Improving Agricultural Practices Through Water-flow Modeling and Visualization
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Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food fiber and other biological products.
History
In 1905 Agricultural Engineering was recognized as a subdivision of the Department of Agronomy, and in 1907 it was recognized as a unique department. It was renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 1990. The department merged with the Department of Industrial Education and Technology in 2004.
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1905–present
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- Department of Agricultural Engineering (1907–1990)
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- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
- College of Engineering (parent college)
- Department of Industrial Education and Technology, (merged, 2004)
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Abstract
Current farming tools do not provide an easy solution for water-flow modeling or visualization; therefore, farmers are not aware of what happens in their fields following rainfall events.
Our client, Cedar Valley Innovation (CVI), is a small company owned and operated by Bob Recker out of Waterloo, IA. CVI has supported several projects related to water flow, erosion, and alternative planting in the past including "Row Crop Headland Management Economic Opportunity: Applicator Pathway” and "Alternative Sources of Accurate Agricultural Topography." Mr. Recker’s main focus is on improving the farmer’s triple bottom line of a sustainable income, feeding the world, and improving the soil for future generations. Because of this, his emphasis for this project is the need for farmers to take credit for the erosion and runoff that they see off of their fields instead of blaming their nearby fields. In past experiences, Mr. Recker has seen a void in technology to display water flow in a meaningful and easily understood manner for the farmers that he provides services to. Because of this, he has asked our group to help solve this problem with an effective software package that would allow for him to travel to the farmer and show them what is occurring in their fields following a rainfall event.
While there are several software that have begun to scratch the surface of this problem, our group has been asked to dig deeper and work with some of these companies to create an even stronger model. When a program has been made, CVI will have a useful tool to model water-flow in both agricultural fields as well as many other land use categories.