Spatial Model for Optimal Management of In-Bin Stored Grain

This paper presents a GIS-based spatial-variable model for the optimal management for in-bin stored grain and our new advances in the research of the model. The spatial variables are defined by a number of coverages. Each coverage includes a number of vector curves to present spatially the temperature, moisture and other status of stored grain. Thus, the status of stored grain at any time can be described by a series of coverages. The optimal management for grain drying and storage in a number of steel bins can be changed into the optimal management for the related spatial variables. In the management, the geographic information system (GIS) is powerful tool to solve the spatial-analysis problem, which provides a good environment to implement the optimal management system for in-bin stored grain.