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The spatial distribution and location of crops are necessary information for agricultural planning. The free availability of optical satellites such as Landsat offers an opportunity to obtain this key information. Crop type mapping using satellite data is challenged by its reliance on ground truth data. The Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) data, submitted by farmers in Europe for subsidy payments, provide a solution to the issue of periodic field data collection. The present study tested the performance of the IACS data in the development of a generalized predictive crop type model, which is independent of the calibration year. Using the IACS polygons as objects, the mean spectral information based on four different vegetation indices and six Landsat bands were extracted for each crop type and used as predictors in a random forest model. Two modelling methods called single-year (SY) and multiple-year (MY) calibration were tested to find out their performance in the prediction of grassland, maize, summer, and winter crops. The independent validation of SY and MY resulted in a mean overall accuracy of 71.5% and 77.3%, respectively. The field-based approach of calibration used in this study dealt with the ‘salt and pepper’ effects of the pixel-based approach.

Background of the study: Information dissemination could be seen as the means through which facts and information are linked to the rightful individual seekers and organizations. Due to restrictions during pandemics, health professionals and other stakeholders have the important role of disseminating information and resources on the pandemic to the public through various media channels available to them. Purpose: This study looked into how information disseminations were carried out during the Spanish Influenza and Covid-19 pandemics based on review of literature Method: Through the use of relevant keywords and search strategies, the study retrieved literature from Google Scholar for review. The literature were then analysed based on themes to produce a narrative report. Findings: The study reveals that information access and dissemination were timely and speedily during the Covid-19 pandemic dur to advancements in technology whereas the dissemination of information during the Spanish Influenza were limited and rarely timely worldwide. Conclusion: Currently, there exist a problem of misinformation and an ‘infodemic.' Due to advancements in information sharing technologies. The study recommends the need to tackle ‘infodemic’ and misinformation during pandemics.

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