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Environmental Monitoring on Research Centres and Large Farms Using Spatial Data Management Tools.
Coulter, B.S. McDonald, E. Carton, Owen T.
Coulter, B.S.
McDonald, E.
Carton, Owen T.
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2001-04-01
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eopr-4480.pdf
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Coulter, B.S., McDonald, E.J., Carton, O.T., Environmental Monitoring on Research Centres and Large Farms Using Spatial Data Management Tools, End of Project Reports, Teagasc, 2001.
Abstract
The objective of project 4480 was to build an environmental
management system by using a visual or map based approach to
develop new ways to manage environmental data on a large farm or an
estate of several farms. Geographic information system (GIS)
techniques are extremely powerful, but they tend to be complex, and
often require a high degree of skill and training in order to use them.
Using systems analysis, the fundamental environmental management
data were identified and a simplified spatial approach was developed to
manage these environmental data. Johnstown Castle Research Centre consists of three farms,
ornamental grounds, forests, lakes and streams. A set of database
tables was generated to hold farm environmental data on these farms.
These included:
annual management summary data giving the average number of
different types of animals, the amount of organic manure and N,
P and K nutrients produced by them, fertiliser purchases, organic
and chemical nutrient usage on the farm, achievement of nutrient
management planning targets, etc.
monthly livestock information recording the numbers of livestock
of different types for the three farms, together with management
comments on the changes and transfer that take place over the
month,
detailed land use and nutrient use information for each field or
plot on the estate,
recent soil analyses information for the experimental plots,
analysis results of recent water samples which are taken regularly
at sampling points throughout the estate. The topographical, soil and site features were digitised, in order to
collect information on the overall and individual farm boundaries. This
included roads, hedges and ditches, streams, rivers and lakes, the
buildings and most particularly, the boundaries of all field and
experimental plots. When the digitisation was complete, a set of
bespoke programs was built, using the GIS system, ArcView. To make
the system "user friendly", the menu system was customised by
removing complex features; retaining only those buttons and menu
options that served a purpose useful to the application. The programs
were unified into a PC system called Johnstown Castle Environmental
Monitoring System or JCEMS. For the future, it is envisaged that the maps and spatial techniques
will be embodied into an Access database system and developed for use
by other research stations and farms.