Precision Agriculture software tools help manage detailed spatial information.
Software tools for Precision Agriculture
CSIRO's Precision Agriculture group has developed a range of software tools to help manage and analyse spatial information.
- 23 May 2007 | Updated 14 October 2011
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) link spatial data with other information and provide tools for data visualisation and analysis. The tools below operate within ESRI ArcGIS software to provide additional functionality.
These tools are available to download free of charge.
ArcGIS add-ins for Precision Agriculture data analysis
Precision Viticulture and Precision Agriculture rely on high resolution spatial data. Specialised tools are required for data collection, manipulation, analysis and visualisation.
Some of the following tools below are specific to Precision Agriculture and others may be useful for other disciplines where spatial data and geostatistical methods are used.
GridExtract
The GridExtract ArcGIS add-in is used for extracting point values from raster grids at selected points. These points can be either specified as an existing shapefile or randomly selected using the tool. The tool's purpose is to enable statistical analysis of values at a subset of points from one or more raster surfaces.
- Download Grid Extract user documentation
- Download CSIRO Precision Ag ArcGIS add-ins and Installation Instructions
Persistor
This ArcGIS add-in automates the process of creating maps to summarise the temporal persistence of spatial patterns (for example, patterns of high and low yield)[1, 2].
- Download Persistor user documentation
- Download CSIRO Precision Ag ArcGIS add-ins and Installation Instructions
ArcGIS add-ins for working with Vesper
Vesper spatial prediction software is available from the Australian Centre for Precision Agriculture [3].
BlockGrid
BlockGrid is an ArcGIS add-in used to convert block boundary shape files in polygon format into raster format and into Vesper compatible text files of X-Y coordinates with a specified grid size.
- Download BlockGrid user documentation
- Download CSIRO Precision Ag ArcGIS add-ins and Installation Instructions
PostVesper
This ArcGIS add-in automates the process of converting file output from the Vesper kriging program into raster format in ArcGIS. It defines a spatial reference, optionally applies categorised symbology to the raster and saves it as a layer file.
- Download PostVesper user documentation
- Download CSIRO Precision Ag ArcGIS add-ins and Installation Instructions
Important notice
The notes and software described here are based on a number of technical, circumstantial or otherwise specified assumptions and parameters. The user must make their own assessment of the suitability for use of the information or material contained in or generated from these notes. To the extent permitted by law, CSIRO excludes all liability to any party for expenses, losses, damages and costs arising directly or indirectly from using these notes and software tools.
Read more about Precision Agriculture.
[1] Bramley RGV, Hamilton RP. 2004. Understanding variability in winegrape production systems. 1. Within vineyard variation in yield over several vintages. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research. 10: 32-45.
[2] Diker K, Heerman DF, Brodahl MK. 2004. Frequency analysis of yield for delineating yield response zones. Precision Agriculture. 5: 435-444.
[3] Minasny B, McBratney AB, Whelan BM. 2005. VESPER version 1.62. Australian Centre for Precision Agriculture. McMillan Building A05, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006. (available online at http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/agric/acpa)
Share this CSIRO content using:
Fast facts
- CSIRO's Precision Viticulture and Precision Agriculture research helps growers identify, manage and profit from land variability
- It is based on the collection and analysis of information about soil variation and crop performance at a high spatial resolution
- These software tools have been developed for Precision Viticulture and Precision Agriculture professionals and are available free of charge
