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ADVANCED SOFT COMPUTING PARADIGM FOR CROP MAPPING USING REMOTE SENSING AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A REVIEW

By
Benazir Meerasha Orcid logo ,
Benazir Meerasha

Research Scholar, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences , Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu , India

K. Martin Sagayam Orcid logo ,
K. Martin Sagayam

Associate Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, SRM Institute TRP Engineering College , Trichy, Tamil Nadu , India

P. Malin Bruntha Orcid logo ,
P. Malin Bruntha

Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Karunya institute of technology and science , Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu , India

Jasmine David Orcid logo ,
Jasmine David

Associate Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Presidency University , Bangalore, Karnataka , India

Vasu Koduri Orcid logo
Vasu Koduri

Associate Professor, Department of Information Technology, University of the Cumberlands , Williamsburg, Kentucky , United States

Abstract

High-precision crop type mapping is fundamental for agricultural monitoring, food security assessment, and sustainable land management. Recent breakthroughs in Earth observation and machine learning (ML) have greatly enhanced the potential for satellite data to capture crop phenology, spatial variability, and temporal variations. This paper conducts a systematic review of over 30 satellite-based crop type mapping studies, covering satellite data sources, multi-sensor fusion techniques, and classification models. The quantitative meta-analysis of the reviewed studies indicates that the fusion of optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data can enhance overall classification accuracy by 0.2% to 0.6%, especially in areas with high spatial variability and frequent cloud cover. In addition, ensemble learning and deep learning models have been found to outperform conventional classifiers, with substantial improvements in both accuracy and robustness for various agro-ecological zones. Pixel-level fusion methods have been found to be the most effective means of enhancing crop type discrimination and area estimation.

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