Machine Learning-Based Rice Field Mapping in Kulon Progo using a Fusion of Multispectral and SAR Imageries

The land-conversion of rice fields can reduce rice production and negatively impact food security. Consequently, monitoring is essential to prevent the loss of productive agricultural land. This study uses a combination of Sentinel-2 MSI, Sentinel-1 SAR, along with SRTM (elevation and slope data) to monitor rice fields land-conversion. NDVI, NDBI and NDWI indices are transformed from the annual median composite Sentinel-2 MSI images used to identify different rice fields with another object. A monthly median composite of SAR images from Sentinel-1 data are used to identify cropping patterns of rice fields in the inundation phase. The classification is performed by using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Random Forest classification is run using 1000 trees, with a 70:30 ratio of training and testing data from sample features extracted by visual interpretation of high-resolution Google Earth imagery. In this study, Random Forest classification is effective in computing a high amount of multitemporal and multi-sensory data to map rice-field land conversion with an accuracy rate of 96.16 (2021) and 95.95 (2017) for mapping paddy fields. From the multitemporal rice field maps in 2017—2021, a conversion of 826.66 hectares of rice-fields to non-rice fields was identified. Based on the spatial distribution, the conversion from rice-field to non-rice field is higher at the area near the roads, built area and Yogyakarta International Airport. Therefore, it is important to assess and ensure that National Strategic Projects are managed with due regard to environmental impacts and food security. © 2023 by the authors.