** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT WILL ENGAGE UNDERGRADUATE (UG) STUDENTS (15/YEAR) IN SMART AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES. THE PROPOSAL PRIMARILY AIMS TO INTRODUCE AND IMPART AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE LATEST HIGH-RESOLUTION SATELLITE-BASED MICROWAVE SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR (SAR) REMOTE SENSING OBSERVATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS TO THE JUNIOR/SENIOR-LEVEL UNDERGRADUATES, PARTICULARLY FOCUSING ON UNDERPRIVILEGED, MINORITY, AND WOMEN IN STEM. THE PROJECT ADDRESSES THE AFRI FARM BILL PRIORITY AREAS (4-5). THE PROPOSED REEU EFFORT WILL ENHANCE THE UNDERGRADUATE'S KNOW-HOW ON THE SAR APPLICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND WILL CONSEQUENTLY MAKE THEM HIGH-SKILLED AS COMPARED TO THEIR PEERS. SUCH TRAINING WILL PLACE THEM COMFORTABLY WITH ATTRACTIVE EMOLUMENT IS THE INCREASE MARKET OF SAR-BASED APPLICATION FOR AGRICULTURE.IN RECENT TIMES, WITH THE ADVENT OF MICROWAVE SAR, IT IS POSSIBLE TO MONITOR CROP AND FARMLAND THROUGH CLOUD COVER WITH DAY-NIGHT CAPABILITIES AT HIGH-RESOLUTION (<50 M). SAR OBSERVATIONS CARRY INFORMATION OF CROP CHARACTERISTICS AND SURFACE SOIL MOISTURE. THESE ATTRIBUTES OF SAR ENABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE AMONG CROPS, TRACK PHENOLOGY, DETERMINE CROP ACREAGE, ESTIMATE WATER STRESS, AND MONITOR DROUGHT. THIS ADVANCES THE SAR-BASED APPLICATION FOR IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION. SUCH KNOWLEDGE OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE CROPS IS ALSO STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT FOR AGRONOMIST, AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIST, AGRO-INSURANCE COMPANIES, AGRO-FOOD INDUSTRIES, AND ALSO FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE USDA-NIFA) AND USDA NASS. THEREFORE, WE DESIGNED A STRUCTURED AND COMPREHENSIVE COURSEWORK FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE TRAINEES THAT INCLUDES CLASSROOM LECTURES, HANDS-ON IN-LAB, AND FARM EXTENSION ACTIVITIES TO MAKE THEM PROFICIENT IN APPLYING SAR OBSERVATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY, INTENSIFICATION, AND EXTRACT CURRENT GEO/BIOPHYSICAL STATUS.

Michigan State University, East Lansing MI

Investigators