FlightCom – July 2019

FlightCom Magazine 22

which is unique in its ability to process batches of optical imagery
into vegetation maps that are consistent across large areas and over
time. They are also free from ground calibration unaffected by the
light conditions or the sensor used. These maps feature biophysical
parameters such as Fraction of Green Leaf Cover, Leaf Area Index
(LAI), Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation
(FAPAR) and Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a). They generate datasets on the
fraction of soil cover and surface humidity.
These biophysical parameter datasets were subsequently
provided to SANSA, which add information on crop anomalies, such
as areas where crop growth is not progressing as expected.
This collaborative approach, with parts of the processing chain
belonging to both organisations, allowed SANSA to benefit from
Airbus’s satellite and processing capabilities, whilst also having the
flexibility to adapt the system to provide local bespoke products.
Airbus Defence and Space provides a variety of high resolution
earth observation satellites, including the Disaster Monitoring
Constellation (DMC), to deliver high frequency imaging anywhere
on the globe.
For the bigger picture, the DMC radio satellites typically cover a
wide swathe, several hundred kilometres wide, capturing very high
definition images. Over a typical day, they generate images covering
more than 60 million square kilometres.
In contrast, Airbus’ Pléiades optical satellites (there are three
and they are in orbit 694km above Earth), are able to provide the
fine micro detail needed for precision mapping and change detection
analysis. They can also be tasked to record imagery over a specific
area, location or even a particular installation, such as bridges and
pipelines. Last month Airbus assigned a Pléiades satellite to capture
images of the NAMPO agriculture trade expo at Bothaville in May
this year, as it did in September 2018 when it captured images of
AAD2018 at AFB Waterkloof.
Airbus makes its satellite images available to commercial
subscribers and partners which then provide analyses and space data
to their own customers, which typically include national, provincial
and local government agencies as well as users in the agriculture,
minerals exploration, forestry, energy and other critical sectors,
from planners to individual farmers, mine managers, rangers, etc.
In addition to commercial activity, the DMC satellite imagery is
provided free to humanitarian aid organisations responding to
natural disasters such as tsunamis, floods, fires and cyclones.
Airbus has also developed a set of smart farming geo-intelligence
tools, which it makes available directly to farmers and cooperatives.

FRUITLOOK – IT’S ABOUT EYES ON THE VINES
In a related development, Airbus has assisted in developing
FruitLook, a project launched in 2011 to provide farmers with an
improved knowledge of water and crop management for fruit and

wine producing areas in South Africa’s Western Cape province.

It stemmed from the challenges presented by changing climate,

rising input costs and increased competition for water, which are

forcing South African producers to attain higher yields with less

water.

FruitLook is coordinated by eLEAF, a Netherlands-based

company that supplies reliable water and vegetation data for food

production and environmental protection. The project received

funding for the project from the Western Cape Department of

Agriculture, Hortgro and the European Space Agency. FruitLook’s

objective is to deliver satellite imagery-based information directly to

fruit and wine-grape farmers through an open online portal.

However, in order to meet its objectives, FruitLook required

reliable (in terms of data quality and delivery) and cloud-free optical

data updated with several recordings a week. Again, this is where

Airbus’s DMC constellation came into play. The satellite recordings

are combined with other data sources and Surface Energy Balance

Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) technology to produce information on

moisture, growth and minerals for each crop. This information is

updated weekly.

Farmers access the information through the FruitLook portal

to assess vegetation index, biomass production, actual water use

(evapotranspiration) and water productivity – all very important

data, especially during the recent drought in some parts of the region.

With the correct training and the weekly updates, farmers

DMC SATELLITE

IMAGERY IS

PROVIDED

FREE TO

HUMANITARIAN AID

ORGANISATIONS

RESPONDING TO

NATURAL DISASTERS