AGSC 132 - Second Examination Study Guide Page 1 of 1
School of Agriculture and
Natural Resources
AGSC 132
An Introduction to Computer Applications
in Precision Farming
Fall 2009
Second Examination Study Guide
Prepared By
Dr. Walid H. Shayya
!What does GIS stand for and how it can be defined?
!What can GIS do?
!What are the primary benefits of GIS?
!List four of the many GIS-related fields and how these relate to GIS
!What is the difference between a map and GIS?
!What are some of the drawbacks of paper maps?
!What are some of the capabilities of GIS?
!What are the sources of data for GIS?
!How is GIS being currently used?
!Know the difference between raster and vector data.
!Understand the three types of vector data and when each is used.
!Have a basic understanding of Google Earth, ArcExplorer, and ArcView.
!Understand how to work with map scale.
!Understand what is unique about topographic maps and how to interpret them.
!Know what contour lines correspond to and how these provide an idea of topography.
!Understand how to read contour lines.
!Define yield monitoring and how it is measured.
!Know the three approaches to measuring yield.
!Know the kind of sensors needed in yield monitoring?
!Understand how yield mapping relates to yield monitoring and data collection?
!Why is soil sampling (especially site-specific) and testing needed?
!What are the soil sampling-related factors that influence yield?
!Why is soil fertility important and why should it be monitored?
!Why would a farmer need to monitor soil pH?
!What are some of the additional factors that influence crop yield (aside from nutrients, fertility,
and pH)?
!What are the three soil sampling methods that are usually followed in precision agriculture?
!What are some of the factors that one should consider in a soil sampling program?
!Define variable rate application.
!Why use variable rate application and when should it become an integral part of a precision
farming system?
!What are the two methods for implementing variable rate application?
!What are the benefits and drawbacks of map-based variable rate application systems?
!What are the primary components of map-based variable rate application systems?
!What are variable rate controllers and actuators used for?
!What are some of the issues that one should consider in variable rate application systems?
File: 132_SecondExamStudyGuide.wpd
Last Modified: July 8, 2009
