ReCharBo - Regional characterisation of soil properties by means of remote sensing, geophysics and soil science

Country / Region: Germany / Southern Europe / Africa

Begin of project: June 1, 2019

End of project: June 30, 2025

Status of project: March 22, 2022

The ReCharBo project builds on a large number of previous BGR projects in which individual observations of geophysics, soil science, soil physics, mineralogy, hydrogeology and remote sensing were undertaken to determine soils and their properties. The project aims to characterize soils as quickly and comprehensively as possible using remote sensing and aerogeophysical methods (Figure 1). In order to carry out such a characterization, comparisons with conventional methods of, among others, soil science and mineralogy must first be made. From this, lean methods are to be developed which require only a few additional samples of the soil.
Remote sensing methods are characterized by the use of high-quality hyperspectral systems, while aerogeophysics is characterized by the expansion of gamma spectrometry. In addition, the laboratory capacities of the BGR are available as well as ground geophysical investigation methods which are still necessary in the beginning.

Remote sensing methods, aerogeophysics are combined with ground measurements

Goals

• Development of efficient combinations of methods and evaluation techniques for the regional characterisation of soil properties by means of soil science, mineralogy, geophysics and remote sensing for application in Germany, Europe as well as in Technical Cooperation and in Scientific and Technical Cooperation using drones, helicopters and satellites
• Improving livelihoods through the optimised use and protection of soil to safeguard food production

Questions

• How can existing and future data from remote sensing and geophysics be used in combination to enable the most effective regional exploration of soil properties for the characterisation of soil areas, improved to today's standards?
• Which soil geophysical, pedological and mineralogical data are necessary to validate remote sensing and geophysical data?

Tasks

• Development of methodologies, system modules and evaluations
• Testing of the methods on well investigated, representative test plots
• Development of utilization concepts and recommendations
  

Preparatory work for this project is underway in the project BopaBW