Verification of High Precise Estimation Method of the Rice Planted Fields Acreage with Outline Data Reference using ASTER/VNIR Image

Abstract

The acreage estimation of the riceplanted fields is an important subject for agricultural administration, and it requires the high precise measurements in actual work. In order toimprove the accuracy of estimation, high ground resolution satellite data are required in conventional methods. However, there are problems in frequent use of high ground resolution satellite data due to its narrow observation area, requiring a fair weather at time of acquisition and high cost; there are some limitations to use them operationally. A method of referring agricultural plot outline data was developed in this study, which improves the estimation accuracy of the rice planted fields using medium ground resolution satellite data such as LANDSAT-TM, SPOT-HRV or ASTER-VNIR. In this method, the satellite raster image data are not used for totalization, although they are used to discriminate whether the fields are rice planted or not. The acreage of the rice planted fields discriminated as rice planted fields are totalized referring the existing or preliminary measurement data of agricultural plot outline data. By employing the developed method, the acreage estimation of the rice planted fields using remote sensing techniques is remarkably progressed in practical use. This paper described the result which the method was applied to ASTER-VNIR image and the estimation data was compared with the surveyed data. The estimation error ratio was -5.5%.