FOSS in Agriculture, Science

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FOSS in Agriculture, Science Education - An
example
Open Source Simple Computer for Agriculture in
Rural Areas
(OSCAR)
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Introduction
Diagnosis tool for Weeds in the Rice and Wheat
crop systems of Indo-Gangetic Plains Decision
Support System for weed control

• Open Source Software developed using C/GTK
  LibGda
• Database used is MySql with Gda-MySql Library
• Involves Image Processing with Transparent GIF
  Images
• For Researchers, Students, Extension Workers
  Farmers

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Why OSCAR?
The difficulty encountered by non-botanists when
identifying weeds using standard flora is
centred around three major constraints, namely

• The ability to identify the species without its
  flowers or before it flowers
• The use of dichotomous key, which cannot
  tolerate any error and imposes the choice as well
  as the order of questions and
• The use of technical terms not understood by the
  non-specialists.

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Overview of the Software

• Version 1 Open Source
• 1.1 Desktop Version
• 1.2 Simputer Version
• Packages C/GTK, LibGda, gda-mysql
• Gtk 2.0
• LibGda 1.2
• gda-mysql-1.0.4
• MySql Provider
• Interface between LibGda and MySql

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Process Flow
Initial Screen with a general identikit Opens up
Click on the different components or Click on the
icons (Habit, Phyllotaxy, Leaf) on the right side
of the screen
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Process Flow contd.
Types of Components
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Process Flow contd.
Initial Screen updated with the selected
components opens up
Click on the Results icon
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Process Flow contd.
A html page giving the details of the weed
appears on the Right side of the Results Screen
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Why Open Source?

• Freedom to use the software
• Freedom to customize for community needs
  (decision support system)
• Freedom to adopt for any similar initiatives
  
• E.g. Pests, Bird Identification etc.,

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Problems Encountered

• Transparency of Images
• More than one transparent images to be loaded on
  a single widget
• Mouse Click on any image should be caught
• Solution
• GdkPixmap, GdkBitmap
• Create from xpm
• Packed in GtkFixed
• Added to GtkEventbox

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Roadmap

• On Simputer - Low Cost, Mobility, can be shared
  by farmer groups
• OSCAR in local languages (Hindi, Urdu and
  Bengal)
• Web version using SVG, PHP and MySQL

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For Whom?

• Researchers for species identification
• Students of taxonomy as a valuable educational
  tool
• Extension Services Farmers to better identify
  weed species and control

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Links
For more details visit - http//www.oscarasia.org
/ http//www.ifpindia.org/oscar.html
http//www.ifpindia.org/
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Questions?