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Projecte llegit

Títol: ARIEL: evaluate performance of high pixel density, L-band microwave radiometer and assess feasibility for UAV mounted moisture measurement

Estudiants que han llegit aquest projecte:

Director/a: GONZÁLEZ ARBESU, JOSÉ MARIA

Departament: TSC

Títol: ARIEL: evaluate performance of high pixel density, L-band microwave radiometer and assess feasibility for UAV mounted moisture measurement

Data inici oferta: 30-01-2019     Data finalització oferta: 30-09-2019


Estudis d'assignació del projecte:
    MU DRONS
Tipus: Individual
 
Lloc de realització: Fora UPC    
 
        Supervisor/a extern: Roger Jove Casulleras
        Institució/Empresa: Balamis
        Titulació del Director/a: PhD
 
Paraules clau:
high spatial resolution, high temporal resolution, L-Band, mobile radiometer, near ground radiometry, NDVI, remote sensing, soil moisture, soil moisture contour maps
 
Descripció del contingut i pla d'activitats:
ARIEL is an L-band radiometer adapted from Earth Observation
satellite
technology for use in terrestrial applications. The key technical
benefits
are compact size and high pixel density (1m vs. 40km), which
opens up
applications in precision agriculture, land management, water lea
detection, building inspection etc.
To further increase the utility of Ariel a light aircraft system
has been
developed. Further flexibility will be realised if the instrument
can be
mounted on a UAV and still provide usable data.
This project aims to compare the performance of agricultural
field
moisture measurement performed by Ariel radiometry and
established
techniques (NDVI). The test campaigns will utilise the unique
technology
developed by Balamis - a portable radiometer equipped with two
infrared
sensors suitable for mounting on a terrestrial vehicle.
The plan is divided into a series of campaigns that comprise:
- Equipment Calibration
- Data Acquisition (through field trials)
- Data Preparation and Analysis
- Published Report (with geo-referenced image maps)
An ambitious plan has been developed consisting of pre-trial
procedure
development followed by 4 campaigns:
• Pre-Trial: 05 Feb - 06 March
verify data processing scripts and document procedures
• Terrestrial 1: 3 March - 25 March
create an agricultural reference
• Terrestrial 2: 26 March - 30 April
study drainage over time following rainfall
• Terrestrial 3: 03 April - 11 May
study hour to hour variability
• UAV Aerial 1: 08 May - 7 Jun
proof of principle and comparison to reference
[Note: four campaigns is the maximum feasible. In the case of
unforeseen
circumstances, two campaigns are considered the minimum needed].
In parallel, the feasibility for different markets and businesses
opportunities will be studied along with a comparison to
alternative
technologies both existing (eg. NDVI, Ground Penetrating Radar,
SMOS)
and emerging (eg. GNSS-Refractometry). 3 Weeks in June are
reserved
for writing and completion of the master thesis.
 
Overview (resum en anglès):
ARIEL is an L-band radiometer adapted from Earth Observation satellite technology for use in terrestrial, near to ground surveys of moisture. The key technical benefits are compact size, lightweight, mobility and high pixel density (up to 1m2).

This project demonstrates the capability of high spatial and temporal resolution L-Band radiometry to produce detailed soil moisture contour maps within a 1 km2 area. The study was performed prior, during and after 12 mm of rainfall to determine the soil surface absorption and adsorption behaviour in relation to surface moisture. The radiometer was equipped with photodiodes to enable the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) data to be extracted concurrently. Hence this is a very near ground, high resolution and high precision study of soil moisture derived from L-band emissivity. 

The project is focused on the technology application and production of useful products in the form of moisture contour maps and vegetation detection. The radiometer functioned admirably during the consecutive test campaigns and in conditions that varied from direct sun to rain and mud. Patterns of soil moisture over time and within specific sub-areas of the field are identified and quantified. The intra-field differences appear to primarily be related to soil type and soil surface characteristics which were qualitatively assessed in this study as quantified approaches are available in empirical and theoretical studies.

Average field moistures are measured daily and differentiation is made between soil types within the field. The effect of dry and moist surface emissivity on retrieved moisture is noted, as is the effect of vegetation on soil surface emissivity with the aid of the vegetation index. Comparisons are drawn to the highest resolution satellite imagery (30 m spatial, 3 day temporal) and highlight the limitations and richness of local data that is missed in relation to local soil moisture surface absorption patterns during rainfall.

The radiometer is shown to achieve very high resolution and precision that is not possible from satellite or even light aircraft. Furthermore, it is shown to be able to study ground conditions when they are occluded from satellite and hence the moisture profile maps presented are unique in their detail.

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