METHOD FOR AUTOMATED BUFFER ZONE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for generating an application map for treating a field with an agricultural equipment comprising the following steps: a) providing a land cover map relating to a field to be treated; b) receiving master data selected from the group consisting of: regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data, c) optionally initiating the determination of, and/or determining preliminary buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data, d) optionally receiving validation information selected from the group consisting of: (i) validation information relating to the field to be treated or relating to the land cover map, (ii) validation information relating to master data selected from the group consisting of regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data, and (iii) validation information relating to preliminary buffer zones, e) initiating the determination of, and/or determining buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data and—optionally—based on the validation information; and f) initiating the generation of, and/or generating an application map specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment, wherein the application map is based on the buffer zones.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating an application map for treating a field with an agricultural equipment comprising the following steps: a) (302) providing a land cover map relating to a field to be treated; b) (304) receiving master data selected from the group consisting of: regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data; e) (310) initiating the determination of, and/or determining buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data; and f) (312) initiating the generation of, and/or generating an application map specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment, wherein the application map is based on the buffer zones.

2. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) (302) providing a land cover map relating to a field to be treated; b) (304) receiving master data selected from the group consisting of: regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data; c) (306) optionally initiating the determination of, and/or determining preliminary buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data (306); d) (308) optionally receiving validation information selected from the group consisting of: (i) validation information relating to the field to be treated or relating to the land cover map, (ii) validation information relating to master data selected from the group consisting of regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data, and (iii) validation information relating to preliminary buffer zones; e) (310) initiating the determination of, and/or determining buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data and based on the validation information; and f) (312) initiating the generation of, and/or generating an application map specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment, wherein the application map is based on the buffer zones.

3. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) (302) providing a land cover map relating to a field to be treated; b) (304) receiving master data selected from the group consisting of: regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data; c) (306) optionally initiating the determination of, and/or determining preliminary buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data (306); d) (308) receiving validation information selected from the group consisting of: (i) validation information relating to the field to be treated or relating to the land cover map, (ii) validation information relating to master data selected from the group consisting of regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data, and (iii) validation information relating to preliminary buffer zones; e) (310) initiating the determination of, and/or determining buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data and based on the validation information; and f) (312) initiating the generation of, and/or generating an application map specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment, wherein the application map is based on the buffer zones.

4. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) (302) providing a land cover map relating to a field to be treated; b) (304) receiving master data selected from the group consisting of: regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data, d) (308) receiving validation information relating to the field to be treated or relating to the land cover map, e) (310) initiating the determination of, and/or determining buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data and based on the validation information; and f) (312) initiating the generation of, and/or generating an application map specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment, wherein the application map is based on the buffer zones.

5. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) (302) providing a land cover map relating to a field to be treated; b) (304) receiving master data selected from the group consisting of: regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data; d) (308) receiving validation information relating to master data selected from the group consisting of regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data; e) (310) initiating the determination of, and/or determining buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data and based on the validation information; and f) (312) initiating the generation of, and/or generating an application map specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment, wherein the application map is based on the buffer zones.

6. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) (302) providing a land cover map relating to a field to be treated; b) (304) receiving master data selected from the group consisting of: regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data; c) (306) initiating the determination of, and/or determining preliminary buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data; d) (308) receiving validation information relating to preliminary buffer zones; e) (310) initiating the determination of, and/or determining buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data and based on the validation information; and f) (312) initiating the generation of, and/or generating an application map specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment, wherein the application map is based on the buffer zones.

7. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the land cover map is generated based on a least one of the following categories of data: general map data, remote sensing data and user map data.

8. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the land cover map is generated via a land cover classification algorithm.

9. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the master data include regulatory data, machine data, and field data.

10. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the master data include machine data.

11. Computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the master data include regulatory data.

12. Computer-implemented method according to claim 2, wherein the validation information includes at least one of the following information: 1) information that all data relating to the field to be treated or all objects shown in the land cover map is correct; 2) information that specific data relating to the field to be treated have to be corrected; 3) information that specific objects in the land cover map have to be either added, or modified, or deleted.

13. Computer-implemented method according to claim 2, wherein the validation information includes at least one of the following information: 1) information that all master data are correct; 2) information that specific master data have to be corrected; 3) information that specific master data have to be either added, or modified, or deleted.

14. Computer-implemented method according to claim 2, wherein the validation information includes at least one of the following information: 1) information that all preliminary buffer zones and/or all objects shown in the preliminary buffer zones are correct; 2) information that specific preliminary buffer zones and/or specific objects shown in the preliminary buffer zones have to be corrected; 3) information that specific preliminary buffer zones and/or specific objects shown in the preliminary buffer zones have to be either added, or modified, or deleted.

15. Computer-implemented method according to claim 2, wherein the validation information is inputted by the human user.

16. Computer-implemented method according to claim 2, wherein the validation information relating to the field to be treated or relating to the land cover map is inputted by a sensor or machine which is capable of automatically or semi-automatically obtaining data relating to the field to be treated or recognizing objects shown in the land cover map.

17. Computer-implemented method according to claim 2, wherein the validation information relating to the master data is inputted sensor or machine which is capable of automatically or semi-automatically obtaining master data.

18. Computer-implemented method according to claim 2, wherein the validation information relating to the preliminary buffer zone is inputted sensor or machine which is capable of automatically or semi-automatically obtaining data relating to the preliminary buffer zone.

19. Agricultural equipment configured to be controlled by control data and/or a control map provided by a method according to claim 1.

20. A computer system for generating an application map for treating a field with an agricultural equipment comprising: 1) a first interface component configured to provide a land cover map relating to a field to be treated, 2) a second interface component configured to receive master data selected from the group consisting of: regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data; 3) optionally a third interface component configured to initiate the determination of, and/or a first system module configured to determine preliminary buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data; 4) optionally a fourth interface component configured to receive validation information selected from the group consisting of: (i) validation information relating to the field to be treated or relating to the land cover map, (ii) validation information relating to master data selected from the group consisting of regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data, (iii) validation information relating to preliminary buffer zones; 5) a fifth interface component configured to initiate the determination of, and/or a second system module configured to determine buffer zones as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data and based on the validation information; and 6) a sixth interface component configured to initiate the generation of, and/or a third system module configured to generate an application map specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment, wherein the application map is based on the buffer zones.

Description

[0155] An exemplary workflow of the invention is described in the FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0156] FIG. 1 can be described as follows: The land cover map 136 is generated via the land cover classification algorithm (in the following referred to as “LCC algorithm”) 134 based on a least one of the following categories of data: General map data 120, remote sensing data 132, and user map data 130. The land cover map 136 may be optionally inputted into a validation interface (e.g. user interface) 112, which is configured to receive validation information relating to the field to be treated or relating to the land cover map 136, before the land cover map is further processed as a further layer to determine the buffer zones 110. The buffer zones 110 as a further layer to the land cover map 136 are determined based on the master data 106, or such determination is initiated. The master data 106 selected from the group consisting of regulatory data 102, machine data 104, field data 114, elevation data 116 may be optionally inputted into a validation interface (e.g. user interface) 108, which is configured to receive validation information relating to the master data 106, before the master data are 110 further processed to determine the buffer zones 110. Based on the buffer zones 110, application maps 122 specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment are generated. Optionally, the application maps 122 may be inputted into an agricultural equipment (e.g. tractor terminal) 126, which may conduct treatment 128 of an agricultural field with automatic consideration of buffer zones. Optionally, the application maps 122 can also be used for visualization 124.

[0157] FIG. 1 can be described as follows: The land cover map 136 is generated via the land cover classification algorithm (in the following referred to as “LCC algorithm”) 134 based on a least one of the following categories of data: General map data 120, remote sensing data 132, and user map data 130. The land cover map 136 may be optionally inputted into a validation interface (e.g. user interface) 112, which is configured to receive validation information relating to the field to be treated or relating to the land cover map 136, before the land cover map is used as a further layer to determine the buffer zones 110. The master data 106 selected from the group consisting of regulatory data 102, machine data 104, field data 114, elevation data 116 may be optionally inputted into a validation interface (e.g. user interface) 108, which is configured to receive validation information relating to the master data 106, before the master data 110 are used to determine the buffer zones 110. The buffer zones 110 are determined as a further layer to the land cover map 136 based on the master data 106, or such determination is initiated. Based on the buffer zones 110, application maps 122 specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment are generated. Optionally, the application maps 122 may be inputted into an agricultural equipment (e.g. tractor terminal) 126, which may conduct treatment 128 of an agricultural field with automatic consideration of buffer zones. Optionally, the application maps 122 can also be used for visualization 124. An optional base map may be inputted into the validation interface (e.g. user interface) 112.

[0158] FIG. 2 can be described as follows: The land cover map 236 is generated via the land cover classification algorithm (in the following referred to as “LCC algorithm”) 234 based on a least one of the following categories of data: General map data 228, remote sensing data 232, and user map data 230. The land cover map 236 is used as a further layer to determine the preliminary buffer zones 214. The master data 208 selected from the group consisting of regulatory data 202, machine data 206, field data 210, elevation data 212 are used to determine the preliminary buffer zones 214. The preliminary buffer zones 214 are determined as a further layer to the land cover map 236 based on the master data 208, or such determination is initiated. The preliminary buffer zones 214 are inputted into a validation interface (e.g. user interface) 216, which is configured to receive validation information relating to the preliminary buffer zones 214. The buffer zones 218 are then determined based on the validation information relating to the preliminary buffer zones 214. Based on the buffer zones 218, application maps 220 specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment are generated. Optionally, the application maps 220 may be inputted into an agricultural equipment (e.g. tractor terminal) 224, which may conduct treatment 226 of an agricultural field with automatic consideration of buffer zones. Optionally, the application maps 220 can also be used for visualization 222. An optional base map may be inputted into the validation interface (e.g. user interface) 216.

[0159] FIG. 3 illustrates the computer-implemented method of the present invention. In the step (302), a land cover map relating to a field to be treated is provided. In the step (304), master data selected from the group consisting of regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data are received. In the optional step (306), the preliminary buffer zones are determined as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data, and/or such determination is initiated. In the optional step (308), validation information selected from the group consisting of:

(i) validation information relating to the field to be treated or relating to the land cover map,
(ii) validation information relating to master data selected from the group consisting of regulatory data, machine data, field data, elevation data,
(iii) validation information relating to preliminary buffer zones, is received. In the step (310), the buffer zones are determined as a further layer to the land cover map based on the master data and based on the validation information, and/or such determination is initiated. In the step (312), an application map is generated specifying areas for treating the field with an agricultural equipment, wherein the application map is based on the buffer zones, and/or such generation of an application map is initiated.

[0160] A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0161] In addition, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.