ABSTRACT
Typical spatial data for agricultural and invasive pest management include satellite images; aerial photos; soil types; elevation; soil nutrient testing results; crop type and yield; pest infestation location, type, and severity; and pesticide type, application locations, and amounts. The spatial extent of a dataset for invasive pest management ranges from a single Želd to the entire world. The purpose of this chapter is to
• DeŽne the common terms associated with spatial data • Discuss factors to consider when acquiring and using spatial data • Show how to obtain various types of spatial data • Contrast various data visualization and analysis possibilities • Illustrate various types of spatial data
An initial step in the process of acquiring spatial data is to deŽne the areal, or spatial, extent of the area of interest. The extent can range from a single production Želd to the entire earth. If the spatial extent is a single Želd or a group of Želds within a relatively small area, a single dataset (e.g., a single satellite image) may cover the entire area of interest. If, however, multiple locations are scattered over a large area (e.g., within several counties, regions, or countries), multiple datasets may be necessary.
