Farmers Need Data Interpolation

Not all information that is useful at the farm or field level comes ready to use. Oftentimes field data collection takes the form of single points that need to be processed to achieve what is known as a continual data layer. Interpolation describes this process of taking many single points and creating a complete surface, the gaps being filled based on the spatial statistics of the original points. Such points might include crop yield data collected from a combine harvester, soil samples collected manually throughout a farm, or water quality information collected from watering points or wells. Interpolating these points will produce more useful information for the farmer such as crop yield maps, soil chemistry maps, and maps related to water chemical content, for example the degree of nitrate contamination. Combined with ArcView, the ArcView Spatial Analyst extension provides all the functionality necessary for interpolation and more besides. Imagery, something that is always useful for farmers and managers alike, can be incorporated using ArcView Spatial Analyst, and secondary operations like distance buffers are possible. Buffering allows the determination of a protective land boundary around a sensitive location, perhaps a slurry pit or a particular case of soil erosion. Once completed it is simple to calculate the potential economic effects in terms of lost productivity should the buffer be implemented.

Once the farm analyst has identified agronomically troubled areas of fields, he or she can use ArcView Spatial Analyst to look for relationships in the data. Maybe the yield monitor data maps indicate an area with unusually low yields. Identifying the cause of the low yield is the solution for improving the yields. ArcView Spatial Analyst lets the user discover relationships in the same farm field geography that may be the cause of low yields such as slope, moisture, fertility, or poor pesiticide performance.

More advanced farmers and managers who need additional data interpolation support for the formulation of the prescriptions required for variable rate technology (VRT) farming will be assisted by the ability to customize ArcView Spatial Analyst using the Avenue programming language and ModelBuilder. ModelBuilder is a powerful, graphically driven tool that allows farmers to create and test different land use scenarios before actually implementing them. For example, a farmer could calculate the potential economic yield for a harvested crop before actually planting it. If you are new to GIS and have never used a GIS before, then consider starting with ModelBuilder. ModelBuilder has several powerful features. One of these features is allowing the user to undertake agronomic analyses without having had extensive GIS training. Another feature of ModelBuilder is its documentation function. A farmer, an agronomist, and an agricultural economist could all look at the same farm management situation and solve it three different ways. ModelBuilder documents each sequential spatial operator and process used. This allows the three users to compare and share each others' models.

The ability to interpolate point information is necessary for carrying out such tasks as hydrological modeling, land/crop suitability studies, or predicting crop yields. All of these activities and more can be made possible by using ArcView Spatial Analyst.