WATER EROSION MANAGEMENT INCORPORATING TOPOGRAPHY, SOIL TYPE, AND WEATHER STATISTICS

• US 20120101796A1
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Lindores, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/9
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A method of water erosion management comprises receiving a topographic datum indicating the topography of a defined area. Data is received indicating a soil composition found at the defined area. A model is created predicting a water runoff pattern for said defined area based upon the topography of the defined area and the soil composition of the defined area.

Claims

1. A method of water erosion management comprising:

receiving a topographic datum indicating the topography of a defined area;

receiving data indicating a soil composition found at said defined area; and

creating a model predicting a water runoff pattern for said defined area based upon said topographic data and said soil composition at said defined area.

2. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising:

using said model to predict erosion of soil at said defined area based upon said topographic data and said soil composition.

3. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

incorporating said topographic data and said soil composition data with other farming data for a wide geographic area; and

using the other farming data for said wide geographic area to modify said model.

4. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

using weather data for at least said defined area to create said model.

5. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication to modify said topographic datum within said model; and

generating a second model in response to receiving said indication.

6. The method recited in claim 5, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a terraforming operation to be performed at said defined area;

modifying said soil composition within said model; and

generating said second model based upon said indication of said terraforming operation and said modifying said soil composition within said model.

7. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a predicted condition;

applying said predicted condition to said model; and

generating an alert based upon said applying of said predicted condition to said model.

8. A system for management of water erosion, said system comprising:

a first reporting source configured to report a plurality of topographic data defining a location and an elevation of a plurality of sites at a defined area;

a second reporting source configured to report a soil composition data of at least one of said locations within said defined area; and

a model generator configured to generate a model which conveys a three-dimensional (3-D) map of said defined area based upon said plurality of topographic data and to show variations of said soil composition across said defined area and wherein said model generator is further configured to predict a water runoff pattern at said defined area based upon said plurality of topographic data and said soil composition data.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a database coupled with said model generator and configured for storing said plurality of topographic data and said soil composition data; and

an aggregating agent configured for coupling said database and for filtering data collected across a wide geographic area based on attributes common with said defined area.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said first reporting source is coupled with a mobile device which is hand-holdable.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said first reporting source is coupled with a land bound agricultural vehicle.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said model generator is configured to receive an indication to modify at least one of said plurality of topographic data within said model and to generate a second model in response to receiving said indication.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said model generator is configured to receive an indication of a terraforming operation to be performed at said defined area and for modifying said soil composition of at least one of said plurality of sites at said defined area.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method of water erosion management, said method comprising:

receiving a topographic datum indicating the topography of a defined area;

receiving data indicating a soil composition found at said defined area; and

creating a model predicting a water runoff pattern for said defined area based upon said topographic data and said soil composition at said defined area.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

using said model to predict erosion of soil at said defined area based upon said topographic data and said soil composition.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

incorporating said topographic data and said soil composition data with other farming data for a wide geographic area; and

using the other farming data for said wide geographic area to modify said model.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

using weather data for at least said defined area to create said model.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving an indication to modify said topographic datum within said model; and

generating a second model in response to receiving said indication.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving an indication of a terraforming operation to be performed at said defined area;

modifying said soil composition within said model; and

generating said second model based upon said indication of said terraforming operation and said modifying said soil composition within said model.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

accessing a predicted condition;

applying said predicted condition to said model; and

generating an alert based upon said applying of said predicted condition to said model.