About project
	Objectives
	Methodology
	Summary progress
	Intended users
	Highlights

About Project

Investigators:

Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University

Methi Ekasingh (Project leader),  Sakda Jongkaewwattana,  Attachai Jintrawet, Thaworn Onpraphai, Panomsak Promburom,  Alongkot Kongmanee,  Chirawat Vejpas,  Tanongkiat Upanno,  Jraiporn Kaewtip,  Sureeporn Soodchalee,   Chalermpol Samranpong, and Sitthidej Na-Chiagnmai

Land Development Department

Thaweesak  Vearasilp

Rice Research Institute, Department of Agriculture

Anant Polwatana

Source of Funding:      Thailand Research  Fund (TRF)

Duration:     April 1997 - March 2000

Objectives:

The Project aims to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) comprising of spatial information , the validated rice model and a graphic user interface (GUI) shell to assist policy makers, planners and researchers who involve in planning and promoting rice production at the provincial level.

Methodology:

The study areas cover the entire Chiang Mai and Pitasanulok provinces.  Spatial and non-spatial databases were designed to store and manage information on soil series, administrative boundaries, roads, irrigated area, elevation, climate and rice mills in Geographic Information System (GIS).  Remote sensing image analysis was employed to classify existing  rice planted area, Flooded areas were classified from analysis of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image obtained from JERS-1 satellite.

The validation of CERES-RICE crop model are being conducted in the experimental sites at Chiang Mai and Pitsanulok.  Field experiments include the determination of genetic parameters of 4 rice varieties,  Khao Dok Mali, Sanpatong, Chainat1 and DOA1.  Field trials will be set up to validate the model under different planting methods and fertilizer application rates before full-scale implementation.

A DSS shell is developed as GUI to allow a user to select a target area, display selected spatial data and run CERES-Rice model in order to predict yield at different management levels.  The results of the simulation can be displayed and printed out as map of various sizes.

Summary of Progress:

Soil databases have been completely constructed as a coverage in a vector GIS.  Their attributes are stored as relational databases which can be conveniently imported into CERES-Rice model.  Other coverages which have been developed so far include irrigation network and structures, rainfall surfaces, digital elevation model (DEM) and flooded areas.  Rice areas and rice mills coverages are being developed.

Preliminary results of the field validation of CERES-Rice model revealed its accuracy in predicting rice growth and development but the model still overestimates grain yield.  Further calibration and validation are being conducted.

A prototype of DSS shell based on ArcView GIS has been developed.  The shell performed well on linking spatial database and CERES-Rice model.. It provides a GUI in Thai for a user to select target areas in Chiang Mai and Pitsanulok for rice yield prediction under different management and display the results as maps and tables.

Intended Users:

The DSS developed in this project will be implemented at the provincial level upon its completion.  So far 70% of spatial databases have been constructed.  The performance of ThaiRice prototype is promising and expected to be able to run various scenarios of rice production system.

Parts of the results i.e. soil database received the positive response from the potential users in the Land Development Department (DLD) 1998 Conference.  Other coverages such as monthly rainfall, flooded-area and irrigation networks uniquely produced by the Project can be useful for users in many applications related to agricultural planning.

Highlights::

• A Conceptual Framework of Rice Decision Support System
• A Design and Development of Soil Spatial Database
• Development of Digital Elevation Model and Infrastructure Spatial Database
• Development of Spatial Database for Irrigation Stuctures and Network
• Spatial Interpolation of Rainfall Data and Development of Spatial Database for Rainfall Surface
• Flood Area Delineation Using Synthetic Aperture Radar Image from JERS-1 Satellite
• Classification of Rice Planted Area using Remote Sensing Image Analysis
• Validation of CERES-Rice Model in Chiang Mai
• Design and Development of ThaiRice Shell

For more information please contact:  methi@chiangmai.ac.th

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