DINOSAR focuses on end-user needs

The sugarcane industry in Colombia has been a significant economic contributor since its origins in the Cauca Valley in 1900. Currently, our partner AgroAp (from Colombia) is collaborating with mills and farmers in the Cauca Valley, each with considerable experience in sugarcane production. Approximately 75% of the cultivated area is owned by around 4,500 farmers, with the remaining 25% owned by sugar mills. One of the main features of the DINOSAR project is its focus on users and their needs… Check how we are proceeding !

A dedicated methodology for identifying user requirements

Focus groups were defined to cover the requirements of the main stakeholders in the sector, primarily those involved in decision-making at the mill and farm levels. The decisions that can be taken on the basis of the information generated by this project have potential in a number of areas, with particular impacts.

Meetings with focus groups from different sectors

At least 7 focus group sessions were organised by AgroAp between May and July 2024. These end-user groups include the main players in the development of sugar cane cultivation in the Cauca Valley:

• Ingenio Providencia S.A.
• Ingenio Manuelita
• Farm San José
• Farm El Cencerro
• Cenicaña
• Tecnicaña
• Procaña

The diversity of the sectors interviewed (farms, sugar cane industry and mills) proved to be a relevant method for defining user needs.

The sessions were held at the offices of the respective companies, with each session lasting between 3-4 hours. The session process begins with an introductory conceptual section, eventually leading to the part where the user considers how to create value with the information. Next, some time was devoted to the conceptual part, in order to better understand the technology involved in the project, the following concepts were introduced: Models, Vegetation Indices, Biomass and ET Estimation, Optical and Radar Satellite Combination, Creating Value, Decision-making.

Identifying and prioritising needs

During these needs identification sessions, most users expressed their individual requirements and how they could use them to improve process management. Despite their particularities, similarities were found between the different users, as well as within the internal divisions of the sugar factories. When the information was collated into a matrix, 45 needs were identified. However, after an in-depth examination based on objectives and uses, these needs were grouped together and reduced to 12. The aim was to prioritise and target products and functionalities as precisely as possible.

Finally, the 12 user-needs identified were translated to user requirements and then integrated into the FiledLook platform. A comprehensive verification and prioritization process will be conducted to ensure that all user requirements are thoroughly evaluated and aligned with stakeholder expectations. Follow our work to see what’s going on next…