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MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd, a provider of essential information solutions, announced that it has completed the integration and testing of Canada’s next-generation Earth observation satellite, RADARSAT-2. Recently, the launch provider has experienced delays in a launch, and has rescheduled the RADARSAT-2 launch to December 2007.

RADARSAT-2 is a sophisticated Earth observation satellite developed by MDA in partnership with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and integrated and tested at the CSA’s David Florida Laboratory in Ottawa. When launched, it will replace RADARSAT-1 and offer customers around the world an expanded range of high quality radar imagery. The RADARSAT-2 information solution captures precision images anywhere around the world, day or night, in all weather conditions, and delivers the information through a growing global network of 36 certified ground stations.

Steve Oldham, a vice president of MDA’s Information Systems group stated:

MDA is very pleased to have RADARSAT-2 in this final stage ready for launch. This milestone provides confidence in the capability of the satellite to provide continuity and enhancement of RADARSAT imagery to our current and future customers.”

About MDA

MDA provides advanced information solutions that capture and process vast amounts of data, produce essential information, and improve the decision making and operational performance of business and government organizations worldwide. 

Focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, MDA delivers a broad spectrum of earth and space based information solutions, ranging from complex operational systems, to tailored information services, to electronic information products.

MDA employs more than 3,000 people in locations across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The Company’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TSX:MDA.

Related Websites

www.mdacorporation.com
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/index.html

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. with respect to future events and financial performance. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and MDA’s actual results of operations could differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Additional information on these and other potential factors that could affect MDA’s financial results are detailed in documents filed from time to time with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the form or content of this release.

For more information, please contact:

Wendy Keyzer
MDA External Relations
Telephone: 604-231-2743
E-mail

EnMAP

  • German hyperspectral satellite mission with 200 channels within the broad spectral range from 420 nm to 2450 nm and high ground resolution of 30 m
  • Global determination of ecosystem parameters as well as biophysical, biochemical and geochemical variables
  • Analysis capability for post natural disasters and environmental pollution of land and water
  • Mission data will be used for the preparation of future commercialization and operative services
  • Realization under German leadership with international partners

More information

For more information please contact:
Dr. Timo Stuffler
Kayser-Threde GmbH
Wolfratshauser Straße 48
81379 Munich
Germany
Tel. +49 (89) 724 95 – 132
Fax +49 (89) 724 95 – 291
Email
www.kayser-threde.com

Optech Incorporated, a manufacturer of advanced lidar survey instruments, announced today that Infoterra Ltd., a leader in the provision of geospatial products and services based in the United Kingdom, has purchased Optech’s newly released LYNX Mobile Mapper™.

Optech Incorporated, a manufacturer of advanced lidar survey instruments, announced today that Infoterra Ltd., a leader in the provision of geospatial products and services based in the United Kingdom, has purchased Optech’s newly released LYNX Mobile Mapper™.

Infoterra Ltd., a long-time strategic partner of Optech Incorporated, has purchased the LYNX Mobile Mapper to further grow its service business, and complement its suite of airborne lidar and photogrammetric sensors, which include Optech’s ALTM Gemini airborne mapper. The LYNX Mobile Mapper, a vehicular-mounted lidar system incorporating Optech’s iFLEX™ technology, represents the next generation in advanced lidar data capturing solutions.

“Given Infoterra’s spatial data acquisition pedigree and its proven ability to maximize the results achieved with new technology, we are excited to have them as an early adopter client for the LYNX Mobile Mapper,” said Don Carswell, President of Optech Incorporated.

Infoterra Ltd., an EADS Astrium company, has a long history of staying on the cutting edge of technology to provide its clients with the most accurate and robust geospatial data available. The purchase of the LYNX Mobile Mapper will continue this trend.

“Optech’s mobile lidar will provide us with a unique data collection system, allowing urban environments and road corridors to be rapidly mapped in high detail,” Infoterra’s Technical Director, Anthony Denniss commented. ¿¿“High accuracy mobile lidar will provide Infoterra with the basis for a series of ‘next generation’ data products and services.”??

About Optech Incorporated

Optech is the world leader in the development, manufacture and support of advanced laser-based survey instruments. The company offers client-driven lidar solutions in airborne terrestrial mapping, airborne laser bathymetry, laser imaging, mine cavity monitoring, industrial process control and space-qualified sensors for orbital operations and planetary exploration.

About Infoterra Ltd.

Infoterra Ltd. is a leading provider of geographic information products and services. Its portfolio of geographic information solutions includes airborne and satellite data acquisition, geo-information creation, database management and outsourced hosting. Infoterra provides geospatial knowledge to companies worldwide to help them make informed decisions. The company has major customers in communications, utilities, engineering, agriculture, defence and oil, gas & mineral exploration.

Infoterra Ltd. is part of the Infoterra group, which comprises companies in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Astrium Ltd., an EADS company.

For further information, please contact:

Albert Iavarone
Product Manager, Mobile Solutions
Optech Incorporated
300 Interchange Way
Vaughan, ON
Canada L4K 5Z8
Tel: [905]660-0808
www.optech.ca

Sarah Haslam
Infoterra Ltd,
Atlas House, 41 Wembley Rad
Leicester, Leicestershire
LE3 1UT, UK
Tel: +44 (0)116 273 2300
www.infoterra.co.uk

ESRI and ITT Visual Information Solutions announced a business relationship to develop a certified National Imagery Transmission Format (NITF) extension for ESRI’s ArcGIS platform.

ESRI is the international leader in developing geographic information systems (GIS) software. ITT Visual Information Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT).

The planned NITF extension will seamlessly integrate with ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Image Server to provide users a proven, certified solution for accessing and creating NITF data, a common raster data format used by the defense and intelligence communities in the United States.

The new extension will permit geospatial imagery analysts to read and write NITF data within the ArcGIS environment. In addition, the extension allows analysts to create data products that comply with the NITF specifications and improve the efficiency and timeliness of their workflow.

ITT Visual Information Solutions has extensive experience in understanding and developing NITF products to support its premier image processing platform, ENVI, used extensively in the defense and intelligence communities. The ENVI NITF Module is CLevel 7 certified by the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) and is the tool of choice for many government agencies and corporations using geospatial imagery today.

Teaming with a proven leader like ITT Visual Information Solutions to develop this extension for the ArcGIS platform is a perfect solution to extend our users imagery capability, said Jack Dangermond, ESRI´s president.

ITT´s extension will complement ESRI´s already interoperable standards driven platform and provide users in the intelligence community, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security with a certified NITF implementation.

Both ESRI and ITT recognize the need to advance the interoperability of enterprise software tools to improve Geospatial and Imagery Analyst workflows, said Richard Cooke, president and COO, ITT Visual Information Solutions. The seamless integration of ITT’s ENVI NITF tools into ESRI’s world-class GIS platform will simplify analyst workflows, reduce the time to read and write NITF data, and improve the production of time critical geospatial analysis.

For additional information about ESRI, visit www.esri.com.

For additional information on ITT Visual Information Solutions, visit www.ittvis.com.

About ESRI

Since 1969, ESRI has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS, ESRI software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. ESRI applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of Web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world’s mapping and spatial analysis. ESRI is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at www.esri.com.

ESRI, the ESRI globe logo, GIS by ESRI, www.esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of ESRI in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

About ITT Corporation


ITT Corporation supplies advanced technology products and services in several growth markets. ITT is a global leader in the transport, treatment and control of water, wastewater and other fluids. The company plays a vital role in international security through its defense communications and electronics products; space surveillance and intelligence systems; and advanced engineering and related services. It also serves the growing leisure marine and electrical connectors markets with a wide range of products. Headquartered in White Plains, NY, the company generated $7.8 billion in 2006 sales. In addition to the New York Stock Exchange, ITT Corporation stock is traded on the Euronext, London and Frankfurt exchanges.

About ITT Visual Information Solutions
ITT

Visual Information Solutions (formerly Research Systems, Inc./RSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ITT Corporation, provides integrated software solutions that help scientists, engineers, researchers, and medical professionals turn complex data into useful information. The company’s 150,000 customers from more than 80 countries use IDL, ENVI and IAS to analyze data and imagery and deploy imaging applications. ITT Visual Information Solutions’ products are used in a variety of industries, including remote sensing, engineering, earth sciences, aerospace, defense and intelligence, medical imaging, oil and gas exploration and biotechnology. Combined with a host of support services including training, consulting and technical support, ITT Visual Information Solutions offers the most complete data visualization, image analysis and image delivery solutions available. For more information visit: www.ittvis.com.

ITT Visual Information Solutions Media Contact

Lori Thompson, ITT Visual Information Solutions
303-402-4664
Email

ESRI Media Contact

Carla Wheeler, ESRI
909-793-2853, ext. 2448
Email

Urban green is becoming a very important issue, GIM is offering service products that are providing solutions to support the management of urban green areas.

GIM has developed an urban green service that is aiming at the responsibles for the urban green management coming from regional, urban or municipal administrations. The service portfolio offers a number of products that can be used for complementing and improving the management of public and also private green areas. All products are derived from VHRSI, i.e. they are all based on imagery with a spatial resolution of 1 meter which have been acquired during the growing season (15 May – 15 September).

GIM offers a Service for Urban Green Management using Very High Resolution Satellite imagery

Almost in all cities accurate and detailed maps of streets and built-up areas are available, but only few cities dispose of overall information on urban greenery. But during the recent years this has become a very important issue, since information on urban greenery is vital for planning, design and maintenance of the urban environment. 

Well-designed and maintained parks and green spaces have an essential role to play in enhancing the quality of life in urban environments. They provide interesting and diverse places for recreation activities and social interaction. They also have an important role to play in education, promoting healthy living and well-being, supporting biodiversity and reducing surface water run-off in urban areas. GIM’s Urban Green Service is aiming at supporting the responsible authorities in the city administrations by providing solutions for the management of the urban green areas, ranging from an inventory of existing green structures as well as the detection of changes over the development of a tree cadastre up to the StreetGreen product indicating all green along the city streets.

Which products can GIM offer?

As mentioned above, urban green is becoming a very important issue. GIM’s Urban Green Service contains a set of six products, each aiming at providing a value-adding solution to support the management of urban green areas on all administrative levels. In detail, the portfolio consists of the following urban green products:

  • a colour-infrared image mosaic as basic image product which reflects the vegetation activity within the urban environment with a high contrast. Read more…
  • an inventory of urban green areas gives a complete overview of all urban green areas within the urban environment. Read more…
  • the detection of changes of urban green areas offers support to facilitate the updating process of existing urban green databases. Read more…
  • a tree cadastre is a spatial inventory of all trees along the streets in a certain area. Read more…
  • the tree health conditions are providing information about the health conditions of single trees within urban areas. Read more…
  • the StreetGreen product gives an indication on the amount of green surface that is present in a certain street.


Gisat distributes Definiens and TerraSAR-X

Gisat confirms its position as the centre point for all clients interested in satellite data acquisition and applications and expands its distribution services signing the reseller agreements with Definiens (Definiens Enterprise Image Intelligence™ Suite software solutions) and Infoterra GmbH (TerraSAR-X satellite radar data). Moreover, joining the RESPOND project, Gisat further strengthens its position in the GMES service providers network.

Gisat has become authorized distributor for Definiens solutions

Based on long-term partnership with Definiens, provider of Definiens Enterprise Image Intelligence™ Suite software solutions, Gisat has signed the distribution agreement with Definiens.

Gisat has been selling Definiens products in the frame of worldwide PCI Geomatics distributors network since the release of first commercial application based on unique Definiens Cognition Network Technology®. Thanks to this successful cooperation, resulting among other things in number of satisfied Definiens users, it was agreed Gisat becomes authorized distributor for full range of Definiens software solutions.

Gisat joins the RESPOND project as the service provider partner

RESPOND is an alliance of European and International organisations working with the humanitarian community to improve access to maps, satellite imagery and geographic information. RESPOND aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the European and international humanitarian relief community through the appropriate and reliable application of geographic information.

The RESPOND consortium is a strong team with a proven reputation in delivery of products for humanitarian aid. It is organized by Infoterra UK Ltd as the “Prime Contractor” and the team currently includes almost 20 cooperating partners.

Gisat is the first partner from the new EU members joining this alliance taking on board also two Czech humanitarian NGOs – Adra and People In Need – as service users.

RESPOND is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) within the European GMES initiative – a joint approach of ESA and the European Commission – as GMES service supporting humanitarian relief, disaster reduction & reconstruction.

Gisat has joined the European TerraSAR-X distribution network.

Infoterra GmbH appoints Gisat as its partner for TerraSAR-X data distribution and applications. TerraSAR-X radar satellite has been succesfully launched recently and the commercial operation is expected before the end of 2007.

Infoterra Ltd confirms exclusive UK distribution rights for radar imagery from TerraSAR-X

Infoterra Ltd, a leader in the provision of geospatial products and services, has continued its long term investment in state-of-the-art airborne data acquisition technologies with the addition of an UltraCamX large format digital aerial camera from Vexcel and the latest lidar scanner from Optech. This further investment strengthens Infoterra’s ability to support applications by offering the highest quality datasets, including high resolution aerial imagery down to 3cms.

The new UltraCamX camera features improved CCD technology allowing each image to cover a larger ground area. This can significantly reduce aircraft flying time, and provides Infoterra customers with quality large format digital images in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner. This new camera, along with Infoterra’s existing Leica ADS40 airborne digital sensor, will be operated globally, providing customers with next generation digital imagery. As part of its data acquisition programme, Infoterra has also recently upgraded its ADS40 sensor to the latest high resolution specification. Featuring an additional pair of stereo near-infrared channels, the upgraded Leica ADS40 sensor enables the support of advanced applications such as forestry stand management and environmental due diligence.

In addition, the company has extended its height data acquisition capability with the addition of a revolutionary new Optech lidar scanner which will be fully operational later this year. The new scanner, with integrated camera, will allow Infoterra to capture data that is up to five times denser per square metre and with improved vertical accuracy. This makes it an ideal solution for applications such as flood risk modeling, power line capture, noise pollution modeling and subsidence risk which demand highly accurate height information.

“We know that accurate data is an essential building block for any successful geo-information project, and our ongoing investment programme will ensure that we continue to set the standard for airborne data acquisition,” commented Infoterra Ltd’s CEO, Dave Fox. “In addition, we have also secured exclusive UK distribution for high quality radar images from the TerraSAR-X satellite. Launched in June, the satellite has already delivered extremely impressive test images. We believe our strategic investment in best-of-breed data capture has given us a real market differentiator, confirming Infoterra as the default choice for the growing number of customers who need the best quality geospatial data.”

Infoterra, a leader in the capture of lidar height data, already has data on-the-shelf for over 100 British cities. This further investment is part of the company’s 5-year data refresh programme, which will now be extended to include all cities with over 100,000 people. The new sensors will be used to support both international and GeoPerspectives data acquisition activity. Infoterra’s customers can commission the company’s aircraft and digital airborne sensors to carry out custom aerial surveys anywhere in the world.
  
h3. About Infoterra Ltd.

Infoterra Ltd is a leading provider of geographic information products and services. Its portfolio of geographic information solutions includes airborne and satellite data acquisition, geo-information creation, database management and outsourced hosting. Infoterra provides geospatial knowledge to companies worldwide to help them make informed decisions. The company has major customers in communications, utilities, engineering, agriculture, defence and oil, gas & mineral exploration. 
Infoterra Ltd. is part of the Infoterra group, which comprises companies in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Astrium Ltd, an EADS company. 
GeoPerspectives™ is a joint venture between Infoterra Ltd and BlueSky International Ltd to provide airborne acquired geospatial data for England and Wales.

Infoterra
 
h3. For more information contact

Sarah Haslam, Infoterra Ltd, +44 (0)116 273 2300, 
Cheryl Billson, PR for Infoterra, +44 (0)7791 720460
Cheryl Billson, Consultant
Comma Communications LLP
07791 720460
Email
Website

Only the most optimistic engineers had even dared to hope what is now a reality: just four days after the German radar satellite TerraSAR-X has been launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the first brilliant satellite images have been received.

  • German radar satellite transmits first data in record time
  • Ground station receives first images only five days after launch
  • Scientists and commercial users are enthusiastic

Only the most optimistic engineers had even dared to hope what is now a reality: just four days after the German radar satellite TerraSAR-X has been launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the first brilliant satellite images have been received.

There was loud cheering among the TerraSAR-X teams of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Astrium and Infoterra on Tuesday evening, when – only 30 minutes after the data had been received by the ground station in Neustrelitz – the first images appeared on the monitors at the DLR space centre in Oberpfaffenhofen. Although the satellite will only reach its final orbital position in ten days’ time, these data – recorded for test purposes only – already display a remarkably high quality and level of detail.

“I’m delighted! This national mission once more bears testimony to Germany’s leading international position in radar remote sensing. Our data will be an important source of information for both geoscience research and commercial applications. And TerraSAR-X will also play a key role in Europe’s GMES Earth observation programme,” says Professor Johann-Dietrich Wörner, chairman of the DLR.

“These data not only prove the comprehensive technical know-how and long-standing experience of Astrium GmbH in the development and construction of radar satellites and instruments, but also confirm our successful partnership with the DLR,” stresses Uwe Minne, Director Earth observation and Science of Astrium GmbH.

“These first images impressively demonstrate the capabilities of the satellite system —our commercial business couldn’t be based on a better foundation,” rejoices Jörg Herrmann, managing director of Infoterra GmbH, which will now advance the commercial marketing of the TerraSAR-X data.

Over the next few months, the DLR’s TerraSAR-X team will be working dedicatedly towards completing the calibration of the radar instrument and optimising the data processing chain.

The TerraSAR-X Earth observation satellite is a joint venture being carried out under a public-private-partnership between the DLR and Astrium GmbH. At the DLR, a team of four institutes is responsible for implementing the mission in collaboration with the space agency. Thus, DLR covers the whole range of technologies required, from the original design and mission control to the processing and scientific exploitation of the data obtained. Astrium GmbH developed, built and launched the satellite; the exclusive commercial exploitation rights are held by the geo-information service provider Infoterra GmbH (Friedrichshafen).

About Astrium

Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, specialises in civil and military space systems and space-based services. In 2006, Astrium achieved revenues of 3.2 billion euros and employed approximately 11,000 people in France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The company’s core business is divided into three areas: the two business units Astrium Space Transportation (for launch vehicles and space infrastructures) and Astrium Satellites (for satellites and ground segments), and the wholly owned subsidiary Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite-based services.
EADS is one of the world’s leading suppliers of aerospace and defence systems and all associated services. In 2006, the company’s revenues amounted to around 39.4 billion euros, with a workforce of more than 116,000 employees.

About Infoterra

Infoterra GmbH, Germany, was founded in 2001 for the commercial exploitation of the TerraSAR-X data. The company is responsible not only for the commercial distribution of the data, but for the development and marketing of derived geo-information products and services as well.
Infoterra GmbH employs a workforce of 40 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, and is part of the Infoterra Group, which comprises companies in France, Germany and the United Kingdom with over 300 employees and a turnover of more than 50 Mio Euro.

About DLR

DLR is the national aerospace research center of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development activities in the aerospace, transportation and energy sectors are embedded in national and international cooperation ventures. In addition to its own in-house research, the DLR, acting as the Space Agency of the Federal Government, is responsible for planning and implementing Germany’s astronautical activities as well as for representing the country’s interests on the international plane. Furthermore, DLR is the apex organization for Germany’s largest project management agency.
DLR employs a staff of about 5,100 at its 27 institutes and facilities distributed over eight locations, namely Köln-Porz, Berlin-Adlershof, Bonn-Oberkassel, Braunschweig, Göttingen, Lampoldshausen, Oberpfaffenhofen and Stuttgart. It maintains branch offices at Brussels, Paris and Washington, DC.

DLR

Dr. Niklas Reinke, + 49 (0) 228 447 394Astrium
Mathias Pikelj+49 (0) 7545 8 91 23Infoterra
Mareike Doepke+49 (0) 7545 8 3924

Terrasar

Note to the editors: Video-Footage and Sound-bites in broadcast quality you can download from medianewsnet.net

TerraSAR-X at a glance

Height 4.88m
Diameter 2.4m
Launch mass 1,230kg
of which payload approx. 400kg
Radar frequency 9.65 GHz
Power consumption 800 Watt (average)
Resolution 1m, 3m, 16m (depending on image size)
Launch vehicle Dnepr 1 (former SS-18)
Launch 15 June 2007, 04:14h CEST (08:14h local)
Launch site Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Orbit altitude 514km
Tilt angle towards equator 97.4° (Sun-synchronous)
Life time at least 5 years

TerraSAR-X is the first German satellite implemented in a so-called Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between DLR and Astrium: Europe’s leading satellite specialist. Astrium contributes to the costs of development, construction and deployment of the spacecraft. The scientific exploitation of TerraSAR-X data is the responsibility of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), while Infoterra GmbH, a subsidiary of Astrium, is responsible for commercial marketing. Surrounding the Earth on a polar orbit at an altitude of 514 kilometres, TerraSAR-X − with its active antenna − will collect new-quality X-band radar data of the entire planet. TerraSAR-X operates independent of weather conditions, cloud cover and illumination and will be capable of delivering radar data with a resolution of up to one metre.

Russia – Landscape West of Wolgograd

The first TerraSAR-X image delivered by DLR’s processing system captures a region in Southern Russia; about 500 km northeast of the Black Sea and 50 km west of Wolgograd.

The upper part of the image displays the Tsimlyanskoye reservoir, which retains the river Don for purposes of energy generation.

A railway bridge across the river Don can be made out in the middle/left of the image, with the railway tracks clearly visible running in a north-eastern direction.

The lower part of the image is dominated by large agricultural areas. The variations in colours of the different fields reflects the different crops and growth stages.

Image sources: DLR, Infoterra
Acquisition date: 19. June, 2007, 15 :03 :24 UTC
Resolution: degraded to approx. 15 m
Mode: Stripmap Mode; Polarisation: HH
Incidence angle: 51,7 degrees; Orbit 69; ascending

Norway – Islands

The island of Vanna, captured in the center of the image, is located in Northern Norway, about 250 km southwest of the North Cape. The mountainous topography of this island is displayed very well through the side-looking radar; however, it is slightly geometrically distorted – an effect which can be eliminated.

A close look allows for the recognition of boats, as well as houses, displayed as light dots along the coastline.

Image sources: DLR, Infoterra
Acquisition date: 20. June, 2007, 05 :32 :50 UTC
Resolution: degraded to approx. 15 m
Mode: Stripmap Mode; Polarisation: HH
Incidence angle: 32 degrees, Orbit 78; ascending

At the end of 2006 and during 2007, Remote Sensing Application Center – ReSAC Bulgaria investigated the possibilities for orthorectification of FORMOSAT-2 scenes with two well established software packages in the geospatial industry – ERDAS IMAGINE and PCI Geomatica.

ReSAC worked closely with MARS-PAC and CID actions in the Agrifish unit for IPSC, DG JRC, responsible for the technical support of the “Control with Remote Sensing” (CwRS) – a European Commission Service programme for monitoring the agricultural subsidy claims with a strong deterrent effect on potential frauds. Because of the EU accelerative enlargement the number of sites to be controlled increases dramatically. Hence, JRC intended to include several more satellite sensors in order to increase the acquisition capacity and to ensure timely delivery of the necessary imagery to the MS administrations and their contractors.

JRC decided to investigate more thoroughly the usability of FORMOSAT-2, from geometric accuracy point of view, for the CwRS campaign.

From the very beginning ReSAC has played an important role in this research working in close collaboration with JRC, along with other companies such as SPOT Image (France) and Spacemetric AB (Sweden). The work followed the JRC best practices related to the conduction of the overall test set and the accuracy evaluation (Common Technical Specifications for the 2006 Campaign of Remote Sensing Control of Area-Based Subsidies, ITT no. 2005/S 233-229332, Ispra, 2005).

ReSAC has been responsible for the investigation of the best methodologies for FORMOSAT-2 imageries orthorectification in the environment of ERDAS Imagine and PCI Geomatica software suites. In general the research was carried in two phases – in the first the overall models’ functionalities and the positional accuracy of the ortho-products were studied, while in the second, the effect of the incidence angle over the final quality of the orthoimageries was in focus. The results from the first phase of the project were presented at the Toulouse Conference in November 2006 (Orthorectified Formosat-2 data performance in the CwRS campaign 2006 and future applications. JRC, ReSAC et al., 2007) and are published in the special publications edition of the conference reports.

In both phases of this thorough research over the orthorectification of FORMOSAT-2 scenes, ReSAC participated also with its geodetically precise database of DGPS point measurements. They were used primarily in the quality control carried over the orthorectification outputs. As a source for independent check points (and also ground control points – GCPs), satellite orthophotos from Ikonos and QuickBird images processed by ReSAC were also used. They were needed in order to assess the influence of the accuracy of the GCPs on the final orthophoto accuracy.

For the second phase of the JRC’s study, two sites were acquired two times each, with different incidence angles. One of the test areas was Sozopol, Bulgaria and the second was Mausanne, France. As already stated, for each test site two PAN images were available, but each was taken with different off-nadir angles – similar across track and various along track angles.

Location of the test areas: (a) Two test areas in Bulgaria – Sofia area on the left and Sozopol area on the right; (b) Mausanne area in France

The technical part of the second phase of the study is completed, but the results are currently being systematised and summarised. The results of the study will be presented on the Annual MarsPAC Conference 2007 “Geomatics in support of the CAP” which will be held in Madrid, Spain on 12th-14th Nov 2007.

Another related study that ReSAC undertook was exploring the potential influence of different DEMs to the quality of the final ortho-products.

Because the quality of an input DEM might affect the positional accuracy of the orthorectified imageries, ReSAC carried an individual research over the Sofia city scene, used in the first phase of the FORMOSAT-2 study, with various DEMs. One of these elevation models was provided from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and more specifically the SIR-C sensor, where the sampling points were distributed on a grid with an approximate spacing of 70×90m at the latitude of Bulgaria. Another DEM used was Reference3D – a product of Spot Image with a sampling distance of 30m for the area of Sofia. The last two DEMs in this study were derived from analogue topographic maps for civil use of different scale, 1/50,000 and 1/25,000, that were brought in digital format. The spatial resolution of the DEMs produced from the topographic maps in scale 1/50,000 and 1/25,000 is 30m and 15m respectively (TOPO50 and TOPO25).

The results of this study will be presented in the poster session on the Annual MarsPAC Conference 2007 “Geomatics in support of the CAP”, as well as a report will be given on the International Symposium “Modern Technologies, Education and Professional Practice in Geodesy and Related Fields” organised by the Union of Surveyors and Land Managers in Bulgaria on 9-10 Nov 2007 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The full report will be available in the symposium proceedings.

Future work envisaged by ReSAC, using FORMOSAT-2 data, include testing the influence of different DEMs on the orthorectification of images with large incidence angle.

For more information:
Remote Sensing Application Center – ReSAC