIS and global positioning system (GPS) holds good promise in deriving information on soil attributes and crop yield, and allows monitoring seasonally- variable soil and crop characteristics, namely soil moisture, crop phenology, growth, nutrient deficiency, crop disease, and weed and insect infestation, which, in turn, help in optimizing inputs and maximizing crop yield and income. It also helps to reduce the agricultural losses, forecast the productivity, and enhance the production with proper vertical integration of the production centers and the markets. In addition to this there is also an emerging need to evenly distribute the food grain from the source to the sink. Several models such as decision support system, Global Information Technology (GIS) e- procurement, rural net working etc can all be achieved by aligning IT with agriculture. Some of the main areas where the GIS can work in collaboration with agriculture are:

·  To Develop multi-level decision support models for synergising the natural resource system with economic and social imperatives.

·  To develop expert system for agricultural production system.

·  Based on the scientific assessment, suggest alternatives to conserve and improve the health of natural resource system.

EXPERT SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE

An "Expert system" is an intelligent computer program that uses knowledge and inference procedures to solve problems that are difficult enough to require significant human expertise for their solution.

Expert systems, a recent advance in the use of computers, give advice to professionals and business people in such varied fields as medicine, chemistry, mathematics, finance, insurance, repair of equipment and many others. The application of expert system technology to agriculture seems natural, considering the widespread use of extension agents in the field. Aid from experts, who have encoded their knowledge in computer programs, may help alleviate some of the problems in agriculture. These software programs typically fit into the category of decision support tools.

Capturing the expertise of retiring life-long experts, whose experience will be lost, is often cited as a primary reason for building an expert system. Ultimately, expert systems have the potential to help farmers run their business more economically. Extension agents may not always be available for consultation or may not be able to optimize economic decisions in a consultative phone conversation if mathematical calculations are required. Expertise gained in the developed countries could also be distributed to developing countries, although resistance to new technology would have to be overcome.

Although there is no general standard for expert systems, most include :

·  a knowledge base of domain facts and associated heuristics

·  an inference procedure or control structure for utilizing the knowledge base

·  a natural language user interface

The knowledge base component includes both domain facts and heuristics. This component part is usually developed with assistance from at least one human domain expert. Facts of the domain constitute a body of information widely shared and generally publicly available within the domain. Heuristic knowledge, on the other hand, is mostly privately and individually held. Heuristics include rules-of-thumb, judgments, and sometimes, experience based guesses that typically characterize human expert level decision-making. In order for an expert system to solve a problem, a program must have both kinds of knowledge, facts and heuristics, in its knowledge base.

In addition to knowledge base, systems include an inference system or procedure, also commonly called the inference engine. This system contains the general problem solving approach. It decides which heuristics are applied to the problem, accesses the appropriate rules in the knowledge base, executes the rule, and determines when an acceptable solution has been found. In effect, the inference system 'runs' an expert system.