AgTalk Home
AgTalk Home
Search Forums | Classifieds (87) | Skins | Language
You are logged in as a guest. ( logon | register )

PrecisionAg.com Big Data Workshop, Part 5
View previous thread :: View next thread
   Forums List -> Precision TalkMessage format
 
torn
Posted 9/2/2014 18:08 (#4052276)
Subject: PrecisionAg.com Big Data Workshop, Part 5


roaming
(Part 1 here: http://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=496857)
(Part 2 here: http://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=496918)
(Part 3 here: http://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=496939)
(Part 4 here: http://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=497226)

The fifth presentation, and the last that I was able to sit through before having to duck out early, was on collecting, moving, and storing data. This presentation reiterated several points from the earlier sessions, and emphasized the importance of a framework or infrastructure by which all of our "little data" can be cleaned/validated, certified ("yes, this data is good"), moved/shared, stored, and analyzed.

There are several models for this, including one managed exclusively by the grower (the traditional model of data stored on a USB stick, transferred to a local desktop computer, analyzed, backed up to a hard drive, and either analyzed in-house or shared with an external agronomist or other partners via USB), as well as models that include different levels of involvement by data service providers (i.e. cloud storage/transfer solutions). Pros and cons to each model, but the general feeling is that managing data via USB is cumbersome for all parties, so something easier and more user-friendly is going to be necessary if data is to reach its potential. Options range from "big 3" OEM-provided solutions (CaseIH/Deere/Agco telematics) to aftermarket ag manufacturer solutions (AgLeader/Trimble clouds) to 3rd-party ag solutions (co-ops, seed dealers, etc.) to 3rd-party consumer solutions (Dropbox, iCloud, etc.) Lots of pros/cons/tradeoffs involved.

The presenters shared a "Roadmap for Ag Machinery and Technology", which consisted of 3 main points:
- efficient and accurate machinery operation
- sound input stewardship
- big data

For big data to work, everyone along the "chain of custody" has to make money. The grower generates/provides the data, and unless he's making money with it, it's of no value to him. The seed guy wants access to the data so he can make money with it, the co-op wants access to it so they can make money with it, the iron mfr wants access to it so they can make money, etc. If it's going to be stored in a cloud, the cloud provider needs to make money somehow. The more data that's available, the more potential value is present, but there are increased costs as well. An example was given of data being generated at the rate of .5kb/plant/yr. For 10yrs of data covering 5000ac/yr of corn, it wouldn't be unreasonable to see data storage costs at $300/yr. That's just storage, and with a conservative estimate of the amount of data generated per plant. Add in remote sensing, satellite imaging, etc, and the amount of data per plant grows very quickly.

What about data that is collected but is not accessible to the grower - i.e. proprietary CAN messages? Manufacturers have some legitimate interest in keeping some data secret, but growers own the data, so shouldn't they have a right to see what they own?

*Data quality does not get better after collection.*

A "trusted data advisor" will be invaluable for growers to want to get the most value out of their data.

Data can be classified into the following 5 categories:
- production data
- machine data
- user data (including the user's influence on what is recorded, affecting the accuracy/reliability of the collected data)
- weather/climate data
- soil moisture/irrigation data

NOT collecting data will limit opportunities.

Data aggregation increases the potential for value-generation at the farm level.

The presentation closed with the following recommendation:
- work with a trusted data provider
- evaluate data service options and the value available from each
- invest in technology that meets your needs
- understand terms and conditions, privacy statements, EULAs, NDAs, etc.
Top of the page Bottom of the page


Jump to forum :
Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread

(Delete cookies)