Implementation of the SQ system for Agroekspert Polska.

Work on the project began with the analysis of the functional specification of the system, which was provided to us by the client - Agroekspert Polska. Work on the system lasted over a year and was divided into 4 stages. The system was handed over to the client incrementally, so that he could calmly analyze a given stage and introduce any corrections to subsequent stages. We used the Redmine system to exchange opinions and suggestions on how the system works. Thanks to this approach, we did not remain indifferent to even the smallest suggestions and reports. All submissions were carefully analyzed and assigned to the appropriate project members. The project received funding from the Marshal's Office, which is why we had to keep an eye on the schedule and cost estimate. From the beginning, we focused on the latest technologies. The web application is made in ASP.NET MVC 3.

Thanks to the fact that we use NHibernate to connect to the database, the system can work on any database. We chose MS SQL Server 2008 for the production implementation. It was a good choice. To speed things up even more, database entities are cached on the application server side. We have also prepared a manual for the end user of the system.

• Soil testing laboratory. The system supports all business processes at Agroekspert Polska. Including all soil testing processes. From accepting soil samples, through creating test kits for the laboratory, to entering partial results and counting the final results.
• Possibility to create maps of abundance in chemical elements. When the soil test results are ready, the end customer is informed about it by the selected communication method (email, text message, etc.). It can generate maps of soil abundance in chemical elements such as magnesium, potassium and many others.
• Creating fertilizer recommendations. The next possible step, when maps of abundance in chemical elements are available, is to create fertilization recommendations. The customer can choose the plant he intends to grow in the field. Knowing the needs of a given plant for chemical elements, the system can generate a recommendation regarding the most optimal fertilization of the field for a given plant. The farmer can download such a recommendation to a mobile device and fertilize the field in accordance with the recommendation. More on this later in [Actuator control].
• PayPal payment service. One of the methods of settlement are automatic Payu payments. The farmer's order receives the 'To be processed' status only after the payment for it has been made. The whole process is done automatically.
• Ability to generate advanced PDF reports. The person commissioning the study can download many very advanced reports. The most interesting of them are the Study, Poster, Results and Recommendation. Many reports contain color maps of the abundance of elements and fertilizer maps.
• Creating GPS contours of agricultural fields. Thanks to the use of GPS technology, it is possible to make a field outline using a mobile application. Just start the field drawing mode and walk or drive over the field boundary. There are a number of functions available when making a contour, such as: contour margins, different drawing modes, deleting the last added point, or averaging already added points.
• Generation of soil collection points. When the outline is already made, it is possible to generate soil collection points. The system generates these points automatically according to density. The default density is 1 sample per hectare. After generating the sampling samples, you should physically go to the generated places and take the soil from this place to the container.
• Data synchronization with the web application. The contour of the crop field with soil samples can be synchronized with the web application. Then, after logging into the system, you will be able to see the outline of the field via a web browser, and export it to external applications such as Google Maps and Google Earth.
• Preview of element abundance maps. After sending samples to the laboratory and paying the fee via the web application, after data synchronization on the Android device, maps of chemical element abundance will appear. You will be able to move around the field on a colorful map of the abundance of elements.
• Reference station. An innovative technique for improving the GPS contour of a field is based on a reference station. A reference station is a device located at a location whose exact location is known. The device constantly reads the GPS position, on this basis, the GPS error in a given area is known. This error is corrected when creating field outlines.

While working on the system, Agroekspert Polska presented us with an innovative idea for fertilizing the field based on soil tests and fertilization recommendations available in the SQ system. After working out the details together, we started working on the idea.

The mobile application running on an Android device is wirelessly connected to the actuator that controls the opening of the fertilizer spreader. Thanks to this, based on the fertilization recommendations available in the system and the current GPS position, the system controls the amount of fertilizer applied in a given place in the field. This allows for very precise fertilization of agricultural fields. The system allows you to calibrate the actuator for a specific fertilizer, because different fertilizers have different granulation (for one fertilizer, 50% opening of the actuator is 200 kg/ha, for another it will be 400 kg/ha).

A number of options are available to allow for even more accurate application, such as: distance of the spreader from the GPS antenna, spreading width, purity of the main fertilizer component and many others. This is undoubtedly the most innovative solution in the industry.