Sentinel-1 · Copernicus · GEE
We translate free Copernicus SAR imagery into actionable soil moisture maps, pump scheduling plans, and persistent moisture zone audits — for farmers, NGOs, and research institutions operating in semi-arid landscapes.
Process
We take freely available Copernicus data and convert it into practical water management tools your team can act on — no specialist software required.
01
Sentinel-1 IW GRD VV+VH imagery sourced from the free Copernicus Data Space, covering your site across multiple wet and dry seasons.
02
VH gamma0 backscatter is log-transformed and normalised via the Change Detection Index (Wagner 1999), scaled to volumetric soil moisture (m³/m³).
03
Field capacity (P90 VSM) and permanent wilting point (P10 VSM) are derived empirically from the full 5-year distribution — no lab samples required.
04
Pixels maintaining VSM above PWP in ≥80% of dry-season acquisitions are classified as Persistent Moisture Retention Zones — your water harvesting targets.
05
Georeferenced maps, methodology reports, Copernicus EO Browser scripts, and SMS alert systems are packaged and handed over — ready to use the same day.
Services
Each product is scoped, priced on enquiry, and delivered with a document report plus an ICT digital component. Mix and match for your project budget.
Field Water Balance Audit
5-year Sentinel-1 SAR analysis delivered as a PDF report: VSM estimates, FC/PWP thresholds, seasonal risk calendar, and a GEE monitoring script.
PMRZ Mapping Service
Satellite-derived spatial mapping of Persistent Moisture Retention Zones — GeoTIFF map, Word methodology report, three Copernicus EO Browser scripts.
Climate-Smart Irrigation Scheduling
End-to-end precision water management: safe extraction volumes, optimal rest intervals, seasonal risk windows, and an ICT dashboard prototype with GEE integration.
Capacity Building Workshop — 1 Day
Hands-on training in Sentinel-1 SAR, EO Browser scripting, GEE basics, and NDMI threshold setting. Online or in-person, up to 20 participants.
Aquifer Recharge Potential Assessment — Full Site Study
Comprehensive multi-seasonal aquifer recharge assessment combining Sentinel-1 SAR, NDMI optical analysis, and field water balance modelling across an entire farm or community catchment. Full 5-chapter academic-quality report with georeferenced maps, all EO Browser scripts, a GEE monitoring dashboard, and a 12-month ICT alert system.
Google Merchant Center Product Feed Setup
Done-for-you GMC feed setup for consulting firms and NGOs. Taxonomy design, feed creation, all attribute population, image spec guide, and upload-ready CSV.
The Science
The same 2,600 litres produces opposite outcomes depending entirely on whether the pump schedule is synchronised with the aquifer's natural recharge rhythm.
Scenario A — The Rush
The well runs dry in 50 minutes. Lateral inflow from the regional aquifer (≈120 L/hr through 15 m of fractured rock) cannot compensate for the extraction rate of ≈52 L/min. The pump sucks air.
Remote sensing identifies these water stress windows — the 6.9% of acquisitions where VSM drops below PWP — before they cause borehole damage.
Scenario B — The Rhythm
The same 2,600 L is extracted safely across three sessions. Each 8-hour rest period exceeds the 2-hour recharge travel time by 4×, allowing near-complete aquifer recovery between sessions.
Satellite VSM data identifies the recharge surplus windows — the 17.8% of acquisitions where VSM exceeds FC — that define the optimal rest-period scheduling calendar.
Field Water Balance — governing equation
P + I + Cin − (ETc + R + D + Cout) = ΔS
Methodology
Our analysis pipeline is fully reproducible using free tools — Google Earth Engine, QGIS, and Python. We hand over all code on delivery.
Log-transform VH gamma0 backscatter
Linear VH values from Sentinel-1 IW GRD are converted to decibels: VH_dB = 10 × log₁₀(VH_linear). Site values range −17.2 to −12.0 dB — the 5.2 dB dynamic range encoding the full wet-dry moisture cycle.
Apply the Change Detection Index (CDI)
Relative soil moisture: ms(t) = [VH_dB(t) − VH_dry] / [VH_wet − VH_dry]. Dry anchor: P5 of 5-yr VH (−16.4 dB). Wet anchor: P95 (−13.1 dB). Result: 0–1 wetness index.
Scale to volumetric soil moisture (VSM)
The wetness index is scaled using soil porosity and residual moisture: VSM = θr + ms × (φ − θr) where φ = 0.43 and θr = 0.07 for loam (Saxton & Rawls 2006).
Derive FC and PWP from percentile anchors
Field Capacity = P90 VSM across the full 5-year record (0.395 m³/m³). Permanent Wilting Point = P10 VSM (0.092 m³/m³). This empirical approach avoids uncertainty from pedotransfer functions on poorly characterised semi-arid soils.
FC = P90 · PWP = P10 · PAW = FC − PWPClassify pixels into water balance zones
Each acquisition is zoned: surplus (VSM > FC, 17.8%), plant-available (PWP ≤ VSM ≤ FC, 75.2%), and water stress (VSM < PWP, 6.9%). Stress-zone dates trigger the Scenario A failure risk SMS alert.
3-zone classification · SMS integrationDelineate Persistent Moisture Retention Zones
Pixels with Temporal Exceedance Frequency ≥ 0.80 (VSM > PWP in ≥80% of dry-season acquisitions) are mapped as PMRZs. These zones occupy ~23% of the study field and cluster at footslope positions and near soak pit structures.
TEF ≥ 0.80 · PMRZ · GeoTIFF outputAudiences
Our products are scoped for four distinct client types — each with a different starting point, budget, and delivery requirement.
Practical tools to prevent borehole failure, extend the growing season, and identify the most reliable spots on the farm for dry-season crops.
Evidence-based hydrological audits for water point design, community irrigation schemes, and grant reporting with academic-quality references.
Landscape-scale aquifer recharge assessments suitable for national water policy, climate adaptation planning, and infrastructure investment decisions.
Reproducible SAR soil moisture pipelines, dataset access, co-authorship collaborations, and capacity building workshops for postgraduate cohorts.
Send us your site coordinates, approximate field area, and the question you need answered. We'll respond within 2 working days with a scoped proposal.
Send an enquiry