Affordable Use of Satellite Imagery in Agriculture and Development Projects: Assessing the Spatial Distribution of Invasive Weeds in the UNESCO-Protected Areas of Cuba

A novel, cost-effective method for monitoring invasive weeds using satellite imagery has been developed, demonstrating high accuracy and reliability. The study found that sicklebush (Dichrostachys cinerea), an invasive plant threatening sugar cane cultivation in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios, Cuba, has invaded 52.7% of the total area. Researchers used a combination of paid high-resolution (WorldView-2) and free medium-resolution (Landsat-8) satellite images, achieving accuracy rates of 93.7% with a Kappa coefficient reliability of 91.9%. This approach leverages spectral signatures from high-resolution imagery to train medium-resolution models, enabling regular and affordable monitoring without relying on expensive cloud-based platforms or high-cost data.

Moreno, E., Zabalo, A., Gonzalez, E., Alvarez, R., Jimenez, V. M., & Menendez, J. (2021). Affordable Use of Satellite Imagery in Agriculture and Development Projects: Assessing the Spatial Distribution of Invasive Weeds in the UNESCO-Protected Areas of Cuba. Agriculture, 11(11), 1057. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11111057