Using satellite remotely sensed data to estimate crop proportions

A NASA, USDA, and NOAA sponsored experiment called LACIE (Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment) was performed to explore the use of remotely sensed measurements from a satellite-borne sensor to estimate small grains crop acreage. This paper examines the methods used in that experiment to estimate crop proportion in individual areal segments. We discuss the estimators used in LACIE and then consider some possible modifications and extensions which can have smaller bias or variance. Some numerical examples are offered to bring out some interesting features of the estimators and in some cases to make comparisons among estimators