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Oklahoma researchers are turning to satellites and artificial intelligence to track farmland that needs irrigation.
The University of Oklahoma detailed two new NASA-funded projects this week.
The goal is to replace outdated maps so states can better manage water supplies.
Existing maps are often outdated or inaccurate, and updating them takes a lot of time and work.
That's especially important in the Oklahoma Panhandle, where farmers rely on an underground water supply that's been shrinking for decades.
Researchers say the Ogallala Aquifer could take thousands of years to refill, yet farmers continue pumping water from it every day.
The first project is funded for three years, with eight state agencies invited to help shape the technology.