Integrating Earth Observation with Stream Health and Agricultural Activity

Abstract

The overall health of streams, including their surrounding urban or agricultural areas, is inextricably linked to general ecological balance and public health (physical and mental well-being). This study aims to contribute to the monitoring of rural or suburban areas adjacent to streams. Specifically, low-cost and rapid ground and Earth observation techniques were used to (a) obtain a rapid assessment of stream soil and water patterns, (b) create a database of selected parameters for the study area that can be used for future comparisons, and (c) identify soil variability in agricultural fields adjacent to streams and determine soil zones that will enable the rational use of inputs (water, fertilisers, and pesticides). Robust techniques from related fields of topography, geology, geophysics, and remote sensing were combined using GIS for two selected areas (I and II) in Heraklion, central Crete (Greece) in the eastern Mediterranean. Our results indicate that area I (east of Heraklion) is under pressure only in its coastal part, most probably due to urbanisation (land change). The agricultural fields of area II (west of Heraklion) show normal values for the distribution of electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility and present spatial variability indicating intra-parcel zones. Intra-parcel variability of the conductivity and magnetic susceptibility should be considered in future cropping and environmental management.