DISCDISC

Decision Information Systems Decision Information Systems for Citrusfor Citrus

Premise of DISCPremise of DISC

Information is growing exponentiallyInformation is growing exponentiallyNeed to apply information to remain Need to apply information to remain competitivecompetitiveTechnology is improving, and costs lessTechnology is improving, and costs lessTime is being compressed – cellphones, Time is being compressed – cellphones, e-mail, etc.e-mail, etc.Result – Not enough time to do everything, Result – Not enough time to do everything, not enough brainpower to remember not enough brainpower to remember everythingeverything

DDecisionecision IInformationnformation SSystems ystems for for CCitrusitrus

Technology

Citrus Knowledge Base

Technology

Expert Systems and Artificial Expert Systems and Artificial IntelligenceIntelligence

Expert System models a single decision, Expert System models a single decision, or groups of related decisionsor groups of related decisionsArtificial Intelligence is a collection of Artificial Intelligence is a collection of Expert Systems – more complexExpert Systems – more complexCertain decisions that are repetitive in Certain decisions that are repetitive in nature, and involve remembering a lot of nature, and involve remembering a lot of detailed information, can be modeleddetailed information, can be modeledOther decisions that require human Other decisions that require human creativity cannot be easily modeledcreativity cannot be easily modeled

The DISC TeamThe DISC Team

““Domain Experts” – People who Domain Experts” – People who understand the decision process – understand the decision process – researchers, growers, etc.researchers, growers, etc.

““Knowledge Engineers” – People who Knowledge Engineers” – People who understand the process of building expert understand the process of building expert systemssystems

Weather-Driven Expert SystemsWeather-Driven Expert Systems

DISC originated as an idea about DISC originated as an idea about describing, building, and running expert describing, building, and running expert systems that require weather data as an systems that require weather data as an inputinput

Weather is a powerful variable in Weather is a powerful variable in agricultural production, and must be agricultural production, and must be accommodated in decisionsaccommodated in decisions

Three Things NeededThree Things Needed

Expert SystemsExpert Systems

Weather InformationWeather Information

UsersUsers

Need all to be viableNeed all to be viable

1994 -- No easy way to collect weather 1994 -- No easy way to collect weather information, few people familiar with expert information, few people familiar with expert system development, and very few system development, and very few growers using computers and technologygrowers using computers and technology

Current StatusCurrent Status

Two weather station networks – Agrilink Two weather station networks – Agrilink and FAWNand FAWNMany growers have computersMany growers have computersWith FCPRC Funding, Team has With FCPRC Funding, Team has developed pilot expert systems, and an developed pilot expert systems, and an operating framework for DISCoperating framework for DISCNext steps – finalize distribution process, Next steps – finalize distribution process, add modules, refine interface with grower add modules, refine interface with grower accounting softwareaccounting software

4 sprays of 2 lbs metallic / acre

<-- 26 days-->

5 sprays of 2 lbs metallic / acre

.50ug/cm2 threshold

Integration with Financial Integration with Financial Management SoftwareManagement Software

Currently, Kahn Grove Care has worked Currently, Kahn Grove Care has worked with DISC and Datativity to allow single with DISC and Datativity to allow single entry of both financial and grove care dataentry of both financial and grove care data

Eliminates need to enter spray data, etc., Eliminates need to enter spray data, etc., twicetwice

Currently working to allow automated data Currently working to allow automated data transfer between DISC and Quickbookstransfer between DISC and Quickbooks

Preplant Decision ModelPreplant Decision Model

Allows selection of best rootstocks for a Allows selection of best rootstocks for a sitesite

Ranks rootstocks based on user-defined Ranks rootstocks based on user-defined criteriacriteria

Have demonstrated the possibility of Have demonstrated the possibility of drawing GIS maps with rootstock locationsdrawing GIS maps with rootstock locations

Nutrient Management PlanNutrient Management Plan

Description and records of sources, uses, Description and records of sources, uses, and ultimate fate of all nutrient materials – and ultimate fate of all nutrient materials – applied or naturalapplied or natural

Methods of managing nutrientsMethods of managing nutrients

Measures to eliminate or reduce off-site Measures to eliminate or reduce off-site migration of nutrients into receiving watermigration of nutrients into receiving water

Abbreviation – “NMP”Abbreviation – “NMP”

Thank You Very MuchThank You Very Much

Pete SpykePete Spyke

Arapaho Citrus Management, Inc.Arapaho Citrus Management, Inc.

Ft. Pierce, FloridaFt. Pierce, Florida

www.arapahocitrus.comwww.arapahocitrus.com