Soil Property Map Generation Using Crop Data Proxy

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for generating soil property maps in agricultural fields require extensive soil data collection across multiple zones, which is time-consuming and costly, and does not allow for precise, zone-specific management.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that utilize crop property distribution data to determine equivalent areas within an agricultural field, reducing the need for extensive soil data collection by using soil data from representative areas to generate a soil property map.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If extensive soil data collection across multiple zones is performed, then measurement precision of soil properties is improved, but loss of time and increase in cost occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil property measurement precisionVSAvoidtime for data collection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses crop property distribution data as a proxy copy to represent soil property distribution. Instead of directly measuring soil properties across all zones, the system uses the spatial pattern of crop properties (which correlates with soil properties) to generate a soil property map, thereby avoiding extensive time-consuming soil data collection while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces crop property distribution data as an intermediary to infer soil property distribution. The system establishes a correlation between crop properties and soil properties, using the intermediary crop data to indirectly obtain soil property information, thus reducing the time and cost of direct soil measurement while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If extensive soil data collection across multiple zones is performed, then measurement precision of soil properties is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil property measurement precisionVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses crop property distribution data as a proxy copy to represent soil property distribution. Instead of directly measuring soil properties across all zones, the system uses the spatial pattern of crop properties (which correlates with soil properties) to generate a soil property map, thereby avoiding extensive time-consuming soil data collection while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct soil property measurement to crop property measurement. By measuring crop properties (which are easier and less costly to obtain) and using the spatial correlation between crop and soil properties, the system maintains soil property measurement precision while significantly reducing resource consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If zone-specific soil management is implemented, then manufacturing precision of treatment application is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment application precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the agricultural field into multiple zones based on crop property distribution, creating zone-specific soil property maps. This segmentation enables precise, zone-specific treatment applications by dividing the field into manageable units with distinct soil property characteristics, thereby improving treatment precision without requiring overly complex system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses crop property distribution data as a proxy copy to represent soil property distribution. Instead of directly measuring soil properties across all zones, the system uses the spatial pattern of crop properties (which correlates with soil properties) to generate a soil property map, thereby avoiding extensive time-consuming soil data collection while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250061523A1A computer-implemented method for generating a soil property map of an agricultural field

Publication Date: 2025.02.20 BASF AGRO TRADEMARKS GMBH

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for generating a soil property map of an agricultural field, comprising the steps: receiving crop property distribution data of the agricultural field comprising at least one crop related parameter (S1); determining equivalent areas having a crop related parameter value within a certain range in the crop property distribution data (S2); receiving soil data with respect to at least one soil parameter for each of the determined equivalent areas (S3); generating a soil property map of the agricultural field based on the soil data and the equivalent areas (S4).