Coleambally Irrigation Area: A Rice-Based Irrigation System for Time Series Remote Sensing Research

The Coleambally Irrigation Area, located in southern New South Wales, Australia (34.0034E, 145.0675S), is a rice-based irrigation system that has played a crucial role in time series remote sensing research. This study site boasts a collection of 17 cloud-free Landsat-MODIS image pairs spanning the 2001-2002 austral summer growing season. Each image covers a substantial area of 2,193 kmﾲ, with a resolution of 25 meters, comprised of 1720 columns by 2040 lines. All Landsat imagery used in this research is ETM+ acquired by Landsat-7.

The strategic location of the Coleambally Irrigation Area, falling within the E-W overlap of two adjacent paths (Paths/Rows 92/84 and 93/84) in the Landsat World Reference-2 system, allows for a relatively frequent repeat cycle of approximately 8 days. This frequent data acquisition is essential for time series analysis and monitoring of agricultural activities within the region.

A dedicated folder contains a binary image for masking a specific selection of irrigated paddocks. This selection is crucial for evaluating the accuracy of blending algorithms within land cover-specific areas, as detailed in a related citation. The Coleambally Irrigation Area provides a valuable resource for researchers seeking to understand and monitor agricultural practices and land cover changes using remote sensing technologies.