By Scout Nelson
Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln develop a new agriculture data management platform designed to improve how scientific data is stored, organized, and analyzed. The platform, known as Agricultural Data Management and Analytics, or ADMA, uses artificial intelligence to coordinate and manage large amounts of agricultural data.
ADMA is created to help users manage complex datasets used in agriculture research and land management. The system combines data storage with geographic information system capabilities, allowing data to be organized and analyzed by location.
“ADMA incorporates data storage capability with GIS’s data processing power, which is not seen in mainstream agriculture science or scientific data management systems now,” he said.
The platform is introduced in 2023 to address three major challenges faced by researchers: large volumes of data, incompatible data formats, and high costs of moving data for analysis. As more sensors and digital tools are used in agriculture, researchers often struggle with data silos that make searching and analyzing information difficult.
In 2024, the development team enhances the platform by adding ADMA Copilot, an automated assistant powered by large language models. This tool allows users to interact with data using natural language rather than manual searching or coding.
“We can imagine ADMA Copilot as an intelligent layer added on top of ADMA, which can understand a user’s instructions in their natural language,” Pan said.
The platform allows researchers to combine data from different sources to answer complex questions.
“It allows us to bring data from different formats and environments to answer questions that would be difficult otherwise.”
A key feature of ADMA is its use of natural language processing, which helps users search across many data types at once. This lowers barriers for those with less technical experience.
“It can significantly reduce barriers for human beings in accessing data,” he said. “Users without the same high level of training or educational background can access more information.”
The platform is developed following FAIR data principles, making information findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. It supports collaboration across research groups and institutions.
The system is still in early deployment stages but is expected to expand across university research programs. Future compatibility includes major cloud storage services, allowing ADMA to become a central data infrastructure for agricultural research.
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Categories: Nebraska, Education, General