Abstract: A system and method for estimating a crop coefficient vector (CCV) uses one or more remote sensors that provide multispectral images of a crop growing area. The CCV includes a crop coefficient estimate, KC, and at least one of a leaf area index estimate, LAI, and a crop height estimate, CH. The system includes one or more remote sensing subsystems (RSS); a preprocessor configured to generate harmonized spectral data from multispectral images; a vegetation index (VI) processor to calculate VIs from the harmonized spectral data; a storage medium containing pre-determined regression coefficients; and a CCV processor configured to calculate an estimated CCV. The RSS includes an image sensor mounted on a platform which may be airborne, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle, or space-borne, such as an orbiting satellite. The image sensor includes visual and/or infrared bands.

Abstract: Methods and systems estimate crop coefficients of a crop. At least one image sensor system captures a plurality of multispectral images of the crop and image data is derived from the multispectral images, At least one vegetation index of the crop is determined based on image data in at least a first spectral band. The reflectance of the crop monotonically increases and reaches a reflectance of at least 20% for at least one wavelength in the first spectral band. A crop coefficient of the crop is estimated based on the determined at least one vegetation index.