Will “Physical Scientist” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
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Job Description
Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 19-4099.02
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Precision Agriculture Technicians”.
Also Known As…
- Precision Agriculture Technicians
- Soil Fertility Specialist
- Research Agricultural Engineer
- Regional Agronomist
- Precision Farming Coordinator
- Precision Agronomist
- Precision Agriculture Specialist
- Nutrient Management Specialist
- Independent Crop Consultant
- Crop Specialist
- Precision Farming Specialist
- Precision Crop Manager
- Precision Agriculture Technician
- Physical Scientist
- Migration Specialist
- GPS Field Data Collector (Global Positioning System Field Data Collector)
- Extension Precision Agriculture Specialist
Tasks for “Physical Scientist”
- Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
- Apply precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices.
- Identify areas in need of pesticide treatment by analyzing geospatial data to determine insect movement and damage patterns.
- Analyze geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions.
- Recommend best crop varieties or seeding rates for specific field areas, based on analysis of geospatial data.
- Contact equipment manufacturers for technical assistance, as needed.
- Program farm equipment, such as variable-rate planting equipment or pesticide sprayers, based on input from crop scouting and analysis of field condition variability.
- Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
- Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
- Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
- Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
- Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.
- Draw or read maps, such as soil, contour, or plat maps.
- Advise farmers on upgrading Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to take advantage of newly installed advanced satellite technology.
- Provide advice on the development or application of better boom-spray technology to limit the overapplication of chemicals and to reduce the migration of chemicals beyond the fields being treated.
- Analyze data from harvester monitors to develop yield maps.
- Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.
- Prepare reports in graphical or tabular form, summarizing field productivity or profitability.
- Analyze remote sensing imagery to identify relationships between soil quality, crop canopy densities, light reflectance, and weather history.
- Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.
- Demonstrate the applications of geospatial technology, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), automatic tractor guidance systems, variable rate chemical input applicators, surveying equipment, or computer mapping software.
- Participate in efforts to advance precision agriculture technology, such as developing advanced weed identification or automated spot spraying systems.
Related Technology & Tools
- Automatic land leveling systems
- Personal computers
- Yield monitor systems
- Field personal computers PC
- Desktop computers
- Tractor mounted soil probes
- Lightbar guidance systems
- Soil electrical conductivity measurement devices
- Soil samplers
- Seed drills
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Sprayer application equipment
- Variable rate applicators
- Moisture monitors
- Air clutches
- Fertilizer spreading equipment
- Autosteering systems
- Laptop computers
- Automatic boom control systems
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Word
- GeoAgro GIS
- ESRI ArcPad
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Ag Leader Technology SMS Advanced
- AGCO GTA Software Suite
- Farm Works Site Pro
- Trimble AgGPS MultiPlane
- Web browser software
- SST Development Group SSToolbox
- Microsoft Access
- MapShots EASi Suite
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Novariant AutoFarm AF Viewer
- ESRI ArcView
- John Deere Apex Farm Management
- Microsoft Excel
- Trimble AgGPS EZ-Map