An Integrated GeoAgro Webtool for Spatial Data Visualization and Dissemination

Abstract

Today, with massive flow of the spatial and non-spatial database, enormous field data collection with enhanced electronic protocols in agricultural research have led to assemblage of massive caches of digital information on agriculture that describes the context-options for technological as well as socio-economic interventions at multiple scales and scenarios. However such tools and web services are often limited to certain geographical regions and/or specific thematic domain and do not exist for inherent data lacking regions such as agro-ecosystem in the dry areas of the developing countries. In a bid to improve digital agro-ecosystem services in the dry areas and develop a system which is economical and easy to replicate at national level, the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) recognizes that Geoinformatics in an integrated agro-ecosystem is critical in obtaining adequate data at an appropriate time, it can help making precise decision about planting, growing, harvesting and marketing, which leads to increased net return while decreasing environmental impact. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, the foremost step is to make spatio-temporal information at multiple scales available at the finger tips in the era of smart phones and personal computers. ICARDA developed number of geospatial tools and web portals for data access, visualization and sharing to help researcher and decision makers at various scales to influence agricultural research, programs and policies. In this paper we discuss latest trends and advances in an integrated web-based spatial data processing, visualization and sharing platform for agro-ecosystem research, application and outreach. The workflow uses the hybrid multifarious protocols for data archiving, processing, visualization and sharing.