Georeferenced Field Layout for Precise Agricultural Process Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural process management systems lack the accuracy and integration needed to manage complex interdependencies and geographical precision, particularly in hybrid plant production, plant line, and plant variety development, failing to meet regulatory requirements and efficiency demands.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that create georeferenced field management units and sub-units with absolute accuracy of at least +/- 2.5 cm, using RTK and PPK, storing data in a geospatial database, and attributing site and plant characteristics for precise task performance by sensor platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual monitoring and management of agricultural processes is used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but productivity and resource utilization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where sensors automatically monitor soil moisture, temperature, and other parameters, and the controller autonomously activates irrigation or other agricultural processes without human intervention, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining operational simplicity through automated decision-making
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical monitoring and control operations are replaced with an automated electronic system comprising sensors, a controller, and actuators that monitor and manage agricultural processes, significantly improving productivity and resource efficiency while reducing the need for manual labor
2Loss of energy
If conventional irrigation methods are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but water utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates soil moisture sensors that continuously monitor soil conditions and provide feedback to the controller, which automatically adjusts irrigation timing and duration to apply water only when and where needed, eliminating water waste from over-irrigation while simplifying operation through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of soil moisture levels before irrigation is needed, allowing the controller to proactively activate irrigation only when soil moisture thresholds are reached, preventing water loss from unnecessary irrigation while maintaining ease of operation through automated decision-making
3Measurement precision
If frequent monitoring of agricultural processes is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring at optimized intervals rather than continuous monitoring, with sensors taking measurements at predetermined time intervals or when triggered by threshold conditions, thereby achieving sufficient measurement precision for agricultural decision-making while minimizing time and energy consumption from excessive monitoring
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and system for managing agricultural processes. The method comprises creating a field management unit by defining georeferenced boundaries of the field management unit, creating a layout of the field management unit by defining georeferenced field management sub-units within the field management unit, storing the field management unit, including its boundaries and its field management sub-units, in a geospatial database provided on a server, attributing site characteristics to the field management unit, in particular to the field management sub-units, attributing plant characteristics to the field management unit, in particular to the field management sub- units, exchanging data relating to the field management unit with at least one sensor platform, performing a task by the at least one sensor platform with respect to the data relating to the field management unit.