Geoinformatics Applications in Agriculture

Earth functions as a complex system and existing infrastructure and methodologies are inadequate for the community to address many problems of this system. It requires an integrated and innovative approach to analyse, model and develop extensive and diverse data sets for the solution of these problems. Geoinformatics, which is the synergy of multiple disciplines, namely, earth sciences, GIS, remote sensing, GPS, photogrammetry and cartography, is developing fast in the areas where the data are identified by their locations. Currently, there is a chaotic distribution of available data sets, lack of documentation about them and the methodologies, lack of easy-to-access, tolls, computer modeling etc. which pose the major obstacles for the earth scientist in trying to work out solutions. The authors have tried to remove these hurdles by bringing together relevant informations and techniques as well as the recent advances in these fields. This book presents a comprehensive account of various topics related to the applications of geoinformatics which are highly diversified and include space and environmental monitoring, watershed management, water resources and management, productivity enhancement in agro-ecosystems, resource information systems, precision farming, monitoring of glaciers and lakes, geospatial techniques and livelihood improvement using GIS.