Accurate and timely information on crops is essential for national and regional food security
market planning
and social stability. All stakeholders( e. g.
decision makers
traders
farmers) need reliable and up-to-date crop monitoring information whenever and wherever possible. A comprehensive online platform for global crop monitoring ought to be established to provide customers with a variety of real-time
easily accessible
and efficient services
such as raw data
information
maps
and analytical tools. The emergence of cloud computing provides a good opportunity to build such a global crop monitoring instrument. After a detailed inventory of the status
scope
and technological basis of existing cloud and remote sensing-based global crop monitoring systems
this study focuses on the relevance of Crop Watch Cloud. The basic design concept
design framework
and main contents of Crop Watch Cloud service platform are described
which will incorporate expert knowledge
advanced IT technology
and data resources. A virtuous cycle will be built to bridge science
technology
services
and applications. A prototype of Crop Watch online was developed; users can query and download time series of crop monitoring indicators at different scales. The prototype of Crop Watch online is an important part of Crop Watch Cloud; it provides a downloading service for crop information
also stores and manages a long-term series of crop monitoring data and results. The evolvement of a local crop monitoring application into a convenient web-based application with multiple-terminal support is the key of the Crop Watch Cloud project. The developed design framework will provide theoretical guidance and a sound basis for the construction of the Crop Watch Cloud service platform. This platform will change the application patterns and promote the industrialization of agricultural remote sensing monitoring.