HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Engel, T. Articles by Wilkens, P. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Engel, T. Articles by Wilkens, P. W. Agricola Articles by Engel, T. Articles by Wilkens, P. W.

AEGIS/WIN: A Computer Program for the Application of Crop Simulation Models Across Geographic Areas

Ackerbau und Informatik im Pflanzenbau, Technische Univ., München, Lange Point 51, 85350 Freising, Germany
Dep. of Biological and Agriultural Engineering, Univ of Georgia, Georgia Station, Griffin, GA 30223-1797
Dep. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Univ. of Florida, P.O. Box 110570, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0570
Res. & Dev. Div., Int. Fert. Dev. Ctr. (IFDC), P.O. Box 2040, Muscle Shoals, AL, 35662

^* Corresponding author (gerrit{at}bae.uga.edu).

Computer-based biological simulation models have been used to calculate the effects of different management practices and land-use systems on agricultural production and to assess the impact of these practices on the environment. Using spatial visualization techniques to display simulation results can significantly improve the presentation and interpretation of these analyses. The objective of this study was to develop a computer program for the spatial application of crop models as well as the analysis and visualization of modeled results. The Agricultural and Environmental Geographic Information System for Windows (AEGIS/WIN) links the simulation system Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) v3 with the geographic mapping tool ArcView 2. The interface between the two systems was programmed using Avenue, an object-oriented macro programming language. This interface handles automatic data and command transfers between the simulation system and the mapping tool and does not require any modifications of DSSAT v3. The main spatial input for AEGIS/WIN is a coverage in the form of a digital map of a farm, a region, or any other area. DSSAT is used to create model input files and to execute the various crop management scenarios for the selected coverage. The crop model outputs can be imported and joined with the original selected land-use map in ArcView. The simulation results can be analyzed with AEGIS/WIN using simple statistics and bar charts. AEGIS/WIN's most important feature is the display of thematic maps of simulated crop yield, yield components, and other related agronomic and environmental variables. The system was applied to study the spatial yield variability of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) for a research farm in Georgia. AEGIS/WIN was shown to be an effective tool for the spatial application of crop simulation models and for the analysis and visualization of simulated outputs.

Received for publication April 21, 1996.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. C. Nielsen, L. Ma, L. R. Ahuja, and G. Hoogenboom Simulating Soybean Water Stress Effects with RZWQM and CROPGRO Models Agron. J., November 1, 2002; 94(6): 1234 - 1243. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Guereña, M. Ruiz-Ramos, C. H. Díaz-Ambrona, J. R. Conde, and M.I. Mínguez Assessment of Climate Change and Agriculture in Spain Using Climate Models Agron. J., January 1, 2001; 93(1): 237 - 249. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A.D. Hartkamp, J. W. White, and G. Hoogenboom Interfacing Geographic Information Systems with Agronomic Modeling: A Review Agron. J., September 1, 1999; 91(5): 761 - 772. [Abstract] [Full Text]