Wheat-area estimation using digital LANDSAT MSS data and aerial photographs

• Published in: International journal of remote sensing 1986-09, Vol.7 (9), p.1109-1120
• Main Authors: MOREIRA, MAURÍCIO A., CHEN, SHERRY C., BATISTA, GETULIO T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Generalities. Production, biomass, yield. Quality
• ISSN: 0143-1161; 1366-5901
• DOI: 10.1080/01431168608948913

A procedure to estimate wheat (Triticum aestivum L) area using a sampling technique based on aerial photographs and digital LANDSAT MSS data was developed. Aerial photographs covering 720km2 were visually analysed. Computer classification of LANDSAT MSS data acquired on 4 September 1979 was performed using unsupervised and supervised algorithms and the classification results were spatially filtered using a post-processing technique. To estimate wheal area, a regression approach was applied using different sample sizes and various sampling units. Based on four decision criteria proposed in this study, it was concluded that (i) as the size of the sampling unit decreased, the percentage of the sample area required to obtain a similar estimation performance also decreased, (ii) the lowest percentage of the area sampled for wheat estimation under established precision and accuracy criteria through regression estimation was 13-09 per cent using 10 km2 as the sampling unit and (iii) wheat-area estimation obtained by regression estimation was more precise and accurate than those obtained by a direct expansion method.