Division of Information Analysis,
Department of Environmental Management
Under the Special Coordination Funds of Science and Technology Agency of Japan, 18 organizations of Japan carried out the Joint Research on the Development of the Remote Sensing Technology using the Micro-wave Sensor from 1992 to 1996.In this joint research, one major research item was the "Enhancement of Technology for Monitoring Tropical Environment" together with ASEAN Countries.In theis project, we studied "Agriculture Monitoring Using Remote Sensing," in collaboration with the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority in the Philippines and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management in the Philippines. We had some results as follows.
Two satellites, ERS-1 and JERS-1, launched in 1991 and 1992 respectively, both mounted Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Interpretation of SAR images for agriculture has been performed using L-band SAR (JERS-1) and C-band SAR (ERS-1) data at grassland, upland farming fields, and paddy areas in Japan and the Philippines. The microwaves of the L-band SAR passes through agricultural plants and then scatters at the ground surface, but microwaves of the C-band SAR scatters on agricultural plant organs. Although we cannot obtain direct information about agricultural plants, we can obtain useful information about agricultural environments from JERS-1 back scattering data.ERS-1/SAR can directly measure agricultural crops, but the data include other informations such as soil surface conditions and topographical features.
The Mt. Pinatubo area is located on the southwestern part of Luzon-Island in the Philippines, to the northern- west of Manila. The JERS-1/SAR image shows mud flow areas as dark parts, because mud flow makes flat geographical features. We can easily find new mud flow damage areas by using SAR data. (Fig.1)
Laboratory of Natural Enemies,
Division of Entomology,
Department of Environmental Biology
NIAES made anagreement with Wageningen Agricultural University of the Netherlands on cooperative research activities in May of 1994.
The cooperative activities of the projects will be implemented until March of 1997. A joint coordination group was established. The members of the group are Prof. Dr. J. C. van Lenteren, Head of Department of Entomology for Wageningen Agricultural University, and Dr. Eizi Yano, Chief of Laboratory of Natural Enemies for NIAES. In this framework, a computer simulation model was developed to evaluate the biological control of Thrips palmi with a predatory bug, Orius sauteri, on green house eggplants. The results were presented in a symposium during the 20th International Congress of Entomology held in Florence in August of 1996. From March to April of 1996, Dr. Herman van Roermund of Wageningen Agricultural University stayed in the Laboratory of Natural Enemies of NIAES to discuss future collaboration for modelling the system between T. palmi and O. sauteri. Drs. van Roermund and Yano shared the view that the model should incorporate more behavioural and spatial factors. A computer simulation system developed by Dr. van Roermund for simulating the host-parasitoid interaction would be useful for developing the model. Prof. Dr. J. C. van Lenteren visited the Laboratory of Natural Enemies in October of 1996 to discuss with Dr.Yano further possibilities for extending the project and future collaboration. (Fig.2)
Fig.1 JERS-1/SAR image of Mt. Pinatubo
Red: 23 March 1993
Green & Blue: 25 Feb. 1995
Black is mud flow area, and red along black is mud flow between 1993 and 1995
Fig.2 The 20th International Congress of Entomology in Florence