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Integration of biophysical and economic data using an expert system: results from a case study in northern Australia
Author(s) -
Johnson A.K.L.,
Cramb R.A.,
McAlpine J.R.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1994.tb00483.x
Subject(s) - productivity , data collection , land management , land use , economic data , environmental resource management , computer science , data integration , environmental science , yield (engineering) , data mining , statistics , mathematics , ecology , economics , materials science , biology , metallurgy , macroeconomics
. Biophysical and economic data from numerous sources are integrated using the ALES expert system. A systematic approach to data collection and evaluation procedure is presented. The collection of management data is emphasized if management and crop yield data are to be adequately correlated. Different land utilization types are evaluated for numerous land mapping units. The results show that direct comparison of land mapping units is possible both within and between different land utilization types. Use of the model enabled objective relationships to be developed between biophysical criteria, crop productivity and management, allowing economic measures of performance to be routinely determined for large databases. The study shows that land mapping units with the most favourable physical suitability class may not necessarily have the largest net return and that the best lands are determined not only by their ability to produce high yields but also their ability to achieve them at the least cost.