Spatial Image Digitizer to Improve Agricultural GIS

This spatial image digitizer (SID) provides not only normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data with true color imagery but can also indicate soil texture variability. From 2017 to 2018 there is a forecasted nearly twelve percent drop in farming net income in the U.S., making 2018 forecasted to have the lowest net income in over eight years. This decrease in net income will affect over two million farms in the U.S. with over 850,000 employees. Clemson University researchers have developed a spatial image digitizer (SID) to help farmers with growing crops and increase yields. The SID technology is specifically developed and marketed for agricultural management application. Prior technologies do not have options for digitized pixel outputs and require specialized cameras to collect NVDI data. SID solves these problems and can be used to determine soil qualities.