Automated Buffer Zone Management for Agricultural Application Maps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating application maps for agricultural fields are complex and time-consuming, often leading to inaccurate identification of buffer zones, which can result in unauthorized treatment of sensitive areas, such as near water resources or protected species habitats.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that provides a land cover map and determines buffer zones based on regulatory, machine, field, and elevation data, using machine-learning algorithms to classify land cover and generate an application map specifying treatment areas, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standard maps are applied directly as application maps, then the treatment process is simplified and speeded up, but the accuracy of buffer zone identification deteriorates, potentially resulting in unauthorized treatment of sensitive areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of sensitive areas using land cover maps and master data before generating the final application map. Buffer zones are pre-calculated based on regulatory requirements and terrain features, allowing the application map to be generated quickly while maintaining accurate buffer zone boundaries. This preliminary action ensures that small ponds, streams, and other sensitive features are identified before the treatment process begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary processing layer that combines land cover maps, master data, and validation information to generate buffer zones. This intermediary step acts as a mediator between the simple standard maps and the final application map, ensuring that buffer zones are accurately identified based on multiple data sources including elevation data, regulatory requirements, and field-specific information.
2Measurement precision
If manual analysis is performed to accurately determine buffer zone locations, then the precision of buffer zone identification is improved, but the time and complexity of the process increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical analysis with automated computational processing. A computer-implemented method processes land cover maps, master data, and validation information automatically to determine buffer zone locations. The system uses algorithms to calculate buffer zones based on regulatory requirements and terrain features, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual field analysis while maintaining high accuracy in buffer zone identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating application maps and identifying buffer zones without requiring extensive manual intervention. The computer-implemented method autonomously processes multiple data sources, applies regulatory requirements, and produces the final application map with accurate buffer zones, reducing both time and complexity compared to manual analysis.
3Reliability
If comprehensive master data and validation information are processed to ensure regulatory compliance, then the reliability of treatment authorization is improved, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex data processing task into distinct modules: land cover map processing, master data integration, validation information verification, and buffer zone calculation. Each module handles a specific aspect of the data processing, making the overall system more manageable and less complex while ensuring comprehensive regulatory compliance through systematic processing of all required data elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for generating an application map for treating a field with an agricultural equipment comprising the following steps: a) providing a land cover map relating to a field to be treated; b) receiving master data selected from the group consisting of: regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data, c) optionally initiating the determination of, and/or determining preliminary buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data, d) optionally receiving validation information selected from the group consisting of: (i) validation information relating to the field to be treated or relating to the land cover map, (ii) validation information relating to master data selected from the group consisting of regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data, and (iii) validation information relating to preliminary buffer zones, e) initiating the determination of, and/or determining buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data and—optionally—based on the validation information; and f) initiating the generation of, and/or generating an application map specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment, wherein the application map is based on the buffer zones.