Abstract:
Prevented planting (PP), where wet conditions during the planting season prevent access to farmed fields, costs the United States an average of many hundreds of millions of dollars in crop losses each year. Crop insurance indemnifies most of the losses of PP on farmed land in the US. This system, method, and product uses Earth observation satellite data and geographic information system technology to provide automated PP crop-loss adjusting performed digitally to enhance crop loss adjusting efficiency, reduce loss-adjusting costs, assess crop losses across large geographic regions to forecast financial set asides to meet claim payouts, and parse data to all interested parties.
Abstract:
Prevented planting (PP), where wet conditions during the planting season prevent access to farmed fields, costs the United States an average of many hundreds of millions of dollars in crop losses each year. Crop insurance indemnifies most of the losses of PP on farmed land in the US. This system, method, and product uses Earth observation satellite data and geographic information system technology to provide automated PP crop-loss adjusting performed digitally to enhance crop loss adjusting efficiency, reduce loss-adjusting costs, assess crop losses across large geographic regions to forecast financial set asides to meet claim payouts, and parse data to all interested parties.
Abstract:
A system and method to use remote sensing to estimate crop water use that is forecasted and is updated as weather and new satellite data become available. From these data the system and method uses a water accounting algorithm to prescribe irrigation differentially for regions of a field or for the entire field as an average. Irrigation prescription is delivered remotely through Internet technology.
Abstract:
A method for controlling dust on a saline lakebed is disclosed comprising several methods such as a Brine Membrane method, an Interim method and a Springtime Conservation method. A Master method for determining which of the three methods to use under certain circumstances is described. Prospective application of the methods is for dry lakebeds, such as the Owens Lakebed in California.
Abstract:
A method for correcting top-of-atmosphere reflectance data in high altitude imagery to a ground surface reflectance data. Transmission of light through Earth's atmosphere and its suspended load of aerosol particles degrades light within the visible through near infrared portion of the spectrum. This can severely affect the quality of the data recorded by orbiting Earth observation satellites. The method first measures the degree of atmospheric effects upon reflectance, then reverses these effects to deliver surface reflectance data and imagery cleaned of haze and thin clouds.
Abstract:
Crop insurance is a crucial support for United States (US) farmers that will benefit from technology, especially for adjusting crop losses. Earth observation satellite (EOS) data are sufficient in resolution and repeat coverage to assess variable crop loss across fields from a variety of causes including hail, drought, and insect pests and disease and permits highly accurate estimation of impacts. Combined with spatial data that define the outline of each field, an application of the present invention can be automated to assist in crop loss adjusting, to speed the process of loss adjusting and payment, and to document the loss adjustment analysis and results. These functions enhance efficiency and lower crop loss adjusting costs for the insurance provider. Through automation and use of EOS data, this technology can be applied across many thousands of square miles at a time.
Abstract:
A brine membrane method for controlling dust on a saline lakebed is disclosed comprising the steps of creating or locating an existing wetting basin, depositing precipitated salts in the basin, and depositing a brine over the salts to form a brine membrane.
Abstract:
A method and system using remote sensing to estimate soil amendment prescriptions for portions of an agricultural field. The prescriptions are based upon limited soil sampling data that are extrapolated across the entire field according to the greenness of the crop. The prescriptions are delivered by mechanical device or irrigation system that is equipped with a global positioning system.