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”
- Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
- Analyze remote sensing imagery to identify relationships between soil quality, crop canopy densities, light reflectance, and weather history.
- Apply precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices.
- Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.
- Draw or read maps, such as soil, contour, or plat maps.
- Analyze data from harvester monitors to develop yield maps.
- Prepare reports in graphical or tabular form, summarizing field productivity or profitability.
- Recommend best crop varieties or seeding rates for specific field areas, based on analysis of geospatial data.
- Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
- Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
- Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
- Contact equipment manufacturers for technical assistance, as needed.
- Participate in efforts to advance precision agriculture technology, such as developing advanced weed identification or automated spot spraying systems.
- Identify areas in need of pesticide treatment by analyzing geospatial data to determine insect movement and damage patterns.
- 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.
- 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.
- Advise farmers on upgrading Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to take advantage of newly installed advanced satellite technology.
- Program farm equipment, such as variable-rate planting equipment or pesticide sprayers, based on input from crop scouting and analysis of field condition variability.
- Analyze geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions.
- Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.
- Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
Related Technology & Tools
- Personal computers
- Yield monitor systems
- Moisture monitors
- Lightbar guidance systems
- Autosteering systems
- Fertilizer spreading equipment
- Field personal computers PC
- Laptop computers
- Soil electrical conductivity measurement devices
- Sprayer application equipment
- Automatic boom control systems
- Desktop computers
- Tractor mounted soil probes
- Air clutches
- Soil samplers
- Seed drills
- Variable rate applicators
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Automatic land leveling systems
- Microsoft Excel
- AGCO GTA Software Suite
- Web browser software
- MapShots EASi Suite
- ESRI ArcView
- Microsoft Word
- ESRI ArcPad
- Novariant AutoFarm AF Viewer
- Microsoft Office
- GeoAgro GIS
- John Deere Apex Farm Management
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Access
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Ag Leader Technology SMS Advanced
- Farm Works Site Pro
- Trimble AgGPS MultiPlane
- SST Development Group SSToolbox
- Trimble AgGPS EZ-Map