Articles
Modeling of the harvesting process as a subsection of an information and controlling system for horticultural production
Article number
1425_32
Pages
247 – 254
Language
English
Abstract
Business decision making in German horticultural companies is mainly characterized by experience and intuition.
Controlling is usually applied rarely and not very intensively.
In particular, a lack of business management knowledge and benefits that are difficult to recognize in relation to the effort involved inhibit adaptation.
New digital technologies offer potential for reducing the effort of data collection and thus simplify access to business-relevant information.
Information and control systems (ICS) should ideally serve as decision support tools for as many operational decisions as possible.
To model the real farm situation, all operationally relevant data sources should be captured and transformed into decision-relevant information.
To reduce the complexity of reality while modeling an ICS, it is suitable to break reality down into separate parts.
In this study, the apple harvesting process, and its accompanying controlling are modeled as a subsection of an ICS using graphical modeling languages.
The apple harvesting process was chosen because German fruit growing is strongly dominated by apple production and with 50%, harvesting has the highest share of working time in labor-intensive apple production.
Graphical modeling languages help us to visually structure and connect operational data sources and process flows.
This enables us to investigate how the benefits of controlling application must be designed so that they exceed the effort and how new digital technologies can strengthen the benefit side of controlling.
Modeling the systematic collection and merge of data like working hours, harvest quantities and qualities via an ICS enables effective controlling.
If yield-reducing quality losses such as underdeveloped fruit, poor skin color, codling moth infestation, bitter pit or mechanical damage are recorded for each plot, the replacement and care planning for the following year can be rationalized by ICS usage.
Controlling is usually applied rarely and not very intensively.
In particular, a lack of business management knowledge and benefits that are difficult to recognize in relation to the effort involved inhibit adaptation.
New digital technologies offer potential for reducing the effort of data collection and thus simplify access to business-relevant information.
Information and control systems (ICS) should ideally serve as decision support tools for as many operational decisions as possible.
To model the real farm situation, all operationally relevant data sources should be captured and transformed into decision-relevant information.
To reduce the complexity of reality while modeling an ICS, it is suitable to break reality down into separate parts.
In this study, the apple harvesting process, and its accompanying controlling are modeled as a subsection of an ICS using graphical modeling languages.
The apple harvesting process was chosen because German fruit growing is strongly dominated by apple production and with 50%, harvesting has the highest share of working time in labor-intensive apple production.
Graphical modeling languages help us to visually structure and connect operational data sources and process flows.
This enables us to investigate how the benefits of controlling application must be designed so that they exceed the effort and how new digital technologies can strengthen the benefit side of controlling.
Modeling the systematic collection and merge of data like working hours, harvest quantities and qualities via an ICS enables effective controlling.
If yield-reducing quality losses such as underdeveloped fruit, poor skin color, codling moth infestation, bitter pit or mechanical damage are recorded for each plot, the replacement and care planning for the following year can be rationalized by ICS usage.
Authors
L. Müller, R. Luer, W. Lentz
Keywords
information and controlling system, digital decision support, farm management in orchards, graphical modeling language, business management controlling
Groups involved
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Working Group Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard Management
- Working Group Modelling Plant Growth, Environmental Control, Greenhouse Environment
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
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