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ASOMIS

Completed TRL 5 (started at 3, targeting 5)

Description

The innovation of the Agricultural SOil Moisture and Irrigation Status (A·SOM·IS) platform is the development of operational and moderate resolution mapping and assessment of soil moisture, irrigation status (irrigated vs not), and crop water stress metrics at field scale for agricultural decision support tools. The platform focuses on utilization of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and blends SAR with Harmonized Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 (“HLS”) during Phase 1. During Phase 2 and forward, ASOMIS is geared at planned missions including Landsat-9, ECOSTRESS (ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station), and NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR). This SBIR is directly relevant to NASA; Helps address a shortcoming of SMAP due to sensor failure Develops a direct pipeline between NASA and USDA programs ARS / SCAN / LTAR Supports development of ECOSTRESS and NISAR Missions Supports new NASA programs and Applied Sciences priorities (EOFSAC, agriculture, water resources) Helps bridge the gap of within existing Decision Support Tools with operational field scale metrics of soil moisture, irrigation status, and crop water stress Builds on prior success and lineage with growing Public Private Partnerships ASOMIS uses operational Earth Observations and multi-scale fusion techniques to map soil moisture, irrigation status, and crop water stress metrics at moderate resolution (<30m) or “field scale”. This is a huge gap in existing decision support tools and food security programs. Opportunities to leverage new operational Sentinel-1 C-band and planned L-band and P-band SAR missions (NISAR, BIOMASS) and thermal observations (ECOTRESS) are a game changer. Further, the ability to fuse Harmonized Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 (“HLS”) with MODIS / VIIRS for near daily monitoring of Evapotranspiration (ET) at moderate scale using cloud computing and robust fusion techniques has created an exciting concept for the agricultural community to advance field scale monitoring and assessment.

Benefits

Drive models (LDAS) Support NISAR and ECOSTRESS Missions Support Applied Sciences Support JPL and GSFC agenda Supplement SMAP limitations Helps bridge the gap of within existing Decision Support Tools with operational field scale metrics of soil moisture, irrigation status, and crop water stress

Develops a direct pipeline between NASA and USDA programs ARS / SCAN / LTAR Support FEWSNET, EOFSAC, GEOGLAM and food security programs Builds on prior success and lineage with growing Public Private Partnerships Improve food security

Details

Technology areaSensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Microwave, Millimeter Waves, and Submillimeter Waves
ProgramSmall Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
Lead organizationApplied Geosolutions, LLC, Durham, NH
Start date2018-07-27
End date2019-02-15

Project contacts

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How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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