trend line

Straight or
curved line in a
trend chart that
indicates
the general
pattern or
direction
of a time
series data

(information in sequence over time). It may be drawn visually by connecting the actual data points or
(more frequently) by using statistical techniques such as 'exponential smoothing' or 'moving averages.'

USAGE EXAMPLES

We had to take a look at the trend line in order to see how we were doing in the business and work
towards changing.
You should try to follow the trend line and figure out what made the line jump in the ways that it did.

Profits in the third quarter were up sharply in the previous year, according to the trend line; this was a
much better year than 2008, which showed little to no profit.

Census

Mapping is the process of dividing the country into smaller units of land, during which EA boundaries
and type are clearly described and the number of communally based services is identified.

1.2 Objectives of Census Mapping

The main objective of census mapping is to subdivide the country into small Standard Enumeration Areas
(EAs), each of which will be assigned a unique identification code on the basis of the country's
administrative divisions.

The demarcation of EAs should be such that they satisfy the following requirements:

a) boundaries and starting points are clearly identifiable.

b) boundaries of EAs should not cut across existing Region or District Boundaries. All social

boundaries should be respected.

c) EAs should not overlap with one another.

d) each EA should be of a reasonable size (in population and land area).

This will ensure that every person in the country is enumerated in the census, i.e. no one should be
missed or double counted.

Other aims include:

• Determining the location of the population in advance of the enumeration in order to make

possible the recruitment, training and allocation of a sufficient number of enumerators to

ensure that enumeration is completed in time without omissions or duplications;

• Establishing the framework for sample surveys prior, during or after enumeration;

• Enabling the census organization to provide results for areas whose locations are known;

• To update the Place Name layer

Census tracts are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county.

– Uniquely numbered in each county with a numeric code

• Census tracts average about 4,000 inhabitants

– Minimum Population – 1,200

– Maximum Population – 8,000

Social Mapping

Synonyms:

Wellbeing ranking

This option is used to help identify households

using pre-determined indicators that are
based on socio-economic factors. It works to
determine a relative ranking of socio-economic
status of the household rather than an absolute ranking. It can help determine which households are
benefiting from an assessment and whether or not they belong to the target group.

Social mapping is an option to identify households based on predefined indicators relating to socio-
economic conditions (e.g. status, skills, property, education, income, etc.). The population’s wellbeing is
then ranked (by those living there) according to which household is better or worse off in terms of the
selected indicators. This option therefore results in information about households’ relative wellbeing,
rather than an absolute assessment.

For social mapping: Use the results from the participatory ranking process to make a base map of the
area under analysis. Use codes (symbols) to represent relative indicators (or ranking) of the households
in the area under analysis. This can be used to monitor wellbeing of the households over time, and to
evaluate how a project affects different social groups.

For wellbeing ranking: Use cards to sort households, ordered from worse-off to better-off, according to a
participatory ranking process. Divide the ranked cards into groups where there is a clear cluster of scores
in order to define your target group.

These options are useful for tracking change over time, and for assessing which households benefit from
a project and whether they belong to the intended target group. Both options are most useful when
ranking households in areas limited in size, such as in a neighbourhood or small village.

Example

Social mapping

"Prepare a base map on which all the households of the area being analysed are located (e.g., a village, a
neighbourhood, a rural zone, etc.).

Ask the participants to code each household according to its level of well-being in comparison to others.
Each level can be given its own symbol or colour code. Make sure you crosscheck the coding of each
household by ensuring there is consensus about the code. In this way, a base map can be made in which
households are clustered according to different rankings of well-being. Include a legend on the map that
explains the symbols and codes.
Now focus on the indicators in which you are interested (e.g., "school attendance of children", "involved
in a certain project activity", "member of a micro-credit group"). Code each household according to its
status.

The base map can then be used to monitor the well-being of each household from year to year and to
relate the households to changes introduced by a project. This makes it possible to examine whether
there are any impacts occurring on well-being or other socio-economic indicators in focus and, if so, how
the impacts may affect different social groups." (Guijt & Woodhill, 2002)

Well-being Ranking

Below is an example of a well-being ranking exercise in an IFAD supported project in a village in Laos.

Precision Maps

Precision maps are an extremely useful tool in precision agriculture and are becoming more and more
commonly used in the agriculture industry. Precision maps assist farmers by showing them precise
locations in the field and providing them specific information about that location. A precision map is a
map that is made up of geo-referenced data that can then be used to show information about a precise
location in a field, as well as information on crop moisture levels, soil nutrients levels, crop yield and
much more.

Precision maps work by using a variety of different physical sensors along with GPS information to
analyze variables such crop or soil moisture, crop yield, and more. The benefit of precision maps is a
farmer can use this type of information to accurately locate areas of need, low crop yield or low moisture
levels, and react accordingly. Precision maps can help to save farmers money by preventing overspray, if
a farmer utilizes precision maps, he or she will be able to mitigate their spraying by only spraying
pesticides, fertilizers or replanting seeds in areas of need; this helps to not only save the farmer money,
but also aids the environment.

There are many different types of precision maps that can be generated by farmers and these different
types of maps can be used alongside each other to show many different things about field conditions
that a farmer would not otherwise be able to easily see with his or her own eye. Precision maps can help
farmers in a variety of different ways, one way is in their decision making process. When a farmer is
using and utilizing precision maps to their full potential, they can make less guesses about what they
think about soil nutrient levels or potential crop yield, and use precision maps to make educated and
strategic choices for their fields. These maps could help to make decisions including fertilizer or pesticide
application, field conditioning, or crop rotation.

Types of Precision Maps

A precision map is any map that shows data in a geo-referenced manor. For example, although UAV’s can
take pictures of fields and show a variety of different information, these are not precision maps due to
their lack of precision. While on the other hand, some combine harvesters equipped with the proper
technology can collect area specific data that is precise to a specific point in the field, not the field itself.

Soil Maps
Soil Maps can be collected in a variety of different ways, although geo-referenced soil maps are collected
in different methods. One method is to divide the field into a grid pattern and sample each individual
grid block, the more grid blocks and samples, the more accurate soil map you will have. Another method
is to take samples of the field in zones that are designated by previous information such as yield maps,
topography or other precision maps. In both of these examples, all of the soil samples are geo-
referenced - which means that the location of the sample is recorded. This is so that specific samples can
represent soil fertility levels in any particular zone of the field.

This geo-referenced map of soil samples that is eventually built-up can be used to cross reference other
types of precision maps and determine nutrient levels, possible yield and many other pieces of
information. These maps can also be paired with other pieces of precision agriculture technology such as
VRT (variable rate technologies), like planters, sprayers or spreaders. These technologies connect with
the GPS location of soil maps and or other precision maps to help accurately dispense a precise amount
of product. This technology helps to prevent over seeding, fertilizing or pesticide use and applies product
at a different rate in relation to what the field actually needs.

Yield Maps

A yield map is a map that focuses on crop yield - for example, how much more fruitful one area of the
field is in comparison to another. This map is used as a visual tool and can help to show farmers
relationships between crop yield and field condition variables. A yield map is best utilized when layered
with many different types of maps so that it can accurately show farmers a variety of different
information that is supported by other sources. Similar to soil maps and many other different types of
precision maps, yield maps can be used alongside other technologies like VRT to help aid farmers even
more as they harvest, or spread seed, fertilizer or apply pesticides.

These two types of maps are not the only type of precision maps, although they are two extremely
common maps that help to aid farmers with decision making information.

Tools and Equipment Needed for Precision Mapping

For a farmer to accurately and precisely develop a precision map, a variety of different tools and
equipment are needed, including sensors that are attached directly to farm machinery. These pieces of
equipment help to read and evaluate many different aspect