Daniel Harpenau
Daniel Harpenau is a GIS Technician who works at Heartland Technology Solutions in Ames, Iowa. Harpenau (Geography, BA) graduated in 2011 with an emphasis in GIS. At The University of Iowa, Harpenau enjoyed studying the spatial variability of many things, specifically the variability of wildlife across the state. Today he focuses on the variability in corn or bean fields. Through the usage of multilayered queries and comparison analysis, it is easy to see why certain areas of a field performed better than others. One of the most powerful analysis that can be used is a yield by hybrid comparison. This comparison uses yield data collected through combine yield monitoring systems and compares that data to planting data. This kind of information is very important when it comes to selecting corn hybrids or soybean varieties for future years. At HTS Harpenau’s main responsibility is the mapping of agronomic data. For HTS, he is also the company’s central Iowa technician which includes performing installations on tractors, combines and sprayers and planters, as well as monitoring customers grain management systems remotely. Guidance systems on tractors, which utilize GPS to automatically steer the tractor through the field, are the most frequent type of installation that he does.Harpenau enjoys the mix of office time and field time as well with this job. He recommends current students to look into a variety of different fields for employment after graduation because many of them are starting to utilize the power of GIS.
