Multi-dimension classification system of agricultural information

Considering characteristics and complexity of agricultural system, especially multi-factor in the system, the paper develops a new framework called multi-dimension classification system (MDCS) to organize agricultural information. The framework makes agricultural field/product as its backbone to string up agricultural production dimension, agricultural market dimension, agricultural natural resource dimension, agricultural social economic dimension, agricultural science and technology dimension, space and time dimension, and information type dimension. A data model called classification cube is constructed to implement and represent the classification framework. The framework, together with the classification cube, enables a multi-facet and compositive way for organizing and analyzing agricultural information. The framework has been applied in practice and it showed effective functions.