GIS support for precision agriculture: problems and possibilities.

Precision farming aims to optimize the use of soil resources and external inputs on a site-specific basis. Base ingredients for research in the field of precision farming are spatial data, including a characterization of the spatial variability, and simulation models for the characterization of the processes that take place. Geographical information systems (GIS) are systems for the storage, analysis and presentation of spatial data. A combination of GIS and simulation models is highly relevant for precision farming. Currently only static one- or two-dimensional simulation models can be fully supported by commercial GIS systems. Within precision agriculture an engineering component can be also distinguished, in which the research findings are translated into operational systems for use at farm level. GIS can support this engineering activity by providing a good platform for storage of base data, simple modelling, presentation of results, development of a user interface and, in combination with a global positioning system, controlling the navigation of farm vehicles. On the basis of GIS a decision support system could be developed for operational application of precision agriculture at farm level.