Coordination and support of setting up a network for developing a system for common data exchange in the agricultural sector

The aXTool: a supportive tool in data exchange harmonization work for interoperability of

information systems in agriculture

Sjaak Wolfert (LEI Wageningen UR, NL)Liisa Pesonen (MTT Agrifood research, FI)

Esther Mietzsch (KTBL, DE)

EFITA 2013Turin, Italy, 26 June 2013

Problem statement

• increasing, complex requirements for handling of data that are part of various processes

• how to deal with existing installed base of information systems?

• how to integrate these systems smoothly?– need for integrative framework– need for coordination network

Objective: Living Lab platform

cases

discussion forum

creates coherencedevelops

creates/adds

uses boosts

initiates

Integrative framework

Standards, web services,

guidelines

• precision fertilization • spraying advice • controlled traffic farming• sensor-based data processing• sustainability reporting• land parcel identification and

registration• benchmarking• Geo-Field-Optimisation-Service• Quality Management System

Target groups• directly: information systems/tools

developers, standardization bodies• indirectly: farmers, advisors, etc.

• Challenges:– Support in looking for existing solutions– Ability to contribute knowledge and solutionsBuild interactive, information-rich community

of practice

Work packagesW

P1 P

roject co

ord

inatio

n an

d m

anag

em

entWP5 Synthesis, recommendations and

defining SRA

WP3 Set-up of agriXchange platform

WP4 Development of a reference framework for interoperability

(tested against use cases)

WP2 Analysis of current situation in EU-27

WP

6 Stake

ho

lder in

tegra

tion

and

d

issem

inatio

n

Use Case modelling – wide scope

Interfaces between actors can be picked up

Use cases - narrow scope

”Arrows”- data content- data format- protocols- existing standards- best practices- dictionaries, ontologies

Use case description template

• Name of the use case *• Short description*• Relevance for European

agri-sector• Relevant countries or

regions• Relevant parties• Relevant “conditions” *

– Standards used in the use case

– Dictionaries– Regulations and legislation– Technologies

• Definition of use case variants

• Description of the information exchange processes and exchanged data; data dictionaries and their interconnection *

• Known issues and bottlenecks for harmonization

• Proposed recommendations and solutions for harmonization

Defining information flows

axRIM: Reference Information Model

Snapshot of the platform

aXTool

Wide ScopeUse caseName & purposeDetails; - diagram - information model

Narrow ScopeInterfaceName & purposeDetails;

- meta data - new - modified - user experience

- links; std., apps - recipe - examples

Usa

ge

GroupingInterest groups

Theme groups

UsersDevelopersModellers

Business users

ScopeNarrow

Wide

Quality management

ContributorsNameemail addressOrganisation Community + link

SearchContribute

Discussion > forming networksEvaluation by user experience

Func

tions

Content classified according to aXRIM

agriXchange reference framework• provides structured aid for developing interoperable

systems in agriculture• contributor is guided step-by-step, supported by

intelligent search functions• provides a rich knowledge base of existing use cases• knowledge is structured so that it can be re-used easily

Current platform contains 9 use cases, 24 interfaces and 20 standards

Conclusions

• Platform is established– network of people (community of practice)– LinkedIn community: > 900 users!

• How can the platform become self-supportive after the end of the project?– Platform for other projects (e.g. ICT-agri)?– Adopted by standardisation bodies?

Beyond agriXchange?

Coordination and support of setting up a network for developing a system for

common data exchange in the agricultural sector

contact:Sjaak Wolfert (coordinator)

LEI Wageningen URsjaak.wolfert@wur.nl

mobile: +31 624 135 790

more information:www.agriXchange.eu