Soil moisture content estimation using GNSS reflectometry (GNSS-R)

Jabir Shabbir Malik, Zhang Jingrui, Najam Abbas Naqvi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) is defined as a bistatic radar system. GNSS-R has a unique potential in microwave remote sensing application. The focus of this paper is the feasibility of estimating soil moisture content using GPS-L1 scattered or reflected signals from the earth's surface. GPS signals are received and processed using ground based platform at 4m height. In this paper soil moisture is estimated from the surface power reflectivity which is the power ratio of the reflected signal and the direct signal. Analytical solution for the dielectric constant is resolved. The dielectric constant is measured and the physically suitable value of soil dielectric constant is related with the semi-empirical model of a constant parameters. Soil moisture content is retrieved by exactly knowing the soil textural composition of sand S and clay C in percentage. To validate the results estimated soil moisture values are compared with the in-situ measurements. Finally for error analysis three statistical tools are used, absolute relative error, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Root Mean Bias (RMB). The results demonstrate that soil moisture varies and changed significantly after rainfalls occurred. However, it is also observed that values are inconsistent at higher elevation angles in some cases.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2017 5th International Conference on Aerospace Science and Engineering, ICASE 2017
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages1-9
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9781538636015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Jun 2018
Event5th International Conference on Aerospace Science and Engineering, ICASE 2017 - Islamabad, Pakistan
Duration: 14 Nov 201716 Nov 2017

Publication series

Name2017 5th International Conference on Aerospace Science and Engineering, ICASE 2017

Conference

Conference5th International Conference on Aerospace Science and Engineering, ICASE 2017
Country/TerritoryPakistan
CityIslamabad
Period14/11/1716/11/17

Keywords

  • GNSS
  • Microwave Remote Sensing
  • Reflectometry
  • Soil Moisture Content (SMC)

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