Thesis Title:
Integration of Remote Sensing, Soil Moisture Modeling and In-situ Soil Moisture for Improved Soil Moisture Observation
Project Description:
Water plays a very significant role in nearly all earth processes and one of the most anthropogenically-significant aspects of the water cycle is soil moisture. The broad objective of this study is to provide user-friendly and accessible information on vegetation, weather and soil moisture with the possibility of obtaining this information at a glance using geo-visualization tools that effectively integrate different layers. Three data layers would be integrated: weather data with daily updates, vegetation that changes weekly and a static soil layer to give a soil-vegetation-weather visualization. To achieve this objective, in-situ soil moisture values from calibrated hydraprobe/thetaprobe would be collected on the field both within the root zone and on the surface, optical/NIR remote sensing data and the vegetation biomass/phenology data would also be utilized. Monitoring soil moisture, providing timely estimates and forecasts are vital to understanding drought, floods as well as disease outlook on a municipal, provincial and national basis.
Supervisor:
Expected Date of Completion:
Summer 2015
Previous Degrees:
M.Sc. Soil Science, University of Manitoba (2012)
B.Agric. Soil Science, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria (2007)
Conference Presentations:
E.R. Ojo, M. Wroblewski, J.L. Fitzmaurice, A. Nadler and P.R. Bullock (2012). Prospects for a Real-Time Soil Moisture Monitoring Network in Manitoba. Manitoba Soil Science Society (MSSS) Conference, Winnipeg.
E.R. Ojo, P.R. Bullock and O.O. Akinremi (2012). Field Calibration Issues for Frequency Domain Reflectometry Soil Moisture Probes. Soil Moisture Sensing Technology Conference, Hawaii, USA.
E.R. Ojo , P.R. Bullock and O.O. Akinremi (2011). Modifying the Versatile Soil Moisture Budget to Improve Soil Moisture Estimates. Manitoba Soil Science Society (MSSS) Conference, Winnipeg.
E.R. Ojo , P.R. Bullock and O.O. Akinremi (2010). Modeling Soil Moisture from Real-Time Weather Data. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Conference, Long Beach California, USA
E.R. Ojo and F.A. Olowokere (2010). Influence of Organo-Mineral Fertilizer on the Growth and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). ASA-CSSA-SSSA Conference, Long Beach California, USA
E.R. Ojo , P.R. Bullock and O.O. Akinremi (2010). Field vs Factory Calibration of Frequency Domain Reflectometry Soil Moisture Probes: Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS) Conference, Saskatoon
E.R. Ojo , P.R. Bullock and O.O. Akinremi (2010). Field Calibration of Frequency Domain Reflectometry Soil Moisture Probes. Manitoba Soil Science Society (MSSS) Conference, Winnipeg
Links:
Real-Time Soil Moisture Monitoring at some sites in Manitoba:
ftp://mawpvs.dyndns.org/UofM/
Manitoba-Ag Weather Program:
http://tgs.gov.mb.ca/climate/Default.aspx
Current Weather in Canadian Cities
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca
Canadian Climate Normals (1971-2000):
http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/index_e.html
Email: