A SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING SPATIALLY-VARIABLE TERRAIN DATA

Data describing spatially variable parameters and state-variables is r equired to better understand catchment behaviour and to improve land m anagement. Remote sensing can provide some of this data economically; however, there exists a need for cheaper methods of ground based measu rement of variables which cannot be remotely sensed, both for ground t ruth data and for high resolution data. A system for ground based coll ection of spatially variable data has been developed. It is based on a n all terrain vehicle fitted with a position fixing system and a varie ty of instruments including a Time Domain Reflectometry soil moisture meter, a soil penetrometer, soil corer, and infrared and near-infrared /visible radiometers. Field testing of the position fixing system and of the soil moisture monitoring equipment is described. Example soil m oisture data sets are presented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.