Cropland Mapping

Cropland mapping is the application of remote sensingRemote SensingRemote sensing is the science of collecting data about Earth's surface without direct physical contact, primarily usi... and geospatial analysisGeospatial AnalysisGeospatial analysis applies statistical methods and specialized software to interpret spatial data, uncovering patter... to identify and characterize agricultural land areas, including crop type, crop extent, cropping intensity (number of harvests per year), and field boundaries. Accurate cropland maps are essential for national agricultural statistics, food security assessments, water resource planning, and monitoring compliance with agricultural policies. Methods and data sourcesCropland mapping combines multispectral satellite imagerySatellite ImagerySatellite imagery consists of photographs and data captured by Earth observation satellites orbiting the planet. Thes... (Sentinel-2, Landsat) with SARSARSynthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an active remote sensing technology that uses microwave radar pulses to create high... data (Sentinel-1) to exploit both spectral and structural crop characteristics. Time series analysisTime Series AnalysisTime series analysis in remote sensing involves analyzing sequences of satellite images acquired over time to detect ... captures crop phenology, distinguishing crops by their growth calendars. Machine learning classifiers (random forestRandom ForestRandom Forest is an ensemble machine learning method that builds multiple decision trees during training and merges t..., deep learning) trained on ground truthGround TruthGround truth refers to data collected at the Earth's surface to validate and calibrate information derived from remot... data achieve high classification accuracy. High-resolution imagery and drone surveys provide field-level detail. Global initiativesMajor cropland mapping programs include the USDA Cropland Data Layer (CDL), ESA WorldCereal, the Global Food Security Analysis Support Data project (GFSAD), and FAO's Hand-in-Hand Initiative. These products provide consistent, regularly updated agricultural maps that support international food security monitoring and policy decisions. Cropland mapping is a critical application of remote sensing that directly supports food security and sustainable agriculture. As satellite revisit frequencies increase and AI-based classification methods improve, cropland maps are becoming more accurate, timely, and globally comprehensive.