Publication | Closed Access
DGPS-Based Automatic Guidance - Implementation and Economical Analysis
30
Citations
0
References
2001
Year
Automatic Guidance SystemsPrecision AgricultureEngineeringLand UseAgricultural EconomicsAgricultural CyberneticsConventional Field OperationSystems EngineeringPublic HealthAgricultural MachineryQuantitative ManagementContour FarmingPrecision FarmingAgricultureDgps-based Automatic GuidanceData-driven PlanningAgricultural EngineeringNatural Resource ManagementRemote SensingFarming Systems
Automatic guidance systems (AGS) for tractors and other farm vehicles provide promisingprospects for implementation in agricultural systems. Techniques involving latest developments in DGPSwith centimeter accuracy (CA) and in other research areas enable immediate commercial implementationof the systems in field operations. Technical feasibility and an economic study of the prospects forcommercial implementation of the high-end AGS is analyzed in the present article. The long return periodof the high-end systems when used for improving conventional field operation is discussed. A review andanalysis of the potential benefits in implementing the CA-AGS in conjunction with selected croppingtechnologies are presented. Contour farming, controlled traffic and sub-surface drip-irrigation aretechnologies where this system can provide significant benefit, and since the CA-AGS is essential fortheir commercial implementation, the high cost of the system is justified.