Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
connected to the internet for full operation. This is getting easier with small
notebook/laptop computers, wireless connection to the internet, linkage through
mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) etc. Linkage with Global
Positioning System (GPS) technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
which can assemble multi-layered facts, and associated software such as
'FarmWorks', provide easier access to on-line data in the field allowing synthesis of
historical data and current data in real-time rather than relying on going back to an
office. Linked to these developments there are now many electronic aids for
recording field data automatically with greater speed, volume or accuracy. Examples
of instruments include:
•
Multi spectral scans (e.g. GreenSeeker and Cropscan) and continuous spectrum
scans.
•
Remote sensing, e.g. rapid estimation of crop areas, rapid disease level
assessment over large areas by satellite spectral/x-ray/infrared etc. analysis.
•
Weather stations (for forecasting).
•
Photosynthetic measurement systems.
•
Digital plant canopy imager and other portable area meters.
•
Discriminatory image analysis, e.g. lesion/colony area, space fill.
•
Weighing and moisture measurements on harvesters.
In general, digital data capture and storage is now routine. Furthermore, software
standardisation on Microsoft
®
compatible or Open Source formats (and improved
transparent translation between these formats) has also increased the speed of
integration. The use of remote sensing in phytopathometry is discussed in Chapter 2.
12.5 INFORMATION ACCUMULATION OR DISSEMINATION?
The unplanned use of IT presents the same hazards as the misuse of other
technologies. Powerful IT has the potential to allow users to do more than was
previously possible. However, this is not a good thing if we do more of the wrong
sorts of things. In particular, the ease with which information gets stored rather than
being read, analysed, interpreted and then put to further use is a frequent problem
associated with easy access to advanced IT facilities, as is unnecessary use of
graphics 'because they are there'. Good information systems should always allow
easy initial sorting of data into 'discard', 'store for later appraisal' or 'analyse or
make full appraisal' categories. Information in the latter category requires more to
be revealed for further assessment. However, information classified as 'store for
later appraisal' needs to be very carefully labelled, sorted and stored. One point of
view is that developments in IT have made it too easy to collect and store data which
are then put to no use. Our contention is that this state of affairs is not an argument
for not collecting the data, but rather an argument for improving the quality and use
of meta-data (i.e
.
data about data - keywords are a widely used example of meta-
data) so that stored data can be easily retrieved and used if the need arises in the
future. Particularly in the case of field data, the world does not allow us the chance
