Optimal sampling with soil stratification

1. A method for determining optimal sampling parameters, the method comprising:

generating, at a crop prediction engine, a voxel grid for a soil organic carbon (SOC) area, wherein the voxel grid is associated with a map;

identifying, at the crop prediction engine, a plurality of strata parameters, in which each strata parameter includes a stratification boundary associated with the SOC area;

identifying, at the crop prediction engine, a number of strata within the stratification boundary;

inputting, at the crop prediction engine, a plurality of soil samples for the SOC area;

defining, at the crop prediction engine, a plurality of specifications for a plurality of Monte Carlo simulations including:

one or more strata sampling weights, and

a margin of error;

iterating through the plurality of Monte Carlo simulations by increasing a sample count between each iteration, wherein each of the plurality of Monte Carlo simulations includes:

repeatedly sampling, at the crop prediction engine, wherein each sampling includes:

selecting, at the crop prediction engine, at least one strata parameter from the plurality of strata parameters for the Monte Carlo simulation,

selecting, at the crop prediction engine, a sample count for each of the selected at least one strata parameter,

selecting, at the crop prediction engine, a plurality of random samples for each selected strata parameter,

aggregating, at the crop prediction engine, the plurality of random samples for each selected strata parameter;

determining, at the crop prediction engine, that the aggregated plurality of random samples achieved the sample count for each selected strata parameter, and

generating, at the crop prediction engine, an empirical sampling distribution for each Monte Carlo simulation; and

determining, at the crop prediction engine, an optimal sampling plan from the empirical distribution generated for each of the plurality of Monte Carlo simulations, wherein the optimal sampling plan has a lowest sample count and satisfies the margin of error.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising exporting, to a mobile device, one or more sampling locations, wherein the optimal sampling plan includes the one or more sampling locations.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising validating, at the mobile device, a location, a date, and a time for collecting a soil sample from at least one of the one or more sampling locations with a GPS component.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising storing a plurality of soil sample results, wherein the soil sample results are accessible by the crop prediction engine.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising analyzing, at the crop prediction engine, the soil sample results with a soil prediction model to generate one or more SOC predictions.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising estimating, at the crop prediction engine, a greenhouse gas reduction.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising converting the greenhouse gas reduction to one or more carbon credits that are traded on a carbon exchange.

8. A method for determining optimal sampling parameters, the method comprising:

identifying, at a crop prediction engine, a soil organic carbon (SOC) project area on a map;

gathering, at the crop prediction engine, a plurality of soil data from a soil data source, wherein the soil data is associated with the SOC project area;

determining, at the crop prediction engine, that the soil data is less than optimal determining, at the crop prediction engine, that the soil data is sufficient to generate an optimal sampling plan;

determining, at the crop prediction engine, a potential SOC per unit area for one or more polygons that are within the SOC project area;

identifying the one or more polygons that satisfy an SOC requirement;

generating, at the crop prediction engine, a voxel grid for the polygon that satisfies the SOC requirement;

defining, at the crop prediction engine, a margin of error;

completing, at the crop prediction engine, a plurality of Monte Carlo simulations, which each generate an empirical sampling distribution; and

determining, at the crop prediction engine, the optimal sampling plan, wherein the optimal sampling plan is associated with one Monte Carlo simulation having a lowest sampling density that satisfies the margin of error.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein after generating the voxel grid for the polygon that satisfies the SOC requirement, the method includes identifying, at the crop prediction engine, a plurality of strata parameters, in which each strata parameter includes a stratification boundary associated with the SOC area.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein after identifying the plurality of strata parameters, the method further comprises,

identifying, at the crop prediction engine, a number of strata within the stratification boundary; and

inputting, at the crop prediction engine, a range of soil samples for the SOC area.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising,

defining, at the crop prediction engine, one or more strata sampling weights for each of the plurality of Monte Carlo simulations; and

selecting, at the crop prediction engine, at least one strata parameter and a sample count from the plurality of strata parameters for each of the plurality of Monte Carlo simulations.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising,

selecting, at the crop prediction engine, a plurality of random samples for the selected strata parameter for each of the plurality of Monte Carlo simulations; and

aggregating, at the crop prediction engine, the random samples for each selected strata parameter for each of the plurality of Monte Carlo simulations.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising,

determining, at the crop prediction engine, when the sample count is completed for each selected strata parameter for each of the plurality of Monte Carlo simulations; and

repeatedly selecting, at the crop prediction engine, random samples and aggregating the random samples until the sample count is completed for each selected strata parameter for each of the plurality of Monte Carlo simulations.

14. A system for determining optimal sampling parameters, the system comprising:

a map that includes a soil organic carbon (SOC) project area;

a crop prediction engine that gathers a plurality of soil data from a soil data source, wherein the soil data is associated with the SOC project area;

the crop prediction engine determines that the soil data is less than optimal determining, at the crop prediction engine, that the soil data is sufficient to generate an optimal sampling plan;

the crop prediction engine determines a potential SOC per unit area for one or more polygons that are within the SOC project area;

the crop prediction engine identifies the one or more polygons that satisfy an SOC requirement;

the crop prediction engine generates a voxel grid for the polygon that satisfies the SOC requirement;

the crop prediction engine completes a plurality of Monte Carlo simulations, which each generate an empirical sampling distribution; and

the crop prediction engine determines the optimal sampling plan, wherein the optimal sampling plan is associated with one Monte Carlo simulation having a lowest sampling density that satisfies the margin of error.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a mobile device that receives one or more sampling locations exported from the crop prediction engine, wherein the one or more sampling locations are associated with the optimal sampling plan.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the mobile device validates a location, a date, and a time for collecting a soil sample with a GPS component.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of soil sample results that are stored accessible by the crop prediction engine.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the crop prediction engine analyzes the soil sample results with a soil prediction model to generate one or more SOC predictions.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the crop prediction engine estimates a greenhouse gas reduction.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the crop prediction engine converts the greenhouse gas reduction to one or more carbon credits that are traded on a carbon exchange.