ClearSky: cloud-free monitoring of UK agriculture

Earth Observation satellites can monitor every part of the globe, offering a detailed view of the Earth's surface on a daily basis. This is a valuable source of intelligence for the agricultural industry, since one can - in theory - map all farmland to determine, for example, the rate of growth of crops, signatures of crop stress and disease, the presence of flooding or signs of drought.

These factors are vital to the efficient production of food and maintaining food security. On one hand, a precise view of crop health allows farmers to optimise the use of fertiliser and water, and the rapid identification of threats allows food producers to respond in a timely manner to mitigate their impact on the food supply.

There is a problem: cloud cover. Clouds obscure the view of Earth Observation satellites in the visible and infrared spectral range, and this is where the vast majority of remote sensing analysis is performed. This limits the value of imagery, because if it is cloudy when the satellite passes over, the intelligence is lost.

Our solution is to exploit radar data. Satellites equipped with radar can reflect radio waves off the ground and detect their reflectance. Since radio waves are not affected by cloud, this offers an uninterrupted and reliable view of the ground.

However, the challenge has been in the interpretation of radar data. We have solved this challenge by developing an algorithm that can accurately predict what would have been seen in the traditional V/IR images (e.g. the RGB image our eyes would see) for cases where the surface is obscured by cloud. We call our algorithm ClearSky.

In this project we will use ClearSky to monitor every single field in the UK, every week. Our predictions will allow us to assess the presence and density of vegetation and its rate of growth, as well as determining local threats such as flooding and the onset of drought. Our aim is to deliver this intelligence direct to farmers and the food supply industry in order to aid the decision making process with regards the most efficient use of resources in producing food, and enabling us to be agile to potential threats to food security associated with a changing climate.