Les outils de pilotage des cultures: Diversité de leurs usages et enseignements pour leur conception

Abstract

Although decision support tools are being produced in increasing numbers to monitor agronomic and ecological processes, most are however not used as anticipated by their designers. Based on this observation we initiated a joint study involving an ergonomist and an agronomist to analyse the manifold uses of existing tools designed to support crop monitoring. The analysis highlighted the existence of what we propose to call advisory and information systems (AIS). These are temporal and spatial networks of human and material arrangements which allow information to be developed and disseminated in order to make decisions about local monitoring of agro-ecological processes. We discuss the ways this concept can serve to better take into account uses and users during the design process of decision tools to support the monitoring of agro-ecological processes. © NSS Dialogues, EDP Sciences 2006.