smartAKIS Dataset

Advisory platform for small farms based on earth observation

Arable crops Tree crops Open field vegetables Vineyards Grassland systems

Earth Observation (EO) refers the collection of information about our planet, using remote sensing technologies such as sensors mounted on satellites or drones. The European Union’s Copernicus programme provides EO data freely and openly for use by policy-makers, citizens and businesses alike. APOLLO makes full use of this invaluable resource, as well as drawing on other sources of globally available data. Remote sensing data from sensors on Earth Observation satellites have demonstrated their potential to measure soil moisture quantitatively on bare surfaces and those covered by short vegetation. Thanks to their ability to operate in all weather conditions and to wide coverage, data from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) offer the opportunity to monitor large areas with a high spatial resolution. The use of SAR images, such as those captured by the Copernicus programme’s Sentinel-1, can provide a precise estimation of the surface soil moisture.