How is visual documentation (e.g., diagrams, schematics, photographs) created and managed in the agriculture industry using DITA?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

In the agriculture industry, DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) is a powerful tool for creating and managing visual documentation, including diagrams, schematics, and photographs. Visual content is essential for conveying complex agricultural concepts and techniques effectively. DITA provides a structured approach to incorporate and maintain these visuals within training materials.

Image Integration

DITA allows for the integration of images into training materials through structured elements. Images such as diagrams illustrating crop rotation schedules or photographs showcasing pest infestations can be embedded within DITA topics. Each image is linked with metadata, including descriptions, sources, and copyrights, ensuring proper attribution and context.

Versioned Visuals

Visual documentation in the agriculture industry can change over time due to updates in farming practices, equipment, or technologies. DITA’s versioning capabilities extend to visuals, allowing organizations to track changes and maintain a visual history. This ensures that training materials are up-to-date and reflect the latest agricultural practices.

Example:

Here’s an example of how DITA enables the management of visual documentation:


<topic id="pest_management" version="3.0">
  <title>Pest Management</title>
  <body>
    <p>Effective pest management is crucial for crop protection...</p>
    <image src="pest_infestation.jpg">
      <desc>A photograph of a severe pest infestation.</desc>
      <source>John Farmer</source>
      <copyright>© 2023 Farming Solutions Inc.</copyright>
    </image>
  </body>

In this example, a DITA topic on pest management includes an image of a pest infestation. The image is linked with metadata, providing a description, source, and copyright information.