Dec 21 2010
NASA has initialized a novel scheme to furnish satellite-oriented data regarding independent plots to the growers. This project will provide the growers with plot-specific data, based on irrigation requirements, crop growth and weather forecasts to control their water expenses.
NASA has explained about this project at a San Francisco-based meeting of the American Geophysical Union. The project works on a computer application called the Terrestrial Observation and Prediction System that helps forecasting the water requirements employing satellite information and local weather surveillance.
Forrest Melton, a scientist at CSU Monterey Bay, this system will facilitate the growers to enhance 10% water efficiency with the advent of related programs in other states and pilot programs in Napa Valley’s wine-growing area. The program is being evaluated with the cauliflower and broccoli growers in Salinas valleys and San Joaquin. The scientists are enhancing the predictive capability of the software by combining satellite data with wireless sensing grids embedded in the fields that detects moisture levels. Researchers compare the sensor data with computer forecasts for enhancing the performance.
The growers can access the free website data initially and then through mobile phones and use this data for assisting their irrigation demands. The pictures indicating the status of the crop warns the growers about inconsistent crop conditions in a field.
The Earth-surveillance satellites launched as a part of the Landsat program is developed by NASA and controlled by the U.S. Geological Survey. These satellites show a resolution of a quarter of an acre, for helping the growers.
Source: http://www.nasa.gov