CwRS (Control with Remote Sensing) is a control method foreseen by the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) of the European Union (EU) which is used to check if agriculture area-based subsidies are correctly granted to EU farmers. A series of Very High Resolution (VHR) and High Resolution (HR) satellite sensors participate in the acquisition program. Imagery is collected in specific multi-temporal, short time-windows and used for parcel area determination, for crop identification and for control of Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs).
In the 2003 Campaign 37 VHR zones with an overall area of 12.500 km2 were checked with the CwRS technique; in the 2011 Campaign 426 VHR control zones were acquired covering an overall area of 242.000 km2, with a total expenditure of 7.1 M euro. This is an enormous increase due to the success of the methodology which needs pointing out. Of interest is also the increasing requirements put on the imagery quality (higher elevation angle, better resolution and better radiometry.).
One of the crucial features requested by EU Member States (MS) is window length, for VHR this is usually quite short (6-8 weeks). A feasibility analysis for all zones is therefore done before each VHR Campaign starts to ensure a maximal statistical success rate. This paper describes the complexity of the technical and competitive feasibility assessment taking into account parameters such as satellite characteristics (revisit capacity, number of passes), zone size, shape and latitude; elevation angle, acquisition window length, programming priority level, weather forecast and competitive conflicting tasking.
To increase the efficiency of the image acquisition a real local tasking with the use of a Direct Access Facility (DAF) can be compared to a tasking performed through an Imaging and Processing Facility (IPF). Both approaches allow the integration of last minute information into the collection plan and yield for instance better chances of avoiding cloud cover. Illustrative examples are presented.
Since 1993, the EC DG Agriculture has promoted the use of "Controls with Remote Sensing" (CwRS) as appropriate control system within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). CwRS is considered suitable to check if agricultural area-based subsidies (yearly > 25 billion euro EC expenditure) are correctly granted. On the basis of the Council Regulation (EC) 165/94 and of the Commission Regulation (EC) 601/94, the Commission Services are required to centralize the satellite images acquisition. This task has been managed by the MARS Project at the JRC since 1999, where the whole controls activity is coordinated. The activity also includes the setting up of specifications, recommendations, performing Quality Controls (QC) and auditing of the selected contractors, and evaluation of new methods. Satellite image acquisition involves the control site definition within each Member State, and the subsequent chain of image acquisition over the defined sites including feasibility with image providers, acquisition, validation, ordering, delivery and final archiving of the imagery. In summary the 2004 years campaign involved a budget of approximately 3.2 M euro to cover some 150 High Resolution (HR) sites and 71 Very High Resolution (VHR) sites. The objective of this paper is to describe the CwRS image acquisition with emphasis on the Ikonos, Quickbird, and EROS A satellites for the 2004 years CwRS Campaign, to give preliminary results, recommendations and future trends.
The use of remote sensing to control area based rural development measures is investigated in selected test sites in the three Member States France, Germany and Spain. Measure definition and implementation are checked if a remote sensing control is feasible. For selected measures very high resolution imagery from Quickbird, Ikonos and airborne photos are used to define image interpretation rules for an effective control process and a control design will be
developed.
Managing, controlling and monitoring the adoption, the implementation and the achievements of the Agri-Environmental Programs and their compliance with EC Rural Development Regulations is a very geomatics oriented exercise with a substantial spatial/geographic GIS and image component. Two pilot projects were undertaken, one in Italy and one in England to evaluate the control of Agri-Environmental Measures (AEMs) using Remote Sensing and GIS methodology. This paper concentrates primarily on the Italian project but will include comparative issues between the two. In Italy, a test site was defined on the western side of Lago di Garda, in Northern Italy. A strategy was applied for the selection of measures based on the Regional implementation of the EC Regulation 2078/92 (e.g. input reduction, arable reversion to grassland, farmland conservation). A GIS was set up requiring particular efforts regarding the acquisition, quality checks, georeferencing and harmonization of the several information layers. Different Computer Assisted Photo Interpretation (CAPI) methods (e.g. small-scale landscape features: hedgerows, tree rows; arable farming practices: crop rotation.) were applied in relation to the specific AEMs to be controlled. Hints to the feasibility of controlling selected AEMs, limiting factors of CAPI methods and their impact on the identification/control of the measure are discussed.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.