Apparatus for determining agricultural relevant information

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining agricultural relevant information in an agricultural environment. It is described to provide (210) a processing unit with at least one image of an agricultural area. The at least one image was acquired by at least one satellite and / or at least one aerial vehicle such that the at least one image was acquired through a substantial depth of the Earth's atmosphere. The at least one image corresponds with at least one area of the agricultural area such that each image of the at least one image corresponds to a different area of the agricultural area. The at least one image comprises remotely acquired reflectance intensity data relating to a plurality of features on the ground. An image of the at least one image is of a first area ofthe agricultural environment. The processing unit is provided (220) with at least one sensor data relating to the first area of the agricultural environment. The at least one sensor data was acquiredby at least one ground based and / or at least one near ground based sensor. The processing unit implements (230) a radiation propagation model of the atmosphere that utilizes at least one model parameter. The at least one model parameter comprises at least one atmospheric scattering coefficient. The processing unit determines (240) modified at least one model parameter. The determination comprisesutilization of the radiation propagation model, the remotely acquired reflectance intensity data of the image of the first area and the at least one sensor data relating to the first area. The processing unit determines (250) at least one agricultural relevant information for an examination area of the at least one area. The determination utilizes the radiation propagation model, the modified at least one model parameter and an image of the at least one image that is of the examination area of the at least one area.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a device for determining agriculture-related information, a system for determining agriculture-related information, and a method for determining agriculture-related information and a computer program element. Background technique [0002] The general background of the invention is to use data acquired by sensors to provide farmers with an understanding of what is happening in their fields. Information derived from satellite-acquired imagery does not accurately provide farmers with the necessary information (whether calibrated or not) to decide how to manage their fields and the crops in them, because the atmosphere cannot be simulated at the required levels. Also, data from ground-based sensors can be very accurate but cannot provide the required coverage on different fields and within a specific field. Contents of the invention [0003] It would be advantageous to have improved means for determining agriculture related info...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Information derived from satellite-acquired imagery does not accurately provide farmers with the necessary information (whether calibrated or not) to decide how to manage their fields and the crops in them because the atmosphere cannot be simulated at the required level

Also, data from ground-based sensors can be very accurate but cannot provide the required coverage on different fields and within specific fields

Images