ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: Department of Soil Science Non-Point Source Pollution Research and Demonstration Project; Research Division; Agricultural Research Stations; and Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility.

How to Set Up and Use a GPS-Based GIS for Increased Efficiency of Agricultural Research Station Management

1 Presented as at the annual meeting of the Agronomy Society of America, November 2002, Indianapolis, IN.

J.A. Grodecki, D.H. Mueller, M. Dudka, B. Bowen, R.F. Harris, and S.J. Ventura, University of Wisconsin-Madison1

The goal is to establish a modular, flexible GIS for agricultural research stations to:• Facilitate efficient and code-compliant management of the station• Enhance the potential of the station for competitive research based on GIS-characterized agroecosystems • Provide an outreach example of how land can be managed for integrated agricultural production and environmental

protection.

Goal of the Wisconsin Agricultural Research Station GIS

GIS Framework

Set-up and Maintenance

* Equipment: GPS receiver, pocket PC, null modem cable, GPS mounts for backpack and 4-wheeler; ESRI ArcPad and ArcView GIS software, Microsoft Active Sync software.

* GPS equipment should be tested in a location where the receiver can pick up a signal from satellites. It may be difficult to receive a signal indoors.

* Using ArcPad for GPS data collection saves time: shapefiles are automatically created to be imported into ArcView; field characteristics can be can be entered after collecting a feature.

* Do not allow the IPAQ to run out of battery; all data and programs will be lost.* Fully drain battery first few times to condition it.* Carry extra fuses for GPS battery connector.

Trimble AgGPS 120 Receiver (Accurate to within 1 meter)

Compaq IPAQ H3850 Pocket PC with ESRI ArcPad Software

GPS Equipment

The Wisconsin Agricultural Research Station GIS has the Arlington ARS as its prototype for a station that has developed an extensive GIS database, and has organized and applied it routinely for station management within the above framework, thereby providing a working precedent and protocol for other stations.

Background and Poster Objective

The GIS framework consists of three categories of information:1) A spatial database, managed within ArcView in the form of maps and tables, and standardized to WTM coordinates;2) A station records database, managed in the form of tables within Microsoft Access or a comparable program, customized to facilitate linkages to field boundary layers. Forms, queries and reports are generated by the Access program. 3) Programs based on integration of the station records into the spatial databases (particularly the the subfield file) to provide

maps for station management, research and outreach. The Subfields serve as the focal point and common denominator for

the spatial and station records data, and are updated annually. Spatial Database

Boundary Maps

State (including Watersheds; Bedrock, etc); County; Station; Primary Fields; Sub Fields; Soil Sub Fields; Digital Elevation Maps (Contours, Drainage);

Station Area Maps & Photos

Digital: Soil Map; Waterways; Roads; Landmarks; Photos: Orthophoto;

Organizational Program

ArcView apr Files.

Station records database

Crop Planting; Fertilizer Application; Chemical Application; Irrigation; Tillage;

Events

Lookup Tables

Analyses and Observations

Soil Analyses and Fertility Levels; Manure Analyses; Crop Scouting; Forage Analyses; Harvest; Crop Yield;

Crop; Dept; Personnel; Project; Seeds, Chemicals, Fertilizers; Equipment;

Organizational Program

Excel Text Files; Access mdb Files.

Integration of Station Records intoBoundary Maps, particularly the Sub Field map, to provide Maps of Events, Analyses and Observations. ArcView Extension for: Updating FieldBoundaries; Daily Work Plans;

Station Management

Primary Field

Subfield

SubFldIDYear Area

Procedure for Setting Up A GPS Based GIS

• Know the coordinate system parameters for GPS data that is being collected and for any outside GIS data sources. This information will allow you to re-project data, if necessary, using the Projector! Extension.

Obtaining and Creating Additional Data Layers

Activate the Projector! Extension

Oneida County Coordinate System

WTM Coordinate System

• GIS data layers can be obtained from government agencies free of charge or for a small fee.

• Potential contacts include County Land Information Office or Land Conservation Department, State Department of Natural Resources, & Federal Natural Resource Conservation Service.

• Examples of data layers that can be obtained:Soils, roads, waterways, buildings, land use, and digitalelevation models (DEM).

GIS and GPS data layers can be used togenerate station overview and land use maps

Integrating Field Records into Field Boundary Maps to Provide Maps of Events, Analyses and Observations

One or more columns of data from a structurally compatible database of station records can be integrated into the basic sub fields ArcView table to produce an expanded sub fields table containing these data (e.g., crops), from which an ArcView map can be printed. The Wisconsin ARS MS Access program is recommended for advanced station management.

Planning• Select a logical field numbering system, making sure that each ID has the same number of characters.• Determine definite field boundaries and mark distinct points with flags before collecting GPS data.• Choose a standard coordinate system to work in. Data must be in the same coordinate system in order to overlay properly within ArcView. It is recommended that a consistent coordinate system be used throughout all research stations, allowing for easy data transfer and communication.Managing Files• Create a new ArcView project file each year to track annual changes.• Keep a backup of files as a safety net when editing files or learning to use ArcView.• Set work directory when starting a new project so files will be saved into the same directory (File

Menu > Set Work Directory). This is especially important when working with the Spatial Analyst Extension.

• Do not move or delete ArcView files that are linked to a project file. Be aware that the project will no longer be able to find the moved file.• If you need to rename or move a shapefile, use find & replace function in Word Pad to rename file by hand; or, navigate through file folders to retrieve it when opening the project in ArcView.• Do not open an ArcView project from the folder where it is located . This can cause corruption of

files. In general, to avoid error messages, open projects from ArcView.• Do not leave extensions active when transferring .apr project files between computers. The project

file will look for any active extensions and errors will occur if the computer does not have the proper extensions.• When transferring shapefiles, it is only necessary to have .shp, .dbf, and .shx files. Files with other

extensions can be removed.• If .avl ArcView legend files are saved with the same name as shapefiles, the legend characteristics

will be automatically loaded upon opening the shapefile. This allows color schemes to be transferred independent of .apr project files.

Collecting the data• If it is difficult to maintain a consistent GPS signal or if fields share a common boundary, main points can be staked out, individually collected, and edited later. ArcPad has the ability to “connect-the- dots” (i.e. Draw field boundary lines between GPS verticies).• Quality parameters must be set before collecting GPS data. Certain criteria must be met to achieve

accuracy within a meter. These parameters will be specified by your GPS equipment manufacturer.• Use an ATV when collecting GPS data for field boundaries. This will save a lot of time!• Collect primary field data first, but order of field collection does not matter. It is not necessary to

collect field 01, 02, 03, etc… in chronological order, you can collect 03, 24, 15, etc… It is possible to edit, sort, and rearrange tables within ArcView or Excel.

• Store all ArcPad Map files in the same folder on your pocket PC, or the project will not open correctly.

Collecting and Editing GPS Data

Raw GPS Data Edited Field Boundaries

Editing the data• Check the .dbf table for errors in field ID labels. With ArcPad, field ID labels can be added as GPS as data is collected, but sometimes the ID’s do not appear correctly in the shapefile .dbf table. • Use the ARS Extension to edit field boundaries (divide, copy, delete, edit, draw).

Updating Field Boundaries

Using ArcView GIS• New field boundaries can be drawn on a data layer using ArcView tools like the ARS Extension.• Drawing in ArcView provides only a rough approximation of where field boundaries are actually

located.• This method is useful for spatial applications like generating maps, but is not suitable for

calculating acreage of fields.Using ArcPad• An existing field boundary layer can be brought into ArcPad and directly modified in the field.• ArcPad allows you to move GPS points of or add vertices to an existing field boundary.• This method provides an accurate calculation of field acreage.

ArcView Map of Field Boundaries Customized to Display Crop Information

GIS ArcView Basic Sub Fields Tableof IDs, Yr, & Areas of

each Sub Field

Station Records MS Excel or Access Table of IDs, Yr, Areas & Crops of each Sub Field

GIS ArcView Expanded Sub Fields Table

of IDs, Yr, Areas, &Crops of each Sub Field

The Rhinelander ARS is a station that prior to summer 2002 had essentially no GIS database, and is thus ideally suited to serve as the prototype for documenting a step-by-step process for efficiently setting up a GPS-based GIS and providing a guide of what to do and what not to do.

This poster focuses on the first stage of the step-by-step process for Rhinelander ARS: digitizing the station field and subfield boundaries and interfacing these with station records to provide the working nucleus of a GIS-based station management tool.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS : College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Department of Soil Science Non-Point Source Pollution Research and Demonstration Project, School of Natural Resources, Research Division, Agricultural Research Stations, and Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility.

Goal and Background of theWisconsin Agricultural Research Station GIS

The goal is to establish a modular, flexible GIS for agricultural research stations to:• facilitate efficient and code-compliant management of the station,• enhance the potential of the station for competitive research based on GIS-characterized agroecosystems, • provide an outreach working example of how land can be managed for integrated agricultural production

and environmental protection.

Programs for Maps & Plans

ArcView Extension & Visual Basic Query Modules for Station Management: Updating Field Boundaries; Daily Work Plans;

Purdue Manure Management Planner; SPAL NuPlan;

Station Management

Nutrient & Manure Management Plans

Primary Field

SubsectionField

SubFldID Year

Spatial Database (ArcView)

Soil Type Map; Crops Map;

Digital Elevation Model; Slope Map; Contour Map;

Aerial Photo; Orthophoto

Station & Field Boundary Maps

StationBoundary; Primary Field Boundaries; Subfield Boundaries

Field Records-Linked Maps

Station Area Photos & Maps

Digital Soil Map

Organizational ProgramArcView apr Files

GIS data, standardized to WTM coordinates, are maintained in anArcView database. The field records maps involve integrating Access records into a field boundary map.

Station Records Database (Access)

Crop Planting; Fertilizer Application; Chemical Application; Irrigation; Tillage;

Events

Lookup Tables

Analyses & ObservationsSoil Analyses; Manure Analyses; Crop Scouting; Forage Analyses; Harvest;

Soil Type; Crop Name; Department; Seeds, Chemicals, Fertilizers; Equipment; Employee; Research Project; Maps; Grids;

Organizational Program

Access mdb Files; Text Files

Records of field activities are maintained in an MS Access database customnized to facilitate linkages to field boundary layers. Forms, queries and reports are generated by the Access program.

GIS Framework The GIS framework consists of three categories of information: a spatial database; a station records database; and programs using these databases for station management, research and outreach. The spatial database is managed within ArcView in the form of maps and tables linked as desired to the station records. The station records are managed in the form of tables within Microsoft Access or a comparable program. Other software programs are included as needed. The subsection fields are the heart of the nucleus of the GIS; they serve as the focal point and common denominator for the spatial and station records data; and are updated annually. Soil landscape information needed for nutrient and manuremangement plans is another component of the nucleus.

Nucleus

1. Digitized Field Boundaries (Based on GPS Survey, +1 m accuracy) and soil data based on digitized County Scale SoilSurvey

An Arcview Extension for Updating Field Boundaries of Agricultural Research Stations

1 Presented as part of a Computer Software Demonstration at the annual meeting of the Agronomy Society of America, October 2001, Charlotte, NC. In Agronomy Abstracts, ASA, Madison, WI.

D.H. Mueller, S.G. Mukhtyar, D.L.Frye, D. Wiersma, R.F. Harris, and S.J. Ventura, University of Wisconsin-Madison1

ARLINGTON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATIONARLINGTON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATIONARLINGTON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATION

ARCVIEW ARS STATION MANAGEMENT EXTENSION

ARCVIEW ARS STATION MANAGEMENT ARCVIEW ARS STATION MANAGEMENT EXTENSIONEXTENSION

ArcView Map of Field Boundaries

The 2,037-acre Arlington Agricultural Research Station (ARS) is the prototype ARS for customizing the Wisconsin ARS GIS to serve as a model for farm management

ArcView Map of Station Area Soils, overlain by Station Field Boundaries

A customized ArcView extension that allows the user to update field boundaries, import GPS data, joining tables, and composing maps of various sizes

Updating Field BoundariesUpdating Field Updating Field BoundariesBoundaries

The distance measuring tool and soil and slope information can be used to help locate and layout research plots

Crop Planting Table from MS Access

Attribute Table from ArcView GIS

Measuring Distances

Distance Measurement Tool

Click on starting point, move cursor and click on end point. The distance measured is displayed in the lower left corner of the ArcView window (in feet)

Importing GPS DataImportingImporting GPS DataGPS Data

Customized Tool BarCustomized Tool BarCustomized Tool BarDesigning and Laying Out Research PlotsDesigning and Laying Out Research PlotsDesigning and Laying Out Research Plots

Joining ArcView and Access TablesJoining Joining ArcView ArcView and and AccessAccess TablesTables

After the tables are joined information such as crops planted(to the left) can be

displayed.

Records from the Access database are brought into the GIS by joining tables using a common field(subfield name). Field records such as land use

Data such as field boundary updates can be imprted into ArcView using the import option

Mapping CapabilitiesMappingMapping CapabilitiesCapabilities

b

Maps bcan be customized to show all or part of the station and printed in various

sizes

The Wisconsin Agricultural Research Station GIS: Overview1

R.F. Harris, S.G. Mukhtyar, D. Wiersma, D.H. Mueller, and S.J. Ventura, University of Wisconsin-Madison

MARSHFIELD AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATION

MARSHFIELD AGRICULTURAL MARSHFIELD AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATIONRESEARCH STATION

These data layers will be used for identification of three dimensional soil fertility and water quality protection characteristics of the landscape. This information is needed for accurate laying out field and sub-field boundaries and better land management. Finer scale data is being collected in the form of detailed soil mapping and soil resistance to penetration.

Application to Nutrient Management PlanningSpatial and field records data from the Arlington GIS can be used in preparation of a nutrient management plan in conjunction with other software. The Manure Management Planner (MMP) software, developed at Purdue University, uses field information, soil type, soil test results, crop rotations and amount of manure available to rate the fields in order of application priority.

ARLINGTON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATIONARLINGTON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATIONARLINGTON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATION

Primary Field

Soil Analyses

Crop Planting

SubsectionField

Field Analyses

Field Events

Lookup Tables

Crop Name

Seeds, Chemicals, Fertilizer

Soil Type

Forage Analyses

Chemical Application

Fertilizer Application

Crop Scouting

Harvest

Irrigation Tillage

Equipment

Employee Research Project

Department

Grids Maps

SubFldID Year

Records of field activities are maintained in a MS Access database customized to facilitate linkages to the field boundaries layers

Develop a state-of-the art GIS and farm records framework foragricultural research stations, to provide a working example of how land can be

managed for integrated agricultural production and environmental protection

Goal

Framework and Approach The framework consists of three levels of information, a nucleus , an additional set of information recommended for all stations, and a set of station-specific information. This information is updated annually and is managed largely within Microsoft Access tables of farm records and ArcView maps; other software programs are included as needed.

Nucleus Primary and subfield boundaries – Field boundaries are obtained though GPS surveys; the accuracy is ±1 meter, sufficient for most

applications.• Soil map – Currently the best available digitized soil data for a whole station is the county scale SSURGO database (scale

approximately1:12,000)• Soil type and slope information within the station – The soil type and slope for each field is derived in ArcView by overlaying the field

boundaries on the soil map, this data is also stored in the MS Access database as a table.• Orthophoto – Obtained from aerial photographs acquired at a scale of 1:200,000 using softcopy photogrammetry (orthophotos or rectified

aerial photographs are also available with some local county land information offices)

Information Recommended for All Stations

Field Boundaries

Field boundaries overlaid on soil map

Field boundaries integrated with soil map data

Access tableof fields and soil information

• Field and property boundaries– GPS surveying (field boundaries)– Certified property boundary survery (Vreeland and Associates; AutoCad files)

• Elevation and slope– GPS topographical survey (high accuracy; small area)– Topographical survey (Marathon County Land Conservation Dept.; whole farm)

• Soil types– NRCS county level soil surveys– Penetrometer data (UW- Madison, Dept. of Soil Science)

•Aerial photo images

Property boundary map on aerial photograph

DEM, property features and buffer zones

Survey features and elevation contours

DEM, soiltype and property boundaries

Aerial Photographs / Orthophoto

Digital Elevation Model

Slope Map Contour Map

Primary field boundaries

Soil map

Subsection field boundaries

GIS records are maintained in ArcView GIS, the field boundaries layers are designed to link with the MS Access database

Application to Station Planning and Management

STATE VIEW COUNTY VIEW STATION & FIELD VIEW

WI DNR, USGSe.g. 1:100,000

County, WI DNRe.g. 1:24,000

Station, UW Researcherse.g. 1:5000

• State, County boundaries• Bedrock• Hydrology, Water Table• Gwt. Contamination

Susceptibility• ARS locations

• Hydrology• 30 m DEM• State Survey Soils• Station location• Landcover/ Landuse

• Field, Subfield boundaries• High resolution DEM’s• Soil sampling grids• Annual field records• Drainage• Infrastructure

Arcview state and county orientation views, and station and field view,of the Arlington ARS GIS data base.

The field records MS Access database for Arlington ARS.

The Arlington ARS GIS facilitates long term planning and day-by-day management activities at the station. A customized ArcView program provides a user friendly interface for maintaining up-to-date field boundary data and making daily work plans for station employees.

Adding a new subsection field boundaryMaking work plans

Slopes > 9%

N

200 ft. buffers around creviced bedrock and water bodies

Slope maps derived from high resolution DEMs can be used to identify steep slope areas; and buffers around water bodies and bedrock outcrops can be drawn to indicate areas of restricted application.

Orthophoto (4 mt. resolution)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS : College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Department of Soil Science Non-Point Source Pollution Research and Demonstration Project, School of Natural Resources, Research Division, Agricultural Research Stations, and Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility.

Some limitations of the MMP are that it lacks electronic data transfer capability, and that it does not consider sensitive areas where application should be restricted, such as steep slopes, proximity to water bodoes, etc., as required by the NRCS 590 standards.

Examples of restriction themesARS GIS Programs:ArcView Extension, Visual Basic Query Module

Station Management Programs

Other Software: E.g. Purdue Manure Management Planner

Spatial Data

The Marshfield ARS is the prototype ARS for customizing the Wisconsin ARS GIS to serve as a model for designing and developing new experiment station land.

The 2,037-acre Arlington Agricultural Research Station (ARS) is the prototype ARS for customizing the Wisconsin ARS GIS to serve as a model for farm management.

1 Presented as part of a Computer Software Demonstration at the annual meeting of the Agronomy Society of America, October 2000, Minneapolois, MN. p.417. In Agronomy Abstracts, ASA, Madison, WI.