Agricultural Modelling Knowledge Hub

FAQs

This website has been mothballed.

It is no longer being updated but we've left it here for reference.

The following are frequently asked questions that may help you better use Agrimod:

How do I register to become an Agrimod user?

Click the 'Register/Login' button at the top of the page.
Select 'Create new account'.
Enter the details required then click the 'Create new account' button at the bottom.
Your account will be checked then you will recieve an email with your login details.
Login and then create a password.

What's the purpose of Agrimod?

There are many models in the world used for different purpose in agricultural research, yet there is no easy way to archive their details.
The purpose of Agrimod is to serve as a central location where people can share information about models, data and case studies for agricultural research, that is easily searchable by people with a diverse range of interests.
The aim is to serve as a central knowledge hub and create a lasting record of modelling research, and provide a facility that enables people to easily access moelling details.
We hope this helps facilitate further development and improvement of modelling research and fosters collaboration within the modelling community.
We also hope that this will increase the significance of agricultural modelling in addressing many of the key issues we face: climate change; food and water security; sustainable agriculture; maintenance and enhancement of agro-ecosystems etc.

How is Agrimod supported?

Agrimod is funded by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security research prgramme (CCAFS - see link at the bottom of this page), which is in turn supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research CGAIR).
Agrimod has been developed by The James Hutton Institute.

I would like to add details about a model - how do I do this?

There are two ways to start: at login, or using the 'Add content' option from the top menu.
At login: when you login the site opens at your personal page, to the left are 'Add Content' buttons, choose the one that suits your model best.
Using the top menu, select the 'Add content option'.
Both ways will take you to a 'Create content' page.
Read the help text and fill in the required fields (marked with a red *) and provide as much detail as you want.
You can use the editing facilities to mange the style of the appearance, add tables, figures, pictures etc.
Click the 'Save' button at the bottom of the page!

I would like to search for a model that simulates cereals - how can I do this?

There are two ways: use the 'Search this site' button at the top of the page, or using the taxonomy based search filters.
To make general unstructured searches:
- Enter a term, i.e. cereals into the 'Search this site' box. This will produce a list of all occurences of the term within agrimod. If this produces a lot of results, you can use the taxonomy based search functions to apply filters.
Using the taxonomy search function, for example, searching for 'cereals' in crop models in North America:
- Select 'Models' from the top menu, then 'Crop Models'. Select the required options from the drop down lists: Crop type - select 'Cereals / grains'; Location - select 'Northern America'. A list of all occurences will be shown. You can further filter search results with the other remaining options.

I want to provide detials about a model - how do I know which category to put my model description under?

There are five model categories: Crop; Livestock; Farm / Agricultural System; Soils; and Economic / Trade.
Select which one best covers your model then use the 'Add content' option from the top menu and select the required category.
For example, if you want to descripe a dairy production model, then select 'Livestock'.

What's the difference between Models, Data and Case Studies?

I wrote a paper a few years ago about a model application to a specific research issue, so why should I repeat the details here?

One aim of Agrimod is to make the results of modelling more widely available, especially for people in developing countries. Agrimod is not trying to replace the role of journals, rather to help publicise the scientific literature more.
The 'create content' functions enable you to summarise your scientific publications in a way that is beneficial to the modelling community and to the wider public.
You can put web links in to your full publications (please check your copyright agreement).

How is Agrimod moderated?

Newly created content is moderated by the Agrimod administration team, but we also aim to develop a sense of ownership of Agrimod by the moelling community. In this way it is hoped that the site becomes self moderating.
Any unsuitable content should be reported to the administrators

What is the taxonomy search function?

When content is created for the site, a range of taxonomic terms have to be selected that help categorise the content (such as the type of crop or livestock animal, geographic location, or a modelling issue).
People searching for specific information can use these taxonomic terms to help filter content to make it easier to find the information they are looking for.

I want to make a comment about something stated on one of the pages - how can I do this?

If you are a registered user, you can add comments - at the bottom of each Model, Data or Case study page is a box 'Add new comment'.
The aim of this is to create a discussion thread, so that further information can be added or issues resolved.
Comments must be appropriate. Any inappropriate comments will be removed.

Further questions will be added as they emerge.

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