Towards field-scale soil moisture measurement using SAR remote sensing and the COSMOS-UK network - STARS CDT
Lead Research Organisation:
CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY
Department Name: School of Water, Energy and Environment
Abstract
Remote Sensing using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a promising method to measure soil moisture at fine spatial and temporal scales. This project aims at testing SAR change detection with images acquired from satellite constellations (Sentinel-1, Cosmo-Skymed), against soil moisture measurements from the newly available UK COsmic-ray Soil Moisture Observing System (COSMOS-UK network). In particular, the PhD candidate is expected to evaluate change detection with various SAR imaging configurations, soil conditions, and different change detection algorithms. From the collaboration of Cranfield University and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the candidate will have access to an interdisciplinary network of experts in Remote Sensing, Hydrology, and Soil Science. The project aims at identifying the synergies between COSMOS-UK and SAR constellations to eventually design the first system of systems for field-scale soil moisture estimation with national coverage, with numerous applications in weather forecasting, hydrology, agricultural systems, and insurance.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Toby Waine (Primary Supervisor) |
 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4954-3618
|
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/M009106/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1948251 | Studentship | NE/M009106/1 | 02/10/2017 | 31/03/2021 |
| Description | Overall the project has established that C-band synthetic aperture radar data from satellites can be used to map soil moisture (SM) at the field scale using the CD algorithm. Needing no model training or a-priori knowledge of land use and crop type, the approach is scalable to UK national coverage and beyond. The project has developed a novel way to spatially interpolate the field-scale soil moisture estimates to enable good performance in agricultural fields to be achieved even when crops are at a fast growing stage. For the first time a usable SM retrieval process, which is actionable for farmers, has been demonstrated using a SAR remote sensing approach that does not require extensive model training. With further research and refinement to overcome the orbit-related uncertainties, the SM estimates are likely to become even more accurate as a result of the recommendations for further work, below, and eventually lead to a root zone soil moisture product. |
| Exploitation Route | The output from this study is therefore a major step towards providing a useful and reliable field-scale soil moisture product that works as well on arable fields as it does for other land uses. This will be of major benefit to agriculturalists and environmentalists. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Title | New method for SAR remote sensing soil moisture estimates validation |
| Description | C-band SAR can resolve features at field scale, or better, but responds to moisture only within the top 1 to 2 cm of the soil. When validating SAR-derived soil moisture products against standard in-situ measurements at 5 to 10 cm depth, the greater moisture variability at the soil surface may be inaccurately categorised as measurement error. An alternative method was developed where the C-band SAR product is validated against soil moisture simulated at 2 cm depth by the HYDRUS-1D model. This reproduces soil moisture depth profiles from daily meteorological observations, leaf area index and soil hydraulic parameters. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The model has been used in completion of my PhD thesis and will be the basis of 1-2 additional papers. The publication outlining the method has been cited once in a peer-reviewed publication so far, and shared on Twitter and Mendeley by readers, |
| Description | Co-supervision by UKCEH and participation in HYDRO-JULES project |
| Organisation | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Reporting of interim results into the HYDRO-JULES project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | C-supervision and technical guidance Access to data from the COSMOS-UK project |
| Impact | COSMOS-UK data has been used to help achieve the aims of the project by providing a means to train hydrological models. Discussion with UKCEH experts has helped inform the direction of the research towards a positive conclusion, |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | COSMOS India |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Interaction with the COSMOS-India project to advise them on the most suitable locations for new COSMOS soil moisture measurement sites from a shortlist, based on the radar clutter environment. The clutter would have affected the utility of the sites for use in remote sensing studies using SAR data. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Leicester 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to the Leicester University remote sensing group and the COSMOS-China team. About 6 members of the team attended and a didcussion afterwards helpd to shape the direction of the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation to IAgre |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on my project to members of the local branch of the Institution for Agricultural Engineers, as part of s a student presentation competition, which I won. The audienec includes farmers, industry and academics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation to MSc Course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Gave a presentation on my project to the Geographical Information Management MSC students as a case study as part of their module on "Resource Survey". This sparked an interesting debate and new interest in the topic amongst the students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |