Using Remote Sensing-based Measures to Assess NRCS Program Impacts in Michigan

Nancy HF French, Michigan Tech Research Institute, nancy.french@mtu.edu (Presenting)
Daniel G. Brown, University of Michigan, danbrown@umich.edu
Richard B. Powell, Michigan Tech Research Institute, rbpowell@mtu.edu

For the USDA-CSREES Grant, researchers at MTRI and the University of Michigan are using satellite imagery and NASA-derived data products to assess the impacts of farming programs administered and managed by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The study area consists of agricultural lands in Michigan, predominantly in its Lower Peninsula. The goal of the project is to develop and use remote sensing-based tools to evaluate the impacts of NRCS conservation practices on environmental quality. We are developing remote sensing and spatial data analysis methods to assist in conservation program effectiveness assessment by: 1) Developing program evaluation products derived through remote sensing & GIS; 2) Accounting or controlling for land cover/use influences in assessing NRCS program effectiveness.



The following products are being investigated under this project and are described in the poster: Remote sensing-mapped conservation tillage practices based on crop residue sensing; quantification of changes in natural stream buffers with land cover map products; estimation of lake clarity using remote sensing; assessment of remote sensing-derived aerosols for conservation program assessment; and use of remote sensing for modeling and assessing soil carbon sequestration.



To complete the many, diverse tasks of the project, a broad range of optical sensors and data products are being used as sources of imagery and data. The full suite of sensors is expected to include Landsat, ASTER, MODIS, AWiFS, and possibly SPOT. For some inputs, such as natural buffers, similar spectral bands will be used from a multitude of sensors having different spatial resolutions to investigate the effects of scale. For studying crop residue, sensors having differences in both spectral response and spatial resolution will be tested. Finally, specialized data products have been investigated for some inputs, such as the MODIS Aerosol Product to measure particulates.