Hello fellow E-mail sufferers,
The attachment I just posted on the DSSAT listserver came to me in an
unintelligible form, so I am including it below as straight text in the
message.
Regards,
Jeff White
 
 
Report on the 28 Oct. 1997 DSSAT-ICASA meeting at Anaheim
Jeffrey W. White, CIMMYT and Gerrit Hoogenboom, Univ. Georgia
On the evening of 28 Oct. as part of the Annual meetings of the American
Society of Agronomy, CSSA and SSSA, an open, informal meeting was held
for people to receive updates and exchange ideas on DSSAT and ICASA
issues.  About 40 people attended. 
Johan Bouma reviewed the objectives and history of ICASA.  For details
see:
                http://Agrss.sherman.Hawaii.Edu/icasa/
Issues which are pending include how APSRU will participate in ICASA and
what type of membership ICASA will allow (e.g., institution-based or
oriented towards individuals).
Gerrit Hoogenboom and Gordon Tsuji explained that the latest version of
DSSAT3.1 will soon be released (tentative date:   31 Dec. 1997).  Major
additions or improvements include:
                *       A spatial analysis tool that couples models to
raster-based GIS and includes geostatistical tools
                *       The AEGIS/WIN package for coupling models to
vector-based GIS in ArcView.
                *       NSHOW, a graphical tool for displaying temporal
variation in the crop and soil N balance.
                *       A tool for entering historical data for
comparison with model outputs.
                *       New models for sugarcane, tomato, sunflower, and
pastures
                *       Easier configuration for including new models.
In addition, most of the models have improved subroutines.  People who
have purchased DSSAT v3.0 since mid-1996 or have participated in the
workshops conducted in 1996 and 1997 will receive the upgrade
automatically.  Owners of earlier versions must pay $250 for the
upgrade.  For further information, see:
http://everex.ibsnat.hawaii.edu/
Joep Luyten will be releasing an update of AEGIS+, the GIS-model
interface for ArcInfo under UNIX.  It will be available at no charge for
people who have purchased DSSAT v3.1. 
During the decision support system symposium, a participant mentioned
that the Ag Electronics Association (http://www.agelectronicsassn.org)
was developing industry standards for crop model input and output files.
This group has ties with the Equipment Manufacturers Institute (EMI).
G. Hoogenboom will investigate possible collaboration with ICASA.
DSSAT will continue to be developed after the release of v3.1.   Among
various model or tool improvements underway or planned were:
                Models for:     Mucuna green manures (D. Hartkamp et
al.).
                                Cabbage (K. Boote, R. Ogoshi)
                                Bell pepper (J. Jones)
                                Pineapple (Bartholomew and Tsuji)
                                Aroids (G. Tsuji et al.)
                                Cotton (Milroy and Hoogenboom)
                                Canola (Gabrielle and Schoop)
                                Banana (Jones et al.)
                Improved handling of crop residues, soil organic matter
and soil P (P. Grace).
        A Windows 98-based interface for DSSAT (J. Hansen et al.).
There was considerable interest in the proposal to create a Windows
shell and a survey has been circulated on the DSSAT listserver (contact
[log in to unmask] if you need further information).  V. Veraart (APSRU
software engineer) noted that a user survey provides an easy,
inexpensive way to get user input in the interface design.  She also
urged that the people developing the new interface document the
evolution of the software as they proceed.
Upcoming ICASA events include:
*       International Training Program on Computer Simulation of Crop
Growth and Management Responses at Lomé, Togo, February 9-14, 1997
(contact [log in to unmask]).
*       Precision ag/DSSAT course at Univ. Florida, 10-15 March 1997
(contact [log in to unmask])
*       International Training Program on Computer Simulation of Crop
Growth and Management Responses at the University of Georgia, 1-12 June
1997 (contact [log in to unmask])
*       Ecoregional methods workshop at ISNAR, date unknown, (contact
Johan Bouma).
Overall participation and interest in the meeting was very good, and
people agreed that it is worth repeating at next year's ASA meetings
(Baltimore, 18-23 Oct. 1998).  Much of the information above could be
distributed in a handout, so we'll hope to allow more time for informal
discussions, possibly including a cash bar.  Interest was also expressed
in holding a one day DSSAT hands-on workshop prior to the main ASA
meeting.