Learning from Research

The Markers Database

This product is a collection of smaller databases that store various biophysical indicators and sentinel variables at the parcel level, which can provide data for evaluation.

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Output Description

The markers database stores, manages and retrieves biophysical indicators and other sentinel variables that support further treatment and data analysis. The ‘base markers’ include biophysical indicators such as the mean and standard deviation values for each parcel of NDVI, LAI, FAPAR, FCOVER, NDWI, Brightness, Amplitude, Coherence and Amplitude VV/VH ratio and different satellite imagery bands. ‘Practice markers’ are then calculated utilising information from the base markers. For example, the practice markers that are related to harvest detection are calculated each week and are the results of a time series analysis. For example, the M1 practice marker is a binary variable that shows the presence of vegetation on a parcel based on the NDVI. The above markers come in different temporal and resolution scales that may go down to one week and 10 meters, respectively. 

The user can retrieve basic markers’ names and values via an interface or view markers directly using an application. 

Relevance for monitoring and evaluation of the CAP

This tool is helpful for monitoring and evaluation because the information is provided at the parcel level. This, combined with the IACS/LPIS, allows monitoring at the parcel and farm level and allows for spatial aggregations at a watershed or a Natura 2000 site. Therefore, the evaluator should be knowledgeable and have a clear plan of using these markers. For example, NDVI can differentiate bare soil from grass or forest, detect plants under stress, and differentiate between crops and crop stages to produce crop type maps. Thus, the possible use of the markers depends on the evaluator’s objectives. 

For example, the FCOVER marker measures the susceptibility of soils on an agricultural field to erosion and irrigation requirements. Crop types with high FCOVER at early developmental stages better intercept incident radiation and rainfall, increasing soil shading and decreasing soil evaporation. FCOVER has been used, together with other data, to assess the erosion of grasslands in Switzerland. 

The markers database is open to the Paying Agencies of the pilot countries and external user countries, as well as other stakeholders interested in applying it in their regions or Member State. Downloading the package is open to anyone and free of charge.  The database comes with many facilities supporting data retrieval and visualisation. Downloading the package is open to anyone and free of charge. Adopting the tool assumes that the IT infrastructure is adequate and that the evaluator can use the data. The computing system’s specifications are detailed at: http://esa-sen4cap.org/content/download-package-description

One difficulty in using the markers database is related to the effort and time needed to link the markers map with the LPIS and IACS.

Relevance of the output per CAP Objectives

  • Specific Objective 4 - Climate change action
  • Specific Objective 5 - Environmental care
  • Specific Objective 6 - Preserve landscape and biodiversity

Additional output information

Data collection systems used:

  • IACS/LPIS 
  • Copernicus

Spatial scale:

  • Parcel
  • Farm holding

Associated evaluation approaches:

  • Desk research 
  • Data analysis
  • Impact evaluation ex ante
  • Impact evaluation ex post
  • Impact evaluation ongoing

Type of output:

  • Database/ data registry

Project information

Sen4Cap Logo

Sen4CAP: Sentinels for Common Agricultural Policy 

  • Identify and specify Earth Observation (EO) products and services suitable to increase the efficiency, traceability, and reduce the cost of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS). 
  • Develop an Algorithm with open source code for agricultural EO products based on Sentinel-1 & -2 responding to the user requirements. 
  • Demonstrate and validate the developed agricultural EO products up to a national scale. 
  • Provide evidence for the utility of Sentinel products within IACS procedures at the EU and national level for a range of national and regional Paying Agencies (PAs) representatives for heterogeneous agricultural practices, landscape, and climate within the EU and identify the associated limits and conditions of applications. 
  • Prepare and facilitate the transfer of developed EO products and services to the PAs, including capacity building and demonstrating cloud computing capabilities. 

Project’s timeframe: 2017 – 2022 The project was extended by ESA for another year

Contacts of project holder: Sophie Bontemps, Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL (Belgium) sophie.bontemps@uclouvain.be 

Website: Sen4CAP: https://www.esa-sen4cap.org/

Territorial coverage: Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, The Netherlands

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