We are glad to announce that the “Artificial intelligence framework for quantitative estimation of soil properties using hyperspectral satellite imagery” project was selected for partial funding by the Ministry of the Environment of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Union under the REACT-EU InnovationUmweltwirtschaft.NRW program. The grant is funded by the European Regional Development Fund / Europäischen Fonds für regionale Entwicklung (EFRE).
The use of artificial intelligence and statistics in this project made it possible to determine the correlation between hyperspectral and soil data (e.g., N, pH), facilitating a more precise and scalable approach to soil analysis. The forthcoming launch of hyperspectral satellites with frequent revisit intervals and seamless access to new imagery without delays presents several advantages, particularly in nutrient management for sustainable agriculture. The technology helps assess nutrient content and availability in the soil, allowing farmers to tailor fertilisation strategies. This leads to better nutrient uptake by plants, reduced environmental impact, and cost savings.
What is Hyperspectral imagery?
Hyperspectral imagery is a powerful remote sensing technique that captures the electromagnetic spectrum with high spectral resolution.
Unlike traditional satellite imagery, which typically consists of three to four bands (red, green, blue, and sometimes near-infrared), hyperspectral imagery collects hundreds to thousands of narrow spectral bands across the visible, near-infrared, and shortwave infrared regions. Each band provides unique information about the surface properties of the imaged area.
It is acquired using sensors mounted on airborne or spaceborne platforms. These sensors use spectrometers to measure the intensity of reflected or emitted radiation across multiple narrow bands.
By collecting a wide range of spectral data, hyperspectral sensors can detect subtle differences in the spectral signatures of various materials, allowing for highly detailed and precise analysis.
Applications of Hyperspectral Imagery
- Environmental Monitoring: It plays a vital role in monitoring and assessing the health of ecosystems. It helps identify vegetation stress, monitor land cover changes, detect invasive species, and measure water quality parameters like chlorophyll concentration or turbidity in lakes and rivers.
- Agriculture: It aids in precision agriculture by providing detailed information about crop health, nutrient content, moisture levels, and disease detection. Farmers can make data-driven decisions regarding irrigation, fertilization, and pest management, resulting in optimized crop yields and reduced environmental impact.
- Geology and Mineral Exploration: It is instrumental in mapping geological formations, identifying mineral deposits, and characterizing rock types. It helps geologists detect alterations in mineral composition and map potential areas for exploration, contributing to more efficient and targeted mining activities.
- Forestry: It assists in forest management and monitoring. It enables the identification of tree species, quantification of forest biomass, detection of tree stress, and assessment of wildfire damage. This information aids in sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and early warning systems for forest fires.
Benefits of Hyperspectral Imagery
Its main advantage lies in its ability to provide detailed spectral information, enabling the discrimination of materials with high accuracy.
This leads to improved classification and mapping of land cover types, enhanced identification of specific substances, and better understanding of environmental processes.
Hyperspectral data can also be analyzed using advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques to extract valuable insights and automate image interpretation.
Satellite Imagery
