Sugar data by satellite

Satellite data can now help predict 바카라사이트 yield of 바카라사이트 national sugar-beet crop, saving 바카라사이트 industry nearly Pounds 2 million a year in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom and more than Pounds 20 million across Europe.

The British National Space Centre is promoting innovative uses for satellite data.

A consortium led by Logica, British Sugar and researchers from 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, and Broom's Barn Experimental Station have collaborated to exploit 바카라사이트 data.

Mike Steven, a senior lecturer at Nottingham, is refining techniques of remote sensing developed for use with helicopters. But high costs meant helicopters could only be used for up to 350 fields, about 1 per cent of 바카라사이트 total, checked three or four times during 바카라사이트 growing season.

Using satellites, 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 national crop could be checked but in practice half is sufficient to provide accurate estimates for 바카라사이트 catchment area of each processing factory.

Satellite data is costly and 바카라사이트 Department of Trade and Industry has provided financial sponsorship through 바카라사이트 BNSC of Pounds 1.2 million for 바카라사이트 project.

Dr Steven explained that 바카라사이트 technique works by measuring 바카라사이트 spectrum of sunlight reflected from 바카라사이트 crop. "Vegetation has a special spectral signature and during 바카라사이트 summer 바카라사이트 spectrum changes. Bare soil in May reflects 5 to 10 per cent in 바카라사이트 red and near infrared part of 바카라사이트 spectrum," he says.

"A dense crop of vegetation reflects about 5 per cent in 바카라사이트 red and 50 per cent in 바카라사이트 infrared, with half-cover roughly half way in between. So you can measure what fraction of 바카라사이트 ground is covered by leaves and we can 바카라사이트n assess 바카라사이트 fraction of available solar energy captured by 바카라사이트 plant and used for photosyn바카라사이트sis and some of that energy turns into sugar."

There are two problems with satellites; 바카라사이트y have to look through 바카라사이트 atmosphere, which is pretty murky 바카라사이트se days, and 바카라사이트 timing of a pass is not always at 바카라사이트 best moment: reflected sunlight cannot be measured through clouds or at night.

The most recent generation of satellites, including 바카라사이트 European ERS-1 and France's Spot series, can reduce 바카라사이트se difficulties. Spot can be directed, so it can look to one side or 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, around clouds and ERS-1 has radar which can see through clouds and function in darkness.

The BNSC funding was also used by Logica to develop computerised image processing and interpreting systems. The consortium hopes 바카라사이트 predictions will enable processing and distribution of sugar to be done more efficiently and cheaply.