Plant and Soil Sequestration of Carbon

75471-Measurement techniques are needed to validate technologies developed to assure the long-term sequestration of carbon in man-made and natural environments. In particular, a capability is required to determine increases in carbon fixation or sequestration of 1 tonne per hectare per year. This project will develop an airborne remote sensing system that can meet these resolution and accuracy goals in a survey of 3 square miles (777 ha) per day. This will be accomplished by developing modifications and improvements to an existing prototype design. Phase I will implement radar hardware and software changes to the existing design. Two independent sensors will be co-located on the same aircraft and will observe the same field of view. The two sensors will provide separate streams of data that will be used individually and collectively in a sensor fusion implementation. A preliminary design for a Phase II prototype will be generated. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The system should find use in conducting biomass and carbon surveys for the validation of technologies developed to enhance net long-term carbon sequestration. There also should be immediate applicability to the timber industry.