GIS-Based Interactive Map to Improve Scheduling Beekeeping Activities

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Title: I suggest to include possible application of the GIS Map.

e.g. "GIS-Based Interactive Map to Improve Scheduling of Beekeeping Activites".

Introduction: 

- line 43: substitute "Geographic Information Systems" with "GIS".

- lines 46-50: Rephrase. Use a more clear way for not expert readers.

Materials and Methods:

- line 118: "Within" in small letter.

- line 182: "melliferousness" revise proper writing.

General comment on Materials and Methods: 

1. The potential of the interactive map could be presented in a more systematic way, avoiding repetition in the concepts;

2. info about the hive metrological/monitoring data are missing;

Results: 

Point 3.1 and 3.2 could be presented in only one point?

- line 228: specify if flowering simulation is only concerning crops or wild plants.

- line 230: "is simulated" according to different times of the year?

- lines 236-240: could be moved to material and methods.

Discussion:

I suggest to add a paragraph dedicated to the discussion. It could be placed before the sentence: " The future plans in relation....." (line 300)

Here you could say something more concerning the integration of the GIS-system with info on natural vegetation, being this usually of great interest for beekeepers because usually are not treated with pesticides and guarantee high honey production. Moreover, please, comment that monitoring the hive metrological parametres data could be useful to confirm/validate info obtained by the interactive map (e.g. start of flowering = increasing in weight of supers).

Finally, you could underline the relevance to associate the GIS-system with rationalization of the pollination services, by coordinating times and areas between beekeepers and farmers. Or crowdsourcing data on lenght of flowering, depending by latitude/altitude and environmental conditions, for improving predictive data.

Author Response

Thank you for the provided comments and suggestions how to improve the manuscript. Please find out our answers in the file attached "Reviewer #1 comments_answers.docx"

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The article “GIS Based Interactive Map to Support Beekeeping Activities” by Daniels Kotovs and Aleksejs Zacepins describes development of an interactive system to visualize the crop planted in an area on a map. The system also provides information on flowering time, weather conditions and area under different crops. This information will be valuable for the bee keepers as they can use the information provided to move their apiary to provide them enough pollans and nectar, which will be helpful the bees to get enough food as well help in pollination. The system is currently local however, the developers are planning to make it available online and will be beneficial for the farmers. I recommend publication of this paper with minor changes.

Minor suggestions:

Line 43: Please replace “Geographic information systems” with “GIS”; manipulates with manipulate; stores with store.

Line 44: Please replace “analyses” with “analyzes”

Line 109: Please replace “toin optimal planning” with “to optimally plan”

Line 139-149: Please provide references for “R” and the other packages used.

Line 150: Please provide reference for QGIS.

Line 201: Please insert 1 between “with being”

Line 248: Please add period after “placing”

Please check the references carefully. There is inconsistency in the numbers.

Author Response

Thank you for the provided comments and suggestions how to improve the manuscript. Please find out our answers in the file attached "Reviewer #2 comments_answers.docx"

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The work, very interesting, results in the creation of a digital map for beekeepers. However, In my opinion, the work has only a popular basis and has nothing scientific about it. It would have been very interesting to evaluate the production of honey both in terms of quantity and quality through the application of the map. The results obtained have not been validated and therefore cannot be considered a scientific paper.

Author Response

Thank you for the provided review. Please find out our answer in the file attached "Reviewer #3 comments_answers.docx"

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report