Design of a GIS-Based Web Application for Simulating Biofuel Feedstock Yields

Autor: Olga Prilepova, Quinn Hart, Justin Merz, Nathan Parker, Varaprasad Bandaru, Bryan Jenkins
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, Vol 3, Iss 3, Pp 929-941 (2014)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2220-9964
DOI: 10.3390/ijgi3030929
Popis: Short rotation woody crops (SRWC), such as hybrid poplar, have the potential to serve as a valuable feedstock for cellulosic biofuels. Spatial estimates of biomass yields under different management regimes are required for assisting stakeholders in making better management decisions and to establish viable woody cropping systems for biofuel production. To support stakeholders in their management decisions, we have developed a GIS-based web interface using a modified 3PG model for spatially predicting poplar biomass yields under different management and climate conditions in the U.S. Pacific Northwest region. The application is implemented with standard HTML5 components, allowing its use in a modern browser and dynamically adjusting to the client screen size and device. In addition, cloud storage of the results makes them accessible on any Internet-enabled device. The web interface appears simple, but is powerful in parameter manipulation and in visualizing and sharing the results. Overall, this application comprises dynamic features that enable users to run SRWC crop growth simulations based on GIS information and contributes significantly to choosing appropriate feedstock growing locations, anticipating the desired physiological properties of the feedstock and incorporating the management and policy analysis needed for growing hybrid poplar plantations.
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