Evaluation of different methods for the retrieval of LAI using high resolution airborne data
Richter, K. ; Vuolo, F. ; DUrso, G. ; ...Dini, L.
Oct - 2007
DOI: 10.1117/12.738167

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type: Conference Proceedings

Abstract
Earth Observation (E.O.) technologies provide a valuable data base for the monitoring of crop and soil characteristics on a large scale, in a rapid, accurate and cost-effective way. The present work aims at evaluating different methods and models for the estimation of the Leaf Area Index (LAI) by means of hyperspectral data acquired by the optical airborne instrument CASI during the ESA AgriSAR 2006 campaign. Inversion of a physical model using an iterative optimization technique (SQP) and a fast look-up-table (LUT) approach is performed and results are compared with an empirical model based on the relationship between LAI and WDVI. Furthermore, the analyses carried out on the inversion of the physical models provide the opportunity to test the spectral bands proposed for the upcoming E.O. satellite Sentinel-2 developed by ESA in the framework of GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security). The Sentinel-2 spectral sampling is compared with the one proposed by an independent study determining the wavebands best characterizing vegetation and crops. Accuracy of LAI estimation, evaluated with the AgriSAR 2006 field measurements, is discussed in the context of operational agricultural monitoring.

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