Abstract
The Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment (LACIE) was initiated in 1974 as a proof-of-concept experiment (1) to assimilate remote sensing technology developed during the previous decade, (2) to apply a resultant experimental system to the task of monitoring a singularly important agricultural commodity over the world, (3) to isolate and establish priorities for key technical problems, (4) to modify the approach as necessary and conceivable, and (5) to demonstrate the technical and cost feasibility of global agricultural monitoring system.
The LACIE was designed to accomplish these objectives in major wheat producing regions of the world. The current world crop inventory systems are deficient in two ways: (1) there is a need for more frequent, timely, and accurate information and (2) the crop production data are not well incorporated into the total agricultural information system for each country, with the exception of the United States.
Date of this Version
1979