Feature Deep-Dive: Cropwise Protector Capabilities

This article provides detailed information about Protector's core features and how to use them effectively for precision agronomic management.

Scouting Methodologies

What is a Methodology?

A methodology is the library of insects, weeds, diseases, and other metrics per crop used to collect scouting data. It determines what is scouted, how it's measured, and how results are displayed throughout the platform.

Methodology Components

Phenomenon (What is being scouted)

The specific target being evaluated. Examples include:

Insects (e.g., aphids, bollworm, spider mites)
Weeds (e.g., pigweed, waterhemp, johnsongrass)
Diseases (e.g., rust, blight, white mold)
Field conditions (soil moisture, emergence, canopy coverage)
Nutrient deficiencies

Characteristic (How it's being scouted)

The measurement method for each phenomenon:

Number of insects per plant
Number of insects per 10 feet of row
Pressure level (low/medium/high)
Percentage of infestation
Percent of damage

Inspection Group

A logical grouping of characteristics collected at the same sample point. For example, a "Plant Health" inspection group might include:

Leaf disease pressure
Insect presence
Canopy coverage percentage
Growth stage

Maximum Value

The highest value allowed for data entry. The range will always be Zero → Maximum Value.

How Methodologies Are Assigned

Methodologies are configured at the organization level by administrators
Each methodology is linked to a specific crop and country
When a user scouts a field, the methodology matching that crop appears in the Scout tile

💡 Note: Methodologies are region-specific. A "Corn" methodology for Spain will be different from a "Corn" methodology for Portugal, as each country has its own crop configuration in the system backend.

Easy Scout Prioritization

What is Easy Scout?

Easy Scout is an algorithmic prioritization feature designed for users managing large operations. It analyzes NDVI satellite imagery to automatically categorize fields by scouting priority, saving time and focusing resources where they're needed most.

How Easy Scout Works

Image Quality Filtering: Automatically removes images with cloud coverage >70%
Trend Analysis: Monitors changes in average NDVI value over time
- Sentinel Satellite: Analyzes past 30 days
- Planet Satellite: Analyzes past 14 days (if high-resolution access enabled)
Priority Assignment: Categorizes fields into three priority levels

Priority Categories

Priority	Color	NDVI Trend	Recommended Action
High	🔴 Red	Rapidly declining	Scout immediately—potential pest/disease outbreak, nutrient stress, or water issue
Medium	🟡 Yellow	Moderate change	Monitor—schedule scouting within next few days
Low	🟢 Green	Stable or increasing	Healthy progression—maintain normal scouting schedule

Using Easy Scout

Open Cropwise Imagery web panel
Navigate to Map View
Find Easy Scout at the bottom of the screen
View priority-colored field boundaries on the map
Use filters to sort by satellite source (Sentinel/Planet) or priority level
Collapse the field list to see a summary view of HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW counts

Benefits

Reduce scouting time: Focus only on fields showing actual stress
Catch issues early: Detect problems before visible symptoms spread
Optimize routes: Plan daily travel based on priority locations

NDVI Imagery Integration

Understanding NDVI

NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) is a satellite-derived measurement of vegetation health. It calculates the difference between visible red light (which chlorophyll absorbs) and near-infrared light (which healthy plant tissue reflects).

NDVI Color Scale

NDVI Range	Color	Interpretation
0.8 – 1.0	Dark Green	Dense, healthy vegetation
0.6 – 0.8	Green	Healthy, moderate density
0.4 – 0.6	Light Green	Moderate stress or early growth
0.2 – 0.4	Yellow	Stressed or sparse vegetation
0.0 – 0.2	Orange/Red	Very stressed, dying, or bare soil

In-Field NDVI Navigation

Open Scouting App and select a field
Tap the Map tile
Enable NDVI layer from the map options
Your GPS location appears as a dot on the NDVI map
Navigate to "cold spots" (yellow/orange areas) to investigate stress causes

⚠️ Tip: NDVI indicates where stress exists, but not what causes it. Always ground-truth by walking to the area and scouting. The methodology tells you what to look for; NDVI tells you where to look.

Multimodal Data Capture

Structured Data Entry

The Scouting App enforces structured data capture through methodology checklists:

Pre-configured inspection groups ensure consistent data collection
Numeric entry fields with defined ranges prevent errors
Required fields ensure critical data points aren't missed

Photo Capture

Take geo-tagged photos directly through the app
Photos are automatically linked to the specific scouting event and location
Attachments sync to the web panel for review and reporting

Voice Memos

Record voice notes for detailed observations
Useful when hands-free documentation is needed
Audio files appear in the field history for playback

Notes Field

Add free-text notes to any scouting event
Useful for observations outside the methodology structure

Control and Damage Thresholds

Threshold-Based Alerting

Methodologies define two critical thresholds that drive visual alerts:

Control Threshold (Yellow Alert)

Indicates action is needed before economic damage occurs
Data points within this range appear YELLOW in the web panel
Example: 5-10 aphids per leaf suggests proactive treatment planning

Damage Threshold (Red Alert)

Indicates the infestation has caused economic loss
Data points within this range appear RED in the web panel
Example: >10 aphids per leaf with visible plant damage

Threshold Visualization

Immediate action—economic loss occurring

Status Color	Meaning	Action
Green	Below control threshold	No action needed—continue monitoring
Yellow	At or above control threshold	Plan intervention—economic damage preventable
Red	At or above damage threshold

Reporting & Dashboards

Web Panel Dashboard

The Web Panel provides a comprehensive dashboard including:

Weather Forecast: 5-day forecast for planning field activities
Days Since Last Scouted: Field list with recency calculations
Scout Statistics: User activity metrics and coverage
Acres Affected: Problem area breakdown by insect/weed/disease

Excel Reports

Generate detailed Excel reports from the Web Panel for:

Complete scouting history by field
Threshold summaries
User activity logs
Custom date range exports

SMS Reports

Configure automatic SMS reports through the Mobile App to keep stakeholders informed:

Scheduled delivery to designated phone numbers
Field summaries and priority alerts
Weather integration

Offline Functionality

Rural areas often lack reliable connectivity. The Scouting App is designed for offline use:

All field data, imagery, and methodologies download to your device
Capture observations without internet connection
Data saves locally on device storage
Automatic sync when connection is restored

⚠️ Important: Always sync your data before switching devices or clearing app data. Unsynced data exists only on that specific device.

Best Practices

For Effective Scouting

Use Easy Scout priorities to plan your route before leaving the office
Sync the app while on WiFi to download the latest NDVI imagery
Follow methodology checklists precisely for consistent data
Always add photos of threshold-triggering observations
Complete full inspection groups before moving to the next sample point

For Data Quality

Train all scouts on the same methodology interpretation
Establish standard sample point locations for trend analysis
Use GPS coordinates to ensure consistency across scouting events
Review web panel within 24 hours of scouting to catch data entry issues

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