Crop Input Compliance via Yield Variance Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing crop inputs face challenges in ensuring accurate application and compliance, leading to potential over-application and environmental pollution, while traditional monitoring is costly and impractical due to the large geographic scope of arable land, making it difficult to prevent fraudulent activities and ensure adherence to regulations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for managing crop insurance programs that determine an input management plan by measuring field yields, estimating aggregate yields for a defined geographic area, and comparing the two to identify variations, which are then communicated to insurers or regulatory entities, facilitating precise application of crop inputs and compliance monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional in-person monitoring and inspection methods are used to ensure compliance with crop input application regulations, then the reliability of compliance verification is improved, but the cost and practicality of monitoring deteriorates due to the large geographic scope of arable land
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical in-person monitoring and inspection methods with a remote sensing system that uses aerial or satellite imagery to detect crop input application compliance. This substitution eliminates the need for physical presence on large portions of arable land while maintaining verification capability through technological means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces remote sensing technology as an intermediary between regulatory authorities and crop input application sites. This intermediary system enables indirect monitoring and verification of compliance without requiring direct human interaction with each field, thereby reducing monitoring costs and improving scalability.
2Reliability
If growers over-apply fertilizer, herbicides, and insecticides to maintain consistently high yields, then the reliability of crop yield is improved, but the cost of production and environmental pollution worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where remote sensing data is used to monitor actual crop response to input applications. This feedback loop enables regulators and growers to adjust application rates based on real-time observations of crop health and growth, preventing both under-application and excessive over-application that leads to pollution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic adjustment of crop input application parameters (rate, timing, method) based on remotely sensed crop conditions and environmental factors. By changing application parameters in response to real-time data, the system optimizes yield while minimizing excess application and associated environmental harm.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If crop insurance endorsements are designed to encourage preferential growing practices, then the environmental benefit is improved, but the vulnerability to fraudulent activities and negligence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective manual inspection and verification methods with objective remote sensing technology. This substitution provides unbiased, quantifiable data on crop input application compliance, eliminating opportunities for fraud while maintaining the environmental benefits of preferential growing practices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the crop insurance system to self-verify compliance through automated remote sensing monitoring. The system independently collects and analyzes data to determine whether preferential growing practices were followed, removing the need for manual verification and reducing vulnerability to fraudulent claims.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for managing a crop insurance program facilitates determining an input management plan for application of a crop input to a field within a defined geographic area. A field yield is measured. The field yield pertains to a yield of particular crop associated with a field in a defined geographic area. An aggregate yield is estimated. The aggregate yield relates to the particular crop associated with the defined geographic area. The aggregate yield is scaled to represent a generally equivalent land area to the field. A difference or variation is determined between the field yield and the aggregate yield. The determined difference or indication thereof is made available to a receiving entity (e.g., insurer that is associated with at least one of claims and insurance on the crop in the field).