GIS analysis of cropping systems: proceedings of an International Workshop on Harmonization of Databases for GIS Analysis of Cropping Systems in the Asia Region,18-19 Aug 1997, ICRISAT-Patancheru, India

'GIS analysis of cropping systems: proceedings of an International Workshop on Harmonization of Databases for GIS Analysis of Cropping Systems in the Asia Region,18-19 Aug 1997, ICRISAT-Patancheru, India', International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, 2011

Geographic information systems (GIS) have come a long way from obscurity in the1980s to now become commonplace in universities, international researchinstitutions, government departments, and private businesses where the technologyis used for a wide range of applications. In the last few years, its application has beenincreasing in agricultural research and development. The International Workshop onHarmonization of Databases for GI S Analysis of Cropping Systems in the AsiaRegion, held 18-19 Aug 1997 at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India examined the currentstatus of available software options, database requirements, availability of data,database storage and exchange procedures, options for GI S outputs and optimizationof regional interactions in the use of GI S for cropping system analysis wi t h respect toAsia. GI S specialists from international agricultural research centers (IARCs) andnational agricultural research systems (NARS) of Asia reviewed state-of-the-artknow-how in using GI S as a research tool for the characterization of targetenvironments, soil, water and nutrient management, integrated pest and diseasemanagement, and sustainable land-use systems. The workshop focussed on three basicquestions: "what information is available?", "in what form is the informationavailable?", and "in what form should the GI S output be?"Recommendations were made on the effective use of GI S and on the possibility ofharmonizing datasets for common use by IARCs and NARS. The workshop wasfollowed by a hands-on training program on the use of GI S in analysis of croppingsystems of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The country casestudies prepared during this training program wi l l be published as a separate volume.The present publication includes status papers describing GI S as a research tool, typesof GI S software available and its use in different institutions