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age, processing, analysis and presentation of graphic and non-graphic information belonging to ob-
jects that have a certain position and form" (DPT 2001). Many variables and related criteria are in-
volved in the analysis. Geographic information systems (GIS) are best suited for handling spatial
data, with due consideration for the spatial variability for an efficient time and cost-effective eval-
uation (Ahamed et al., 2000). Suitable areas for crops are determined by evaluation of the climate,
soil and
topographical characteristics; therefore, GIS has been applied
to the evaluation of crop
suitability in recent years (Gao, 2000). GIS is a part of Information Technology (IT) that bases on
geographic coordinates, collects
spatial and non-spatial data, and stores,
processes, analyses and
presents this data as a whole in tables and maps (Kursun et al., 2000). The area of use of GIS in ag-
riculture can be listed as follows (Senol, 2008); determination of product patterns, determination of
cultivated areas according to the cultivated plant, yield prediction, creation of land information sys-
tems,
precision agriculture, plant diseases and pests, nutritional deficiencies, and soil mapping.
To develop a GIS based system for agricultural management, a set of questions are proposed
by Fountas (2004). The questions were formulated based on Management
Information Systems
(MIS) and Information Systems (IS) theories (Capron, Perron, 1993). A well-structured MIS has to
cover a set of questions, called ―the five W‘s and an H, (Mittra, 1986; Koory, Medley, 1987). These
are;
• What information is needed?
• When is the information needed?
• Who needs it?
• Where is it needed?
• Why is it needed?
• How much does it cost?
The answers to these questions are defining the structure of the system. The system func-
tions, requirements, techniques and other related structures can be defined considering the answers.
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