Evaluation of a system for visualizing agro-environmental knowledge

Abstract

Problems involving agricultural know-how can be addressed using information and communication technology (ICT). For example, ICT can be used to reduce the risk of know-how being lost due to the increasing age of agricultural workers. Also, valuable crops that require careful environmental control can be monitored with ICT. Data collection, collation, and storage enable tacit knowledge to be converted into formalized algorithms. This requires various types of data. We developd an infomation sensing system using a dense sensor network for application to melon hothouse, in cooperation with the Japanese Prefectural Research Insitute. By its easy-to-understand web interface farmers will be able to transfer their tacit knowledge into formalized information. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.