Estimating the Environmental Impact of Agriculture by Means of Geospatial and Big Data Analysis: The Case of Catalonia

Intensive farming has been linked to significant degradation of land, water and air. A common body of knowledge is needed, to allow an effective monitoring of cropping systems, fertilization and water demands, and impacts of climate change, with a focus on sustainability and protection of the physical environment. In this paper, we describe AgriBigCAT, an online software platform that uses geophysical information from various diverse sources, employing geospatial and big data analysis, together with web technologies, in order to estimate the impact of the agricultural sector on the environment, considering land, water, biodiversity and natural areas requiring protection, such as forests and wetlands. This platform can assist both the farmers' decision-taking processes and the administration planning and policy making, with the ultimate objective of meeting the challenge of increasing food production at a lower environmental impact.