Pakistan Becomes the First Country to use Multi-Spectral Imagery for Crop Mapping
Pakistan Becomes the First Country to use Multi-Spectral Imagery for Crop Mapping
Multi-Spectral Imagery Using Remote Sensing Satellite
“Pakistan has become the first country in the world to use multi-spectral imagery through a remote sensing satellite to prepare maps of crop type and acreage“, Dr. Umar Saif (Scientist and Academic – The chairman of Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).
How does Multi-Spectral Imagery Using Remote Sensing Technology Work?
The technology will be used with a 10-meter resolution through UK Satellite Sentinel 2 A to determine the type and health of crops, moisture in the soil and to predict the quantum of production.
Pakistan would no longer depend on foreign assistance for crop mapping.
In the past, the process required the use of android phones to report GPS location as Google gives three-meter resolution in black and while Satellite Sentinel 2 A, which passes over Pakistan space once in a week.
What are the uses of Multi-Spectral Imagery Using Remote Sensing Technology?
- The use of satellites is advantageous as it can generate a systematic and repetitive coverage of a large area and provide information about the health of the vegetation.
- Using this technology, the assessment of the Yield can be made.
- The Health of the Crops can be assessed and remedial measures (in case of any disease etc) can be applied.
- Knowing of the Moisture Content in the Soil can be beneficial in numerous ways.
- The digitalized data would also help in market facilitation and stability, cost price, direct issuance of interest-free loans to small farmers by banks and subsidy without involving middlemen. It will also help the government to formulate the agriculture policy while insurance companies, agriculture departments, and the industry overall could benefit from the data gathered in real time.
- The new multi-spectral technology will provide a 13-color imagery to help examine data of various crops including seed quality, growth, disease, the area of cultivation, yield, impact on the economy and to determine the export potential of the excess crop.
- Overall, the total volume of the production can be assessed and the total return in terms of Economy can be predicted.
Originally Published on The Express Tribune.
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