At the Colorado Weed Management Association conference held in Fort Collins last December, one of the exhibitors displayed a meticulously assembled map of his county, speckled with pushpins marking weed infestations. He'd been laboriously mapping every weed patch in the county for the last couple of years, on foot or in a truck, writing it all down. Alongside the map lay thick notebooks filled with his notes and location information for each pushpin.
    The long months of labor involved in putting together a large-scale mapping project are rapidly becoming a thing of the past as sophisticated mapping programs become the norm. It's only logical that the next step beyond basic mapping will be mapping with a multimedia twist. Video mapping has been available previously to a limited group - that is, only to anyone who can afford to shell out thousands of dollars, not to mention having to maintain and transport a lot of equipment. Typically the people who invest in this equipment intend to provide video mapping services to others for a hefty price.
    This year video mapping will become an affordable technology for people who want to put it to work in precision ag. Red Hen Systems of Fort Collins, Colorado, developed the VMS 200 Video Mapping Systemª to bring high-tech video mapping capability to anyone with a compatible video camera and computer. The system integrates GPS data with video footage and a comprehensive GIS. It's a much-needed innovation in agriculture for small and large growers alike. Its affordability gives the average farmer the chance to stay in technological competition with big business. According to Neil Havermale, Red Hen Systems' President, "The multimedia edge is the future of mapping systems. Associating real-time, spatially referenced video with the map changes the whole idea of data gathering and review. Now it's a much more dynamic, interactive process that virtually takes the user to any place, and any time, on the map." Havermale's background is in agriculture, and his company has been developing agricultural software systems for several years.
    The key to the system is a five inch long, rugged piece of hardware that sends GPS signals to the camcorder in the field and translates the data to the computer in the office. The camcorder needs to have a "LanC" connector, which allows the computer to control video playback while the user reviews the map. The computer needs to be running Windows 95 or NT. VMS 200 comes with or without an internal GPS receiver, and it accepts differential correction. The comprehensive mapping software keeps track of the videotaped data without having to load huge video files onto the computer. The user can click on map features and see video playback at GPS-referenced locations. Other software features including video capture and still image creation enhance the system's versatility for use in a seemingly endless variety of applications.
    Dave Kennedy, a Colorado State University graduate student, used the system to document stages of insect growth for his thesis. He was quickly convinced that VMS 200 was a great tool for his research, and he was excited about having the capability to really "see" what was on the map. Stan Pilcher and Jim Zizz used the system to map noxious weeds in Yuma County, Colorado. Without the system they would normally have to take notes by hand in the field. To find a particular weed infestation later, they would try to locate the area on a property map. In tedious and time-consuming work like this, the video mapping system is a welcome relief. Stan feels VMS 200 is an easier way to work. He said he's been "telling everybody around the county to try this thing." Along with weed control and agriculture, he feels utilities and road maintenance have a real need for video mapping.
    Larimer County, Colorado, is introducing the technology into its weed control program under a grant that requires GPS data collection in weed scouting. Video mapping directly addresses one of the county's important considerations: liability for property damages. The county routinely receives damage complaints for anything from broken mailboxes to dead pets when landowners see the weed control trucks nearby. Video mapping offers them a measure of protection and a way to keep tax money in weed control rather than "damage control." With VMS 200 mounted in the spray truck, the visual record shows when the sprayers were turned on and off. GPS-referenced video combined with the sprayer data log can prove a claim's validity.
    In another application, using the video capture feature, landowners can be provided with pictures of weed infestations on their land - the GPS data can be imprinted right on the image. Mike Carroll and Loyd Berry, the men responsible for bringing video mapping into the program, are developing another ambitious use of VMS 200. Their plan is to begin aerial video mapping remote areas with ultralight aircraft this year. Mike sees this as a unique opportunity to gather data about areas they just can't get to by other means. "We're only able to view about half of the county from the road. We can get to places we've never been able to monitor." After experiencing what the system is doing in the spray trucks, he can't contain his enthusiasm for the future of video mapping. "The nice thing about VMS 200 is its affordability, and you get the visual," he says, "there's a vital need for this tool, but most counties can't afford high-end technologiesÉyou have no idea how many ways this tool can be used." Eventually, he envisions offering ultralight video mapping as a service to surrounding counties.
    People in agriculture are starting to get the news. There are several large growers throughout the Midwest who are just starting to document this growing season with VMS 200. Their new tool will be a powerful force in their decision making in the coming seasons as they review the visual record from year to year. Among the major benefits of video mapping to agriculture is the ability for crop consultants to conduct periodic virtual inspections. It's a way to get expert opinions from several people without them all having to personally visit the site. Video mapping as part of an overall site-specific method is an excellent tool for visually archiving information, recording the effects of prescribed treatments, and providing "virtually" reviewable map features to aid in critical decision-making.
    As the pressure builds every year to increase yields while decreasing time and expenses, demand grows for interactive, affordable tools like video mapping. Today's precision ag toolbox contains a computer as standard issue; now growers need associated technologies that will make maximum use of their computing capability. VMS 200 promises to do just that.

About the author:
Betsy Pfister is a staff writer for Red Hen Systems.

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