Regularization strategies for agricultural monitoring: The EnMAP vegetation analyzer (AVA)

In the frame of the German hyperspectral satellite mission “Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program” (EnMAP) a software interface is under development to facilitate the processing of the future hyperspectral data used by a range of environmental applications. For agricultural studies, the software will include the Agricultural Vegetation Analyzer (AVA) module, which is based on a look-up table (LUT) inversion of a radiative transfer model (RTM). Moreover, a statistical evaluator box (MapStat) will be implemented to validate, amongst others, the estimation of vegetation biophysical variables. Results from a hyperspectral field campaign with the Airborne Prism Experiment (APEX) instrument in Bavaria (Germany) showed that AVA can be regarded as robust and sound technique obtaining moderate to good results without the need of crop- or site specific calibration. MapStat will guarantee comparability between numerous modeling studies expected in the upcoming years within the context of the future EnMAP sensor.