Use Case 14:
Unlocking Multifunctional Insights with Near‐Surface Geophysical Data Harmonization in Agriculture
This use case deals with the harmonization and usability of geophysical datasets and is part of an initiative with FAIRagro, NFDI4Objects and NFDI4Earth to promote long-term data use and interdisciplinary data integration.
Ulrike Werban and Johannes Rabiger-Völlmer (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research) tell us everything about the new FAIRagro Use Case 14, which is part of a joint initiative by FAIRagro, NFDI4Objects, and NFDI4Earth. The event takes place online – we look forward to many exciting insights. Don’t miss it!
Partners
Helmholtz Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)
Rheinische Friedrich‐Wilhelms‐Universität Bonn, Bonn Center for Digital Humanities
Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft (DGG)
Deutsche Bodenkundliche Gesellschaft (DBG)
This team of our partners is working on the success of this use case (link to German page).
In cooperation with
NFDI4Objects
NFDI4Earth
Background
Objectives
Harmonization and Usability of Geophysical Datasets:
Enhancement of geophysical datasets from precision farming through structured workflows for data acquisition, processing (QA/QC), and long-term archiving.
Focus on Electromagnetic Induction (EMI), Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy (GRS), and optical spectroscopy to demonstrate workflow effectiveness.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and Pilot Site Implementation:
Establishment of a dedicated agricultural pilot site for testing and refinement, with additional opportunities for archaeological prospection. Creation of standardized metadata structures and controlled vocabularies to enable interoperability across agriculture, archaeology, and Earth System Sciences.
Integration into the “Multifunctional Data in a Multifunctional Landscape” Initiative:
Part of a larger cross-consortium initiative with FAIRagro, NFDI4Objects, and NFDI4Earth to promote long-term data usability and cross-disciplinary data integration.
Veranstaltungen unserer Partner-Konsortien und der NFDI finden Sie hier.
Progress & next steps
UC Update: Unlocking Multifunctional Insights with Near‐Surface Geophysical Data Harmonization in Agriculture
The UC14 team led by Ulrike Werban highlights the growing use of near-surface geophysical methods in agriculture, providing fast and cost-effective assessments of soil properties. With increasing data volumes, a harmonized workflow using standardized protocols, metadata, and vocabularies is essential for ensuring data quality and interoperability. The MUFUDAT.agrio project aims to develop such a workflow, covering data acquisition, quality assurance, processing, and publication. Its goal is to enhance the cross-disciplinary usability of geophysical datasets across agriculture, archaeology, and environmental sciences.
Rabiger-Völlmer, J., Schütze, C., Werban, U., Hoffmann, C., Keller, C., & Seegert, J. (2025). Unlocking Multifunctional Insights with Near Surface Geophysical Data Harmonization in Agriculture. FAIRagro Plenary, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) Bundesforschungsinstitut für Kulturpflanzen Königin-Luise-Straße 19 14195 Berlin. Zenodo.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17423473
Any questions about this use case?
Please contact Anne Sennhenn for further information.