Advancements in Agricultural Microwave Remote Sensing: An Overview From Indoor to Space-Borne Platforms

To overcome the growing challenges of food security driven by a rapid growth in global population, agricultural practices have undergone significant advancements in recent decades. Technological innovations and scientific advancements for developing new methods and techniques have played a vital role in improving the yield and quality of agricultural products, with remote sensing emerging as one of the key factors to this progress. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of microwave sensors in agricultural applications, highlighting the use of various types of microwave remote sensing (MRS) sensors deployed at different detection ranges from the Earth surface and various platforms used for diverse agricultural purposes, ranging from ground-based systems to satellites, and classifying them based on their detection range. This article highlights important factors in MRS technologies including operating frequencies, technologies employed, and various methods and techniques adopted by these sensors, providing a detailed overview of their contributions to enhancing agricultural productivity and quality. Furthermore, the article addresses the advanced signal processing methods used for different sensor types in MRS, and underscores the significant contributions of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) in enhancing the precision and effectiveness of remote sensing applications. Through this detailed analysis, the article demonstrates the versatility and impact of MRS in addressing the new techniques and sensing methodologies developed for agricultural applications in recent years.