Keywords
Remote sensing, soil moisture, signals of opportunity, I-Band, S-Band
Presentation Type
Poster
Research Abstract
Measurement of soil moisture, especially the root zone soil moisture, is important in agriculture, meteorology, and hydrology. Root zone soil moisture is concerned with the first meter down the soil. Active and passive remote sensing methods used today utilizing L-band(1-2GHz) are physically limited to a sensing depth of about 5 cm or less. To remotely sense the soil moisture in the deeper parts of the soil, the frequency should be lowered. Lower frequencies cannot be used in active spaceborne instruments because of their need for larger antennas, radio frequency interference (RFI), and frequency spectrum allocations. Ground-based passive remote sensing using I-band(0.1-1GHz) signals of opportunity provides the required sensing depth and solves the problems that come with the spaceborne remote sensing instruments using I-band reflectometry. A dual monopole antenna setup was used with one on the ground for direct signal and one 30m above ground for the reflected signal. The reflectivity and therefore the soil moisture was obtained from the differences between direct and reflected signals. Initially, an S-band (2-3GHz) signal was used as a proof of concept and its ease of implementation because of its higher transmitted power and stationary satellite. This experiment provides conclusions about the root zone soil moisture based on our observation and comparison of direct and reflected satellite signals of two different frequency bands and determination of reflectivity.
Session Track
Sensing and Measurement
Recommended Citation
Kadir Efecik, Benjamin R. Nold, and James L. Garrison,
"Remote sensing using I-Band and S-Band signals of opportunity"
(August 2, 2018).
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium.
Paper 2.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/surf/2018/Presentations/2
Included in
Electromagnetics and Photonics Commons, Hardware Systems Commons, Hydrology Commons, Signal Processing Commons, Soil Science Commons
Remote sensing using I-Band and S-Band signals of opportunity
Measurement of soil moisture, especially the root zone soil moisture, is important in agriculture, meteorology, and hydrology. Root zone soil moisture is concerned with the first meter down the soil. Active and passive remote sensing methods used today utilizing L-band(1-2GHz) are physically limited to a sensing depth of about 5 cm or less. To remotely sense the soil moisture in the deeper parts of the soil, the frequency should be lowered. Lower frequencies cannot be used in active spaceborne instruments because of their need for larger antennas, radio frequency interference (RFI), and frequency spectrum allocations. Ground-based passive remote sensing using I-band(0.1-1GHz) signals of opportunity provides the required sensing depth and solves the problems that come with the spaceborne remote sensing instruments using I-band reflectometry. A dual monopole antenna setup was used with one on the ground for direct signal and one 30m above ground for the reflected signal. The reflectivity and therefore the soil moisture was obtained from the differences between direct and reflected signals. Initially, an S-band (2-3GHz) signal was used as a proof of concept and its ease of implementation because of its higher transmitted power and stationary satellite. This experiment provides conclusions about the root zone soil moisture based on our observation and comparison of direct and reflected satellite signals of two different frequency bands and determination of reflectivity.