Skip to content

In the spring of 2006 the level of Danube River rose dramatically due to heavy rains and snow melting in the North-Western part of the Bulgarian river bank.

The cities of Vidin and Lom were partially flooded as also big territories from the plains in Romania.
On ReSAC request SPOTIMAGE opened an every day acquisition window from 16.04 till 04.05.2006 of FORMOSAT data. The purpose of the acquisition was to present the applicability of FORMOSAT data for monitoring of floods. The data were kindly supplied by SPOTIMAGE and processed by ReSAC.
The final outcome from the investigation is presented in maps for the affected from the floods areas and analysis of the land cover of those regions. Together with FORMOSAT data also Ikonos and IRS (kindly supplied by ScanEx) data were used for the floods in Bulgaria in August 2005. By utilising different GIS and image processing methods and analyses, maps for the vulnerable to flooding areas in the region of Russe town were produced from IKONOS imagery and DEM in 1:5000 scale. Maps of the possible affected areas from the floods were delivered to the Municipality of Rousse during the floods in April 2006 couple of days before the high water level to reach the city.
The usage of FORMOSAT data is still not at its full capacity because of lack of experience and software models for the FORMOSAT processing. ReSAC has done an experiment for the FORMOSAT L1A data orthorectification for the region of Sofia. The image was provided by the FORMOSAT distributor – SPOTIMAGE. Very high quality GPS measurements were used for the orthorectification together with Reference 3D product as DEM. For the processing of the image OrthoEngine of PCI Geomatics was used as the first software which has implemented the FORMOSAT satellite model. The results from this experiment were presented on a meeting of the European satellite image providers in the Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizens of JRC on 19.09.2006.
© Courtesy of NSPO – 2006, Distribution Spot Image S.A.
For more information: www.resac-bg.org

To accommodate expanding operations, RapidEye AG has opened and dedicated their new corporate headquarters and ground operations facility in Brandenburg an der Havel, just outside of Berlin.

The new office currently houses an international team of 40 professionals in the fields of space engineering, computer science, remote sensing, GIS and associated technologies. The renovation of the facility was designed to accommodate the anticipated four-fold growth of RapidEye, leading up to the launch of its own earth observing satellite constellation next year.
In 2007, RapidEye will launch a constellation of 5 identical remote sensing satellites capable of acquiring 5-bands of multi-spectral imagery processed at 5-meter pixel. Designed for clients whose applications require frequent coverage of extremely large geographic areas and the capability for daily re-visit, the RapidEye constellation is capable of collecting upwards of 4 million square kilometers of image data per day. RapidEye is developing off-the-shelf imagery products as well as imagery-derived information services, customized to meet the needs of individual clients in the Agriculture, Forestry, Oil & Gas, Environmental, Government and other markets where repetitive monitoring and assessment of large areas is required.
RapidEye AG is also pleased to announce its participation at the 26th Annual ESRI International User Conference August 8-10, 2006 in San Diego, California. Exhibiting in booth #2217, members of the RapidEye sales force will be available to answer questions about the upcoming launch and planned geospatial products and services.
(Source RapidEye)

RapidEyeTM has taken another major stride toward a new dimension in geo-information products and services.

“When our five earth-observation satellites are in orbit in 2007, we will be able to offer data products and services that previously were unavailable at this extent and level of quality,” Chief Executive Wolfgang G. Biedermann said, looking forward to the coming year.
The satellites will be launched into space from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, with a Russian rocket. The parabolic reflector in Brandenburg will then handle monitoring and controlling of the earth-observation satellites.
The initial innovation offered by the RapidEye system is the ability to reach any point on the Earth daily. If weather blocks the satellites’ view, the system can make another attempt to get the picture 24 hours later.
RapidEye products and services are particularly useful for agriculture and forestry, in the areas of energy and environment, for cartographic businesses and for government agencies and organizations. Vegetation stands can be recorded, as well as hail damage or the results of other natural disasters. This allows forecasting of harvesting, inspection of environmental agreements and production of up-to-date maps of even the most remote areas of the world.
For more information or photos, please call Mr. Axel Penndorf at +49 (0) 3381 8904-506.
( Source Rapideye)

A RADARSAT-2 Symposium was held at the Canadian Space Agency September 11- 15, 2006.
// The RADARSAT-2 information website www.radarsat2.info has a “new” look.

Symposium
A RADARSAT-2 Symposium was held at the Canadian Space Agency September 11- 15, 2006. Over 300 national/international delegates attended the Symposium where the features and benefits of the new RADARSAT-2 satellite and programme were discussed (e.g. high-resolution imaging, fully polarimetric data and heightened system responsiveness)
Industry sessions led by MDA Geospatial Services International discussed such topics as: the RADARSAT-2 commercialization process, Canadian remote sensing legislation, RADARSAT-2 services, the ground segment and acquisition planning.
Over 30 presentations were given by SOAR (Scientific and Operation Applications of RADARSAT-2) research participants. Topics included: InSAR, ship surveillance and classification, polarimetry for agriculture and land use classification and hydrocarbon seep detection in offshore basins.
New RADARSAT-2 Information Website Launched
The RADARSAT-2 information website www.radarsat2.info has a “new” look. Designed with a focus on easy navigation and populated with up-to-date and succinct information, the new website places information at just a click away.
Designed for current and future RADARSAT users, the website provides a resource of information on such topics as: RADARSAT-2 Applications (guidelines and case studies), Satellite Construction and Testing Status, Polarimetry, the Science and Operational Applications Research (SOAR) RADARSAT-2 Program, and Products and Services.
The website is a collaboration between MDA, the Canadian Space Agency and the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing. Look for new content as the site evolves over the coming months during the final preparations for RADARSAT-2!
New products: Ocean Surface Wind Information
New wind product from MDA GSI
The SAR-derived ocean wind product provides both high-resolution ocean surface wind speed and wind direction values. These two standard wind field products are available in a choice of grid spacing (resolution) and spatial coverage.
Ocean surface wind field products provide valuable information on the conditions of the ocean environment. This information is used to improve the interpretation of SAR data for maritime activities such as ship surveillance and oil monitoring and is also a key input for weather modeling/prediction and oil spill trajectory modeling.
Input Data
The SAR-derived wind products are created from RADARSAT-1 or ENVISAT ASAR imagery. The products are created using either ScanSAR beam mode imagery (RADARSAT-1) or Wide beam mode imagery (RADARSAT-1 or ENVISAT) depending on your resolution and spatial needs.
ScanSAR imagery offers a greater spatial coverage (500km x 500km for ScanSAR Wide, and 300km x 300km for ScanSAR Narrow) than Wide beam mode imagery (150km x 150km). However, Wide beam mode imagery provides greater resolution of the wind field.
Benefits
• High-resolution data and synoptic coverage captures the spatial variation and dynamics of the wind field
• Rapid production and delivery ensures you have the wind field product in your hands within the hour following data processing of your SAR image
• Cost-effective as the wind field information is an additional piece of information extracted from the SAR image you have acquired for your application
• Regular updates of the wind field information are available as a result of frequent satellite revisit schedules
Product Specifications
• Wind Speed Data
• 800m – 3.2km grid spacing
• Accurate to ± 2m/s (nominal accuracy *)
• Wind Direction Data
• 800m – 3.2km grid spacing **
• Accurate to ± 25° (nominal accuracy *)
• Product Format
• Data is delivered in ASCII format (example)
• Overview map is delivered in JPEG format
• Product Delivery
• Electronic delivery (FTP / e-mail) in under 4 hours of data reception at the Canadian Processing Facility
* Independent source of wind direction is used. Client may provide local wind data (eg. buoy) or MDA will use the best available source from the public domain.
** Derived from a 25 – 50km cell
(Source MDA)

Infoterra Ltd and BlueSky Ltd have launched GeoPerspectives™ the new suite of airborne acquired geospatial data. Building on the most successful nationwide aerial survey previously marketed as UK Perspectives, GeoPerspectives has now redefined the standards for quality, type and coverage of aerial-based geographic information.

GeoPerspectives is delivering the next generation of data for England & Wales using the latest digital imaging technology. This enables the simultaneous capture of RGB and colour infra-red imagery and, via automated processing, the rapid creation of digital terrain and surface models.
“Since announcing the partnership between BlueSky and Infoterra last year, we have been focussed on capturing, processing and delivering GeoPerspectives data to the market. We have already updated over 30% of the original baseline survey, which puts us well ahead of our five year update schedule,” said Dave Fox, CEO of Infoterra Ltd. “We have also refined our product offering to make sure that GeoPerspectives delivers exactly what the market wants.”
GeoPerspectives offers a range of image resolutions to meet diverse user requirements; from National Perspectives datasets at 25cm resolution to ultra high-resolution Urban Perspectives detailed enough to view road markings and street furniture. Furthermore, the national coverage is the only orthorectified aerial photography collection with a guaranteed five year update programme.
“GeoPerspectives is defining new standards for aerial photography,” said Rachel Eddy, Managing Director of BlueSky. “Simply delivering higher and higher resolution image datasets is not enough. Professional users require the consistency, accuracy and currency of data that only GeoPerspectives can deliver.”
GeoPerspectives data is already in use within government, commerce and academia, including the Department for the Environment Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra), Highways Agency, Yorkshire Water and over 240 Local Authorities.
Meet the GeoPerspectives team at AGI2006 (www.agi.org.uk) or for further information on GeoPerspectives products visit www.geoperspectives.co.uk
BlueSky International Ltd is a UK-based specialist in aerial imaging and remote sensing data collection and processing. An internationally recognised leader with projects extending from Paris to New York, BlueSky has unrivalled expertise in the creation of seamless, digital aerial photography and 3D landscape/cityscape visualisations. BlueSky also runs a national mapping centre, providing digital maps, site plans, satellite imagery, aerial photography and ultra-high resolution imagery of cities and towns. BlueSky is a privately owned company based in Coalville in Leicestershire, England. www.bluesky-world.com
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. www.infoterra.co.uk
A high-resolution photograph accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be viewed at www.prnewswire.co.uk
Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of BlueSky and Infoterra
PR Newswire Europe Ltd.
209 – 215 Blackfriars Road, London,
SE1 8NL
Tel : +44 (0)20 7490 8111
Fax : +44 (0)20 7490 1255
E-mail : info@prnewswire.co.uk
(Source PR Newswire)

Recent Achivements

ITT Visual Information Solutions introduces ENVI 4.3
ENVI 4.3 makes getting information from imagery easier and faster than ever before. ENVI 4.3 introduces new options, automated functionality, and feature enhancements that allow image analysts and scientists to visualize and analyze images more quickly and easily. For image analysts who often need to quickly visualize and analyze imagery from multiple sources, ENVI 4.3 presents a new, intuitive user interface option that makes ENVI functionality more accessible than ever before. In addition, ENVI 4.3 includes new, automated tools for linear feature extraction, anomaly detection and spectral image classification that allow analysts to get information from imagery quickly without extensive image processing experience. Scientists and researchers choose ENVI based on its solid history of providing the best tools available for turning images into information. ENVI 4.3 adds to this capability with the introduction of a new, leading edge image classification method, new capabilities for detecting anomalies, and a new tool for generating RPCs quickly and easily.
ITT Visual Information Solutions introduces Intelligent Digitizer (ENVI 4.3)
Image analysts often need to locate and extract linear features from an image. In the past, digitizing each pixel manually was the only way to create a new vector layer – a tedious and time consuming process. Now, ENVI 4.3 introduces the Intelligent Digitizer, a semi-automated process for digitizing linear features in geospatial images. The Intelligent Digitizer allows ENVI users to: – Automatically create polyline vectors following linear features between user-specified seed points – Extract important linear features such as roads, coastlines, and rivers – Create new vector layers for quick output to a new vector file or to update existing databases
ITT Visual Information Solutions introduces ENVI Zoom
A new user interface option for ENVI ENVI 4.3 introduces a new, optional image viewing interface, called ENVI Zoom. This interface gives anyone who is familiar with Windows®-based applications an intuitive interface for viewing images and detecting anomalies, and in the near future for accessing ENVI’s suite of image exploitation tools. ENVI Zoom offers: – Quick access to image viewing capabilities for image analysts – New toolbars that include buttons, sliders, undo/redo, tool tips, and more – An ability to display layers and stack multiple images with on-the-fly reprojection – A new “portal” tool to look through one image layer and explore corresponding images – An easy way to perform view images without extensive image processing experience
Contact
Rolf Schaeppi
VP European Operations
ITT
Visual Information Solutions
rschaeppi@ittvis.com
Phone: +41 71 722 6751
Fax: +41 71 722 6752
Cell: +41 79 542 4839
Unterdorfstr. 83* CH-9443
WIDNAU, Switzerland
(Source ITT) www.ittvis.com

Spacemetric AB has added a new dimension in its rapidly growing list of contracts
by winning the right to develop an online distribution and archiving system for
satellite images acquired by the Joint Research Centre of the European
Commission in support of the Control with Remote Sensing (CwRS) campaigns.

The JRC manages the control activities for the Common Agricultural Policy,
including the acquisition of satellite images, on behalf of the Directorate-General
for Agriculture and Rural Development. The images are distributed to contractors
in the EU member states for processing and analysis, and are sent back to the
JRC for archiving and proof of purchase. The CwRS activity is now one of the
largest civil applications of remote sensing in Europe.
The JRC faced a significant logistical overhead in handling large volumes of raw
imagery and particularly their redistribution to contractors, each of whom must
generate accurate orthoimagery from raw scenes and locally sourced reference
materials. Also posing significant challenges were demonstrating the fulfilment of
data licensing requirements and in ensuring the consistency of orthoimages
generated by contractors within the scope of the contract.
In order to address these issues, an image portal concept was conceived based
on an already existing prototype of the ImageServer used internally at the JRC.
The new solution will add functionality to the existing ImageServer in terms of:
? a fine-grained authentication system, allowing the ImageServer to
function as an external image portal
? an automatic system for orthorectification of raw satellite images, using
high-resolution reference imagery, and
? an OGC-compliant catalogue system for identification and access of
satellite images.
The solutions will support all types of satellite sensors used in the CwRS program.
Spacemetric is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and provides systems and
consulting on all aspects of satellite image production. The company has longstanding
expertise in operational solutions for the rigorous correction of satellite
remote sensing imagery. Other customers include the European Space Agency,
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (DMCii), the National Aerospace Laboratory in the
Netherlands, the Swedish National Land Survey, the Swedish Space Corporation
and the Swedish National Space Board.
Contact:
Lars-Åke Edgardh,
Managing Director,Spacemetric
Email: lae@spacemetric.com
Tel: +46 8 594 770 80
(Source Spacemetric)

Infoterra France, a leading provider of geo-information products and services for managing the development, environment and security of our changing world, announces the setting up of a permanent presence in Beijing to support and develop flourishing commercial activity throughout Pacific Asia.

Headed by Infoterra Asian-Pacific Business Development Manager, Frank Bignone, this team aims to advise and inform current and future clients about Infoterraís cutting edge multi-sensor data acquisition, processing, analysis and interpreting tools and services.
An important effort will be devoted to helping customers develop business from products or services derived from their Infoterra systems, in particular the Pixel FactoryTM, an industrialised processing suite that produces advanced 3D mapping products of unparalleled quality. Infoterraís team will also prospect commercial opportunities in the region. They hope these actions will forge a stronger cohesion among Infoterra, its clients and partners in Asia Pacific.

NASA’s EDOS (EOS Data and Operations System) program at Goddard Space Flight Centre,
Washington DC, USA, has chosen Kongsberg Spacetec AS in connection with the
modernization of the Ground Stations for their EOS (Earth Observing System) satellites.

The
contract is worth 19 million Norwegian Crowns, and the work involved is to be finished
within the 1st quarter of 2007.
Since 2004, KSPT has had a close co-operation with NASA EDOS in Washington DC
concerning the upgrade of ground stations through continuous part deliveries. This new
contract involves the delivery of 22 systems for reception and processing of satellite data.
These systems are to be located at Svalbard, Alaska and the USA. The contract also involves
the delivery of 10 systems for monitoring and control of all the ground stations.
“This is a very important contract for us, and marks a breakthrough in the American market.
We also feel this is a declaration of faith that such a demanding customer as NASA EDOS, is
willing to invest in our technology for critical and cost effective operations. We are also
experiencing a great interest in our systems from both Asia and Europe
, says President Bjørn
Kanck at KSPT.
For further information, please contact
President Bjørn A. Kanck
(mobile 90088854) or the
Marketing Director
Harald Lauknes
(mobile 41652659)

GAF AG, an internationally active geo-information technology company, has recently signed a distribution agreement with E-Plus GmbH & Co. KG, a leading mobile Telecom service provider, to provide high resolution urban clutter data covering the territory of Germany.

The data has been generated by GAF from high resolution 5m IRS satellite image data and the final product provides 24 urban density and urban use classes.
The vector data set covers the whole of Germany with a minimum object size of 0.5-2 ha, depending on the object class. It is an ideal complement to topographic maps, orthophotos, road maps and any other GIS layer, thus providing excellent foundation data for all kinds of urban applications, prediction models and mapping purposes etc.
The data was produced by GAF AG based on “EuroMaps”, a high resolution IRS 1C/D satellite image mosaic, distributed by Euromap. A strict quality controlled process using digital data preprocessing and visual interpretation techniques, supported by a dedicated proprietary software designed to streamline the production, has been applied to map the urban areas in detail.
This project and the resulting urban data set is another milestone in the successful development of operational land use/land cover (LU/LC) Clutter data mapping projects during the past 15 years. GAF has during this period produced more than 1.5 million square kilometres of data with 12-24 classes featuring a 0.25 – 2 ha minimum mapping unit size over large areas in Europe and beyond. The quality and consistency of GAF clutter data are among the highest commercially available and are based on longstanding experience, streamlined technology, robust extraction techniques and approved quality assurance procedures. Ms. Regine Richter, head of environmental services at GAF, states: “We are proud that E-Plus, like other mobile telecom market leaders here in Germany, have placed faith in the quality of our services over so many years. This is understood by GAF as an incentive and mandate to constantly innovate our services and therefore maintain a leading market position in Europe”.
About GAF
GAF AG has leading competence and expertise in applied remote sensing, geo-information, information systems and capacity building services. GAF AG offers a comprehensive portfolio of services ranging from the supply of geo-data (e.g. satellite and aerial imagery, digital elevation models) to image processing, thematic mapping, GIS/DBMS applications, software development, and full consulting packages. GAF has a long track record in performing land use and land cover mapping (Clutter, CORINE, LCCS) as well as fully fledged consulting projects in the fields of agriculture, forestry, geology, infrastructure, land management, and environmental sectors. Here GAF’s strengths lie in the design and implementation of customised mapping-, monitoring-, planning-,and cadastral systems. For over two decades, GAF AG´s activities have been overseen by the CEO, Dr. Rupert Haydn.
(Source GAF AG)