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Keystone supports DMC download in Russia, News on Rapid access demonstration at SpaceOps2012 and Keystone for INPE to enhance Amazon monitoring

Keystone supports DMC download in Russia (6 July 2012)

Spacemetric has delivered two Keystone systems to ScanEx Research and Development Center for processing of UK-DMC2 imagery received directly at ground stations in Russia.

The cooperation with ScanEx RDC began in 2011 when they became the first company in the world with an agreement with satellite operator DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCii) for direct download services from UK-DMC2. At the same time ScanEx also trialled processing the imagery using the Keystone software and this has now been consolidated with the deliveries for two ground stations operating within Russia.

Rapid access demonstration at SpaceOps2012 (15 June 2012)

Spacemetric and SSC successfully demonstrated rapid satellite image access services with data collected live during the SpaceOps 2012 conference from the commercial imaging satellites Pléiades-1A and UK-DMC2.

The live demonstration of rapid image access used prototype capabilities being developed within the NGI project (Near Real-Time Geo-annotated Imagery) for the European Space Agency. The NGI project a technology demonstrator led by Spacemetric for rapid, user-driven access to satellite imagery to support time-critical applications by extending a service-oriented approach farther upstream. The initial public demonstration showed data availability as soon as 80 minutes after satellite downlink. The NGI System is being built upon the Keystone Image Management Systemfrom Spacemetric

The NGI project is funded by the European Space Agency within the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP). Spacemetric is grateful to Astrium GEO-Information Services, DMC International Imaging Ltd and SSC for their help and cooperation in the SpaceOps demonstration.

Keystone for INPE to enhance Amazon monitoring (7 June 2012)

Spacemetric has recently completed delivery of a Keystone Image Management System to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

The new Keystone system is to process UK-DMC2 imagery to support enhanced monitoring of deforestation in the Amazon. The imagery from the UK-DMC2 satellite is received directly by the Cuiaba ground station as part of a recently signed agreement between INPE and satellite operator DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCii). The Keystone System at INPE catalogues all of the received data and enables it to be rapidly processed into accurate orthoimages using rigorous physical modelling.

(25 June 2012) In Southeast Asia, the island of Borneo is home to one of the world’s most diverse rainforests, but its natural resources are under threat.

Information from satellites is being used to evaluate the impact of the island’s future development.

The mountainous island is the third largest in the world. It is an area of exceptional biological diversity and its natural resources have tremendous social and economic value at local, national and global levels.

While still of great importance, these resources have diminished in recent years due to logging, plantation development, mining and forest fires.

“The ecosystems in the heart of Borneo provide many local, regional and global services and benefits,” said Anna van Paddenburg, Sustainable Financing and Policy Strategy Leader for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia.

“The mountainous forests form the headwaters of most of Borneo’s 20 major rivers, providing water for agriculture, human consumption, and industry.

“The forests provide timber and non-timber forest products, and store huge amounts of carbon.

“The diverse ecosystems support endemic plants and animals, which supports eco-tourism and pharmaceutical research.”

While it is widely recognised that healthy ecosystems provide services that play a critical role in maintaining individual and societal welfare, the benefits that flow from them are not always accounted for in government and private sector decision-making.

In an effort to protect the environment and develop the area in a sustainable way, the Heart of Borneo conservation agreement was initiated by WWF and signed by the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei in 2007.

In December 2010, WWF initiated an assessment of Borneo’s natural capital to quantify and understand the value of ecosystem services and benefits.

ESA provided technical assistance through Hatfield Consultants, a Canadian environmental and geomatics consulting company that has been working in Indonesia for 20 years, and NEO BV, a value-adding data provider.

The consortium closely collaborated with WWF and scientists from the Natural Capital Project and the consulting agency Witteveen+Bos.

Satellite data from different ESA projects were used to build development scenarios. Among the sources were global land cover data, which show changes in land use in Borneo.

Plans and permits for plantation, forestry and mining were used along with historical trends in land use to map contrasting Business-as-Usual and Green Economy scenarios.

The Business-as-Usual scenario for forest cover projects a loss of 3.2 million hectares of primary and secondary forest cover on the island between 2009 and 2020. This is primarily due to palm oil expansion, mining and unsustainable forestry practices.

Implementing the Green Economy projection would reduce the loss of forest cover to an estimated 0.1 million hectares.

The scenarios were derived from the assessment of gains or losses of ecosystem services using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem System Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) models, which were developed by Natural Capital Project.

InVEST models include water yield, water purification, sediment retention, carbon sequestration, habitat quality and biodiversity.

The team used several InVEST models, for example to demonstrate that central Borneo provides water to 70% of the island’s population.

InVEST models were also used to demonstrate how water quality is affected by large-scale palm oil development, since there is increased nitrogen export due to extensive fertiliser use.

(source: ESA)

(6July2012) Extreme weather such as hurricanes, floods and even excessive heat or cold claims lives every year.

The European body that monitors weather and climate from space has now joined international partners to help prepare for disasters.

The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites – Eumetsat – formally became the newest member of the International Charter ‘Space and Major Disasters’ on 5 July.

Founded by ESA and the French and Canadian space agencies, the Charter is an international collaboration between the owners and operators of Earth observation missions to provide rapid access to satellite data to help disaster management authorities in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

Through the Charter, satellite data were used to create maps and aid rescue efforts following recent disasters such as the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the February 2011 earthquake in New Zealand and the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Eumetsat operates a constellation of meteorological satellites, monitoring the atmosphere, oceans and land surfaces to deliver weather and climate-related satellite data, images and products.

As the charter’s newest member, Eumetsat will act as a coordinator for securing access to Eumetsat data for the members and beneficiaries of the Charter and the redistribution of products of the Charter via GEONETCast.

Given that other GEONETCast operational partners, such as the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are already part of the Charter, Eumetsat’s participation demonstrates and ensures full visibility of the cohesive contribution of the meteorological satellite community in support of disaster management, as achieved through GEONETCast.

Eumetsat already provides information to the National Meteorological Services in countries around the globe, supporting their disaster management activities.

Eumetsat is now the 14th member of the Charter. Other recent new members include Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, the German Aerospace Center and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Russia’s space agency has also made a request to join.

(source: ESA)

(25June2012) The Rio+20 summit on promoting jobs, clean energy and a more sustainable use of our planet’s resources closed after three days of talks. During the summit, the role of Earth observation in sustainable development was highlighted.

In 1992, a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Now, 20 years later, the Rio+20 Summit brought participants from governments, the private sector, non-govermental organisations and other stakeholders once again to Brazil to evaluate the progress being made.

During a side event organised by ESA, the significance of observing Earth from space came into focus, in particular how it improves the assessment and the monitoring of essential climate change, biodiversity and land degradation variables.

Earth-observing satellites allow for efficient, reliable and affordable monitoring of our planet from global to local scales. In many cases, it is the only way to obtain trend information on essential environmental variables.

The large volume of data acquired from over 30 years of satellite observations gives scientists a unique and detailed view of the changing physical characteristics of the Earth surface, sampled at a rate impossible to obtain with only in-situ observations.

The strong contributions that space observations can bring to environmental monitoring have now been recognised by the Rio Convention bodies: the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

ESA began collaborations with these Rio Conventions 10 years ago.

For example, satellite data at national and local scales help the implementation of UNFCCC protocols and assist the Contracting Parties in their reporting duties.

The CBD develops national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Earth-observing satellites are seen as promising instruments for the systematic observations of essential biodiversity variables such as ecosystems status and trends.

The UNCCD is the centrepiece in the international community’s efforts to combat desertification and land degradation in drylands. The Convention is currently developing a monitoring and assessment process of the world’s drylands, where satellite observations will play a key role.

During the side event, representatives from all three Conventions reiterated that the collection of Earth observation data needs to be sustained.

ESA plans to continue to provide operational data delivery to these Conventions as well as for many other applications with the upcoming Sentinel family of satellites being developed under Europe’s Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme.

At the conclusion of the summit, the Rio+20 Declaration stressed the need for the continuation of a regular review of the state of Earth’s changing environment, as well as access to reliable, relevant and timely data in areas related to sustainable development.

It also recognised the relevance of global mapping and recognise the efforts in developing global environmental observing systems.

Rio+20 saw additional side events on Earth observation organised by the Group on Earth Observations, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs.

Source Spacedaily

(29June2012) While industrial partners build the first Sentinel satellites, experts at ESA are developing and testing vital mission control systems for engineers to operate the craft once in orbit.

The Sentinels will contribute to the operational needs of the European Commission’s Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme.

As the most ambitious Earth observation programme to date, GMES will provide accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve environmental management, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security.

A mission, however, requires more than just building and launching satellites. For the mission operations teams at ESOC, ESA’s European Space Operations Centre, it also means developing the hardware, software, networks and other resources on the ground to operate the satellite, referred to as the ‘ground segment’ or ‘flight operations segment’.

Since 2011, an expert team has been working at ESOC to assemble, configure and test the Sentinel-2 mission control system.

Sentinel-2 consists of two satellites providing high-resolution optical imaging for land users and emergency services. The first one is due for launch in 2013.

Engineers will use the mission control system to ‘talk’ to the Sentinel-2 satellites in orbit using the 15 m-diameter Estrack ground station at Kiruna, Sweden, amongst others.

Mission controllers will send commands and receive telemetry indicating the status and health of the onboard systems, such as power, computers and orientation.

In March, the team achieved a crucial milestone when, for the first time, they connected the mission control systems at ESOC to an engineering model of the first of the pair of satellites sitting in a test room at Astrium, the manufacturer, in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

The two-day initial ‘system validation test’ enabled engineers to verify that onboard software is running as expected and to start testing flight procedures.

“The test was a huge challenge, because it took place earlier than normal and without the availability of a simulator to test procedures,” says Franco Marchese, Sentinel-2 operations manager.

“Its success means we can continue building up the ground systems. The mission control system is similar for all three Sentinel satellite pairs, so this test was important.”

The Sentinel-2 satellites are being built by Astrium, the Sentinel-1 satellites by Thales Alenia Space (Italy) and the Sentinel-3 satellites by Thales Alenia Space (France).

“More similar system validation tests will occur later this year and in 2013, with ESOC teams connecting their mission control systems to engineering and flight models of the satellites in Germany, Rome and Cannes,” says Juan Piñeiro, ESA’s Sentinels Ground Segment Manager.

“Tests for the A-satellite for Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-1 will take place this month and in August, respectively, while the initial system validation test for the Sentinel-2 B-satellite will take place in October.”

Like all missions operated by ESA, specialists from other teams, including Flight Dynamics, Ground Facilities and Software Support, will support Sentinel operations on a daily basis.

“Long, diligent work is required behind the scenes to get everything ready for launch – and the resources necessary to operate missions for years in orbit and exploit the missions’ valuable data must be fully established,” says Manfred Warhaut, ESA’s Head of Mission Operations.

”As Europe’s top space research and development organisation, ESA has unique expertise in developing infrastructure on the ground, operating the flight segment – and in fostering teamwork that helps missions succeed.”

Source ESA

5 years TerraSAR-X, participation at GMES Masters Competition, fires by Pleiades…etc


2012 Summer Olympics in London (07/10/2012)

The Olympic Park’s construction seen by satellite

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TerraSAR-X: 5 Years of Precision & Reliability – Celebrate with us ! (Published 06/29/2012)

TerraSAR-X celebrates the completion of its fifth year in space, which is at the same time the originally planned nominal lifetime of the satellite. The satellite remains in brilliant health condition and reliably continues to deliver data products with unique accuracy and precision. The extended lifetime of the satellite is forecasted to be at least a further 2-3 years.

Learn more

Astrium Participates in GMES Masters 2012 (Published 06/25/2012)

Astrium GEO-Information Services is supporting the GMES Masters 2012 program through the announcement of a new challenge focussing on the use of high-resolution radar satellite data. The GMES Masters rewards on an annual basis the best ideas for services, business cases and applications based on GMES data, with the aim to foster product development and entrepreneurship in Europe.

Learn more

Colorado fires seen by Pléiades (Published 06/19/2012)Pléiades

1A, the first European very high resolution satellite built and operated by Astrium, has taken an image of the forest fires that are raging in Colorado, with more than 200 square kilometers scorched and at least 181 homes destroyed.

Learn more

Euro 2012, Stadiums in Poland and Ukraine viewed by Pléiades and TerraSAR-X (Published 06/06/2012)

Pléiades imagery available for all users (Published 06/04/2012)

GeoStore: Your Web Gateway to Pléiades (Published 06/04/2012)

On June 26th a television crew from VRT (Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep) dropped by at Aerodata’s hangar to witness an aerial survey flight.

This event resulted from a large project that Aerodata has won over the Brussels Region. The objectives of this project are to update the existing topographic map of Brussels (UrBIS, Brussels Urban Information System) and to create 3D models of the 150 000 buildings of the Region.

For this project 5 flights with three different sensors were executed. A first flight was executed with the Vexcel UltraCam Xp camera and the images were processed into stereo images and an orthophoto mosaic with a GSD of 7.5 cm. The images will be used to update the UrBIS map.

The three following flights were executed with the LiteMapper Lidar sensor to acquire point clouds with a mean density of over 30pts/m². This dataset will be used to generate semi-automatically the 3D models of the buildings.

In the final flight the VisionMap A3 camera was operated. The large Field Of View of the A3 (106°) was exploited to achieve oblique images with a great amount of detail (10 cm under 45°). Brussels was flown in NS and EW direction in order to have each building photographed from 4 angles.

Click here to watch the item on the VRT site (in Dutch).

Other recent Aerodata news:

Aerodata launches Aero+ – Mar 31st, 2012 full story

Source

Earth remote sensing data were used to reconstruct the coast line from Anapa city till Vityazevo village over the period from 1941 to 2011. Regression of the coast line equaled 20-40 meters on the average over the period from 1941 to 2011. Degradation of beaches on Anapa bar will continue. Existing natural sources of beach formation materials (sediment influx along the coast, reproduction of shelly ground, wind deflation, etc.) are not sufficient for keeping beaches in a stable state. It is necessary to take urgent measures for their restoration and stabilization.


Anapa sand beaches have always been rated the best place to rest on the Black Sea coast of Russia. These beaches are a sand bar. A narrow band of influx land made of sand or pebbles which separates a coastal lake from the main basin is normally called bar [4]. Anapa bar stretches from Anapsky cape to Zhelezny Rog cape (fig. 1) . It separates the system of coastal lakes (limans) and lakes (Solenoye lake, Vityazevsky liman, Chemburskoe lake, Anapa flooded areas, etc.) from the Black Sea. According to field measurements, aerial and space imageries regression of the coast is observed practically along the whole length of the bar. Considering exceptional recreational value of Anapa beaches the task of their time history research has not only theoretical but practical importance as well (fig. 2) . The works for time history research of Anapa bar coast line by the results of remote sensing used to be performed earlier. For example, Izmailov A. [1] used aerial photographs dated 1948, 1992 and 200 in his research. According to his data the width of the sea beach south of Vityazevo village was 158 m in 1948, 151 m in 1992 and 137 m in 2000. The reduction of beach width over the whole period was 70 meters. North of Anapa averaged width of the sea beach was 184 m in 1948, 108 m in 1992, 98 m in 2000. Sea beach width reduced by 87 m over the period from 1948 to 2000.

According to Izmailov’s research [1] Anapa beaches reduced by 70-80 meters on the average within 52 years. The beaches continue to degrade. That is why the task of their time history research continues to be important.

Lately there appeared a possibility to apply open data of remote sensing. New materials gave us a possibility to reconstruct the time history of the coast line over the period 1941-2011.

Ten kilometer stretch of sand beaches from Anapa city to Vityazevo (fig. 1) village was selected as the subject of research.

Materials and methods

In order to investigate the time history of the coast line in the past, data about current state of Anapa bar coast line were required. GPS track of the coast line sample stretch was received on August 3, 2011, during a field trip. In order to reference archive remote sensing data present day satellite mosaic of 1 meter resolution was required. ScanEx RDC generously provided for non-commercial use a highly detailed imagery of the area under research, acquired from GeoEye-1 satellite on August 3, 2011.

Images of the 60-s related to CORONA programme (fig 3) were requested from US Geological Service [6]. Out of images requested for the research only one image DS1036-2187DA112 acquired on August 12, 2011, turned out to be applicable for the purpose. After referencing of the above mentioned image to real geographic objects we received the 1966 configuration of the coast line. Starting from Vityazevo village at 1 kilometer interval profiles were laid, which helped to measure changes of the coast line over 45 years (Table 1).

Selection of aerial images of Anapa (fig. 4) made by Luftwaffe was found on http://www.pobeda-info.ru/ [5] site. There were some complications with referencing objects since Anapa bar was not developed at that time and the image was mainly referenced to the parallel road (future Pionersky prospect). Out of all three available images the one acquired on October 24, 1941, could be referenced most accurately due to its big coverage and, therefore, greater number of objects for referencing (Table 1).

Research materials were gathered in GIS “Time history of Anapa bar coast line over the last 70 years” and published with the application of Scanex WEB GeoMixer technology on http://maps.kosmosnimki.ru/api/index.html?YD9DX.

Results and discussions

Acquired data allowed identification of Anapa bar coast line changes over the last 70 years at the stretch from Vityazevo village to Anapa city. To the north of Anapa (profiles 8-10, Tables 1 and 2) the coast line regression was 5-10 meters in 1941-1966 and 20-30 m in 1966-2011.

In 1941-2011 the coast line regression was 20-40 m on the average. It is possible that accelerated regression of the coast line is linked to the beginning of active agricultural exploration of Anapa bar which started in the 60-s of the XX century.

Data received by Izmailov A. [1] show the coast line recession by 70 m on the average. This indicator is two times more than the results received by us.

One of the reasons of results discrepancy is in application of different procedure for referencing of the coast line. For example, Izmailov A. [1] evaluates Anapa bar coast line changes by the relative width of the beach. It is possible that the changes of dune movement were not considered, at that. Besides, the northern part of Anapa city was being intensively developed and the beach width could reduce not only from the sea but also from the shore due to construction of embankment, recreation facilities. In our opinion referencing of archive images to geographic coordinates is more valid. The results of this work are achieved by referencing to geographic coordinates.

When analyzing 1941 images it was noted that the mouth of the Anapka River was 500 m to the south of its current mouth. On the 1966 image the old mouth turned into a liman and the Anapka River mouth received its current outline.

At the second key section to the south of Vityazevo village (profiles 1-2, Table 1) the average regression of the coast line over 45 years is 50-70 meters. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find aerial images of the 40-s related to this section. In general received results coincide with the data by Izmailov A [1].

In the direction from Vityazevo village to Anapa city beach there is a tendency to reduction of the coast line regression rate from 70 m to 20-30 m close the Anapka River mouth. This is related to specific features of hydro tectonic mode formation [2, 3]. Part of the city beach (Anapka River mouth) is covered by Vysoky Bereg cape against the impact of most active south-western and western storms. That is why here the sediment influx along the coast has the main direction from north-west to south-east. It sustains beaches but does not provide positive balance of beach formation material.

In conclusion we would like to note that Anapa bar beaches degradation will continue. Existing natural sources of beach formation materials (sediment influx along the coast, reproduction of shelly ground, wind deflation, etc.) are not sufficient for keeping beaches in a stable state. It is necessary to take urgent measures for their restoration and stabilization.

Acknowledgements

Research has been performed with the support of the Russian Fund of Fundamental research (grant № 11-05-90704-моб_ст.).
Authors thank ScanEx RDC for provided imagery from GeoEye-1 satellite of the subject under research, dated July 17, 2011. Also authors would like to thank Mr. Kosyan R. D., Doctor of Science (Geography) for valuable advice and comments.

Table 1. Time history of the coast line in 1966-2011according to Corona image acquired on August 12, 1966, and GPS track dated August 3, 2011.

Profile number Coordinates Coast line changes, 1966-2011
1 44°58’27” N, 37°15’40” E Coast regression by 73 m
2 44°58’04” N, 37°16’13” E Coast regression by 53 m
3 44°57’40” N, 37°16’44” E Coast regression by 34 m
4 44°57’16” N, 37°17’15” E Coast regression by 42 m
5 44°56’49” N, 37°17’42” E Coast regression by 37 m
6 44°56’22” N, 37°18’08” E Coast regression by 23 m
7 44°55’54” N, 37°18’32” E Coast regression by 22 m
8 44°55’25” N, 37°18’52” E Coast regression by 21 m
9 44°54’54” N, 37°19’04” E Coast regression by 31 m
10 44°54’21” N, 37°19’05” E Coast regression by 23 m

Table 2. Time history of the coast line in 1941-2011according to Luftwaffe aerial image dated October 24, 1941, and GPS track dated August 3, 2011.

Profile number Coordinates Coast line changes, 1966-2011
8 44°55’25” N, 37°18’52” E Coast regression by 22 m
9 44°54’54” N, 37°19’04” E Coast regression by 38 m
10 44°54’21” N, 37°19’05” E Coast regression by 30 m

Literature:

  • 1.Izmailov Ya.A. Evolutsionnaya geographia poberezhya Azovskogo I Chernogo morei. Kniga 1. Anapskaya peresyp’. Sochi. 2005. 174 s.
  • 2. Kosyan R., Kuklev S., Divinskiy B., Kosyan A., Krylenko M., Krylenko V. Evolutsiya berega Anapskoi peresypi Chernogo moray.// Trudy mezhdunarodnoy conferentsii “Sozdanaie I ispolzovanie iskusstvennykh zemelnykh uchastkov na beregakh I avkatorii vodoemov”., Novosibirsk, 2011, str. 208-213.
  • 3. Kosyan R., Kuklev S., Divinskiy B., Kosyan A., Krylenko M., Krylenko V. The forecast of Anapa bay-bar coast evolution and sandy body thickness change. // Proc. of the Int. Conference on Coastal Engineering Practice. ASCE, USA, 2011, pp. 42-55.
  • 4. Leontyev O.K., Rychagov G.I., Obschaya geomorfologiya (uchebnik dlya georg. spets.vuzov)/ – 2-e izdanie, pererab i dop. – M., Vyssh. Schk. 1988.— 318 с.
  • 5. Luftwaffe Аerophotoimagery of Anapa town dated 24.10.1941 Approximate scale 1:43000. German aerials held in the National Archives (Series: Captured War Documents). DT/TM5 – Nr. 185 (http://pobeda-vov.ru/Lib/pages/item.aspx?itemid=2053)
  • 6. CORONA DS1036-2187DA112 program imagery for August 12, 1966 (http://edcsns17.cr.usgs.gov/NewEarthExplorer/)

FIGURES:

  • Fig. 1. Diagram of the area under research. Kosmosnimki.Ru base material
  • Fig. 2. Anapa beaches washaway. Photo by Lavrentiev N.
  • Fig. 3. Fragment of the CORONA space image of Anapa, August 12, 1966. Provided by USGS
  • Fig. 4. Fragment of the Luftwaffe aerial image of Anapa, October 24, 1941; http://pobeda-vov.ru
  • Fig. 5. GIS “Time history of Anapa bar coast line over the last 70 years”, http://maps.kosmosnimki.ru/api/index.html?YD9DX.

Authors: Lavrentiev N.1, Kuklev S.2

  • 1 Officer of ScanEx RDC geoinformation and web technologies department, junior researcher of Evolutional Geography Laboratory of Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, e-mail: nikitaigran@yandex.ru
  • 2 Candidate of Science (Geography), Head of Hydro physics department of the Southern division of the Federal State Budget Institution of Science at Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Ghelendjik, Krasnodarsky region), e-mail: kuklev@ecologpro.ru

Key words: time history, coast line, Anapa bar, remote sensing data.

Eurisy upcoming Conferences


Renewable Energy: the added value of satellite solutions for SMEs. 11 Sept. 2012, Graz, Austria

Eurisy, FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency and ICS – Internationalisierungs Center Steiermark are pleased to announce the conference they are organising on Renewable energy: The added value of satellite solutions for SMEs, to be held on 11 September 2012 in Graz, Austria. The conference will be held in the premises of the Economic Development Institute in Graz (Wirtschaftsförderungsinstitut Steiermark/WIFI).

During this free one-day conference, participants will have the opportunity to learn about innovative, operational satellite applications in the renewable energy sector, through good practice examples from SMEs, and network with providers of satellite solutions, policy makers and SME representatives.

link

Valuing and managing biodiversity: how satellite applications can help. 18 Oct. 2012, Lille, France

Eurisy and the Region of Nord Pas de Calais are organising the conference “Valuing and managing biodiversity: how satellite applications can help” to take place in Lille, on the 18 October 2012.

The event will be an opportunity to learn, from practical examples from local and regional authorities, how satellite applications can support regional authorities in monitoring natural habitats and managing biodiversity, as well as to discuss possible mechanisms to improve the access of local and regional authorities to satellite applications, including those resulting from GMES.

link

Shore type mapping using EO data in order to better plan and prioritize for the possible event of oil spill.

Background project

Oil spill have a negative impact on the environment. The consequences vary depending on the surrounding environment, but as the oil hit the shore-line an effective emergency response is necessary in order to reduce damage caused by oil spill. With a short time frame it is necessary to plan and prioritise actions to save the environment, including both vegetation and animals, in both the terrestrial and aquatic domain. For the municipality of Västerås (in Eastern Sweden) a shore-mapping was produced using optical EO data (10 meter spatial resolution) in combination with soil maps and other available in-situ databases. Mapping in EO data was performed in a 50 meter zone along the shore-line.

Issues and Needs

Various shore-line habitats require different response actions when oil spill occur. By using EO-data it is possible to prepare alternate rescue activities and also to prioritize what shore-lines to start with in the event of an oil-spill accident.

Proposed solution

Effective emergency response is necessary in order to reduce damage caused by oil spill. With a short time frame it is necessary to plan and prioritise actions to save the environment. By combining EO data with in-situ databases it is possible to produce a decision support system that can be used to improve contingency planning.

Industry perspective

Shore-type mapping can be important in the prevention of large damage to the shore-line and can potentially reduce the need for emergency activities along the full shore-line. The coming GMES Sentinel satellites will secure the continuation of useful EO data for this kind of product.

Cost justification

Access to the shore is considered to improve quality of life. The shore-line is frequently visited and used for recreational purposes. Furthermore, the shore-line is a habitat for a wide range of animals and plants and the consequences of pollutants are often very significant. One major risk concern is oil spill from commercial vessels. Unfortunately oil spill happens frequently along the shores and even in inland waters with connection to the seas. In order to reduce the impact of oil spill it is important to prioritise the rescue services to areas where most support will be needed. This will in turn reduce costs of emergency activities, but most important reduce the negative impact caused by pollution. Minimizing damage may be the single most important factor in protecting the shore-line and here decision support systems are of great help.

Return of investment

Shore type mapping with EO data is a cost-effective and flexible method with easy-to use results. The product is suitable for both regional and national scale and can be used to make operational planning more effective. The possibility to focus rescue services in the event of an oil spill will reduce both the impact on the environment and the costs related to the sanitation as areas more sensitive to oil spill are prioritised. copyright “Metria AB”

Additional information
Service provider: Metria AB
User/Customer: Municipality, Rescue Services
EOservice: Shore type mapping
Source: Metria
Keywords: Shore Type Mapping, Oil Spill, Emergency Response, Municipality, Contingency Planning, GMES, Coastal Surveillance, Product/Service Sales, Sweden, 2011, Consultancy