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Land Viewer cloud software for remote sensing analytics is the biggest surprise I had in a long time. After trying it you won’t be needing any other satellite data processing web tool.

Founded in 2015 by Max Polyakov, EOS Inc. (EOS stands for the Earth Observing System) developed one of the best satellite data processing and analytics platforms out there. EOS’s back-end solutions are used by some of the Fortune 500 companies and the mapping industry leaders.

The platform offers the fastest engine to search and process satellite and areal imagery I’ve ever seen. On the top, it features a massive set of filters and algorithms to analyze the data at any scale. Now, all these features are available for free to the general public. The company recently launched a new, impressive web-based tool where anyone can access, analyze and download satellite images for free.

The service is called Land Viewer and offers free, on-the-fly, real-time imagery processing and analytics packed with features. It’s cool and insanely fast. It gives you access to imagery from Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 satellites with more to come soon.

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Google Earth Engine ( GEE ) is a cloud platform for processing satellite imageries.

This service includes images of Landsat 5, 7,8, Sentinel 1 and Sentinel 2. You can process them directly on Google servers and don’t need download the images. This opportunity does processing of satellite imageries faster then on a limited desktop PC. However, you should have programming skills, because this is based on JavaScript code and the Google Earth Engine API.

Examples of GEE

A great example of using this servic is Global Forest Watch. The main task of this service are interactive maps of deforestation and reforestation. I really advise you to look up on this resources if you does not heart about them already.

Project with GEE

Now, I want to describe my practical experience using GEE. This is related with my master project. Topic of the project is “Determination of burning area in Arkhangelsk region (Russia)”. The Arkhangelsk region covers half million km². Creating a cloudless composite covering the whole region is not a simple task and very time consuming if it is done manually: You will spend more time on downloading images and picking up images in the composite.

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An increasing awareness is emerging that, although extremely useful in a large pool of applications, space-based sensing, alone, is not sufficient to reach the desired accuracy, reliability, precision, and especially completeness of data requested in some cases.

In the context of risk assessment, where missing details can have a great impact on the accuracy of projected disaster scenarios, it is important to guarantee a reasonable completeness of the data kit; to meet such an ambitious goal, consistent and operational monitoring systems are needed to integrate spaceborne acquisitions at a variety of spatial and temporal resolutions. On the other hand, the development of sensor networks and mobile-based crowdsourcing appear to be offering the required technical means to generate the complementary data and support the integration of space-based and in-situ sensing.

From the above context, this Special Issue was conceived, open to the submission of both review and original research articles, related to the exploitation of spaceborne Earth observation (EO) and in-situ sensors for risk assessment from natural threats. Special attention will be devoted to the emerging paradigms in both sensing contexts, like “open data”, “big data”, “machine learning”, “crowdsourcing” and “participative sensing”. The Special Issue welcomes contributions ranging from exposure and vulnerability assessment, to geospatial methods for risk scenario analysis, to sensor networks, as well as innovative approaches using sensor fusion and deep learning. Original contributions on hazard and damage assessment are also encouraged.

Keywords

  • Spaceborne earth observation
  • In-situ sensing
  • Participative sensing
  • Crowdsourcing
  • Sensor networks
  • Risk assessment
  • Natural hazards

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section “Remote Sensors”
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2017

Special Issue Editor
Guest Editor, Prof. Dr. Fabio Dell’Acqua
Department of Electrical, Computer, Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: risk and damage assessment from radar and optical remotely sensed data; risk exposure and vulnerability evaluation by fusion of Earth Observation and crowdsourced data

The Dutch government is freeing up EUR1.4 million for the purchase of satellite data to improve the sustainability and efficiency of farming. Among other things, the data contains detailed information about the soil, the atmosphere and crop development. Specialised companies can analyse the data to provide farmers with targeted advice on irrigation, fertilisation and crop-spraying activities. The satellite data will be made available online as open data, allowing everyone to have free access to it.

The Dutch agricultural and horticultural sector enjoys a very strong international reputation, and the government is keen to support this leading position by investing in innovation. Satellite data enables farmers to monitor crop progress very closely and to take corrective action precisely where it is needed, thus resulting in greater efficiency and sustainability. This will help to secure the Netherlands’ position at the forefront of the agriculture and horticulture industry and enable the country to continue to do its bit to solve the global food crisis in the future.

Specialised remote sensing equipment

The data is collected by Earth observation satellites that are orbiting at between 500 and 900 kilometres above the Earth. Using highly specialised remote measuring and sensing devices, the satellites gather unique information about soil quality, humidity, temperature and atmospheric conditions. It is also possible to analyse the development of biomass and the nitrogen and starch content in the crops, plus the satellites collect information on numerous other aspects such as changes in water quality, forestation and the environment. The satellite data will be available for the upcoming production season via satellietdataportaal.nl.

Open access to satellite data

It is far from easy to decipher the raw satellite data. Generally speaking, the data will primarily be analysed by scientific institutes and specialist companies. They will then convert it into information that farmers can utilise in their existing operations – such as up-to-date information about vegetation (www.groenmonitor.nl) or targeted advice on fertilisation and irrigation (www.akkerweb.nl). Smart crop production methods can generate substantial savings for farmers in terms of fuel, seeds, artificial fertiliser, crop protection agents and water.

National Testing Ground for Precision Farming

The purchase of satellite data is a good fit with the Dutch National Testing Ground for Precision Farming (NPPL) project, which recently received EUR2 million worth of government subsidy. The project is aimed at accelerating the adoption of precision farming in the Netherlands by connecting and strengthening existing initiatives and also by creating additional scope for experimentation where necessary.

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PROBA-V’s Mission Exploitation Platform (MEP) complements the PROBA-V user segment by building an operational Exploitation Platform on the data and derived products to bring the users closer to the data. The MEP offers multiple online applications. One of these is the Time Series Viewer (TSV). It allows you to explore the PROBA-V Time Series for specific regions, incorporating data such as rainfall.

Pixel and polygon support in the Time Series Viewer

Since March 2017, the Time Series Viewer has allowed you to view time series for individual pixels for PROBA-V 300 m TOC NDVI and Chirps rainfall data. On-the-fly data analytics are applied to show you the exact information you need, not just the pre-computed values for pre-defined regions. The next step? Supporting user-defined polygons from the Web UI.

The pixel and polygon support can be used via our web client, but you can also use the RESTful Web service. This service now supports both, single pixels and polygons, and can be integrated into your applications. In the future more data will be added e.g. vegetation layers from the Copernicus Global Land Service.

More technical information is available at this link.

Custom designed VRE to facilitate your research

Besides the Time Series Viewer, PROBA-V MEP also offers a Virtual Research Environment (VRE). Researchers and developers from across the globe can request a VRE with access to the PROBA-V and SPOT-VEGETATION data archive. It also offers a powerful set of tools to work with the data (e.g. SNAP Toolbox, GRASS, GIS, QGIS). With the VRE it is also possible to develop and test applications (R, Python or Java).

For more information, please visit https://proba-v-mep.esa.int.
This article is extracted from VITO blog

You are invited to participate in the Regional Workshop of the GEO-CRADLE Horizon2020 project (Coordinating and integRating state-of-the-art Earth Observation Activities in the regions of North Africa, Middle East, and Balkans and Developing Links with GEO related initiatives towards GEOSS).

The event is jointly organised by the Project Coordinator National Observatory of Athens and the Project Partner Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe.

The workshop will take place on May 25th 2017, from 10:00 to 16:00 at Le Meridien Heliopolis Hotel 51 El-Orouba, Almazah, Cairo, Egypt.

This regional workshop will focus on identifying the potential local challenges and needs that can be addressed with the Earth Observation (EO), enabling more informed decision making, while seeking solutions to enhance growth and innovation in the geo-information sector. Aiming to support knowledge sharing, capacity building and an enhanced cooperation between academia and industry, the event will also provide participants with a unique cross-sector networking opportunity. In addition, panel discussions will be complemented with information on available EU funding in the EO sector.

Please register by filling in this form.
For further information about project activities, please visit the GEO-CRADLE website.

(Doreen Andoh, 23 March 2017) The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commissioned an earth observation data receiving satellite in Accra as part of measures to ensure sustainable use of fisheries resources in the sub-region.

It will also be used to collect and provide fishermen with information to ensure their safety while at sea.

The commissioning of the satellite formed part of the implementation of the ECOWAS Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa (MESA) project, initiated in 2010 to ensure continuity of past investments on the use of earth observation data in Africa, among other objectives.

MESA is an ECOWAS initiative funded by the European Union to provide member countries with innovative tools to help manage fisheries resources effectively, among other objectives.

The satellite is located at the ECOWAS Coastal and Marine Resources Management Centre at the University of Ghana, Legon.

As part of the MESA project, the satellite will facilitate the gathering of information and data about the earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems to be used to improve management of the environment and security in Africa.

Under the project, Geospatial maps of potential fishing grounds integrated with vessel traffic will be provided to decision-makers to aid monitoring, control and surveillance against Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing.

Additionally, forecast of ocean conditions will be communicated to mariners and artisanal fishers through SMS and other media.

Steering Committee meeting

The earth observation Data receiving satellite was commissioned at a ceremony to open the third steering Committee meeting of MESA in Accra yesterday.

The objectives of the meeting were to provide an overview of the MESA project at the regional and national levels, to review activities carried out since the start of the project in 2014 and engage in a policy dialogue to harmonise strategies for the monitoring of small-fishing vessels.

Other objectives include formulating measures to promote the use of geospatial information for the management of marine ecosystems, providing orientation to all stakeholders

The five-day meeting is on the theme “innovative technologies in support of the fisheries sector in West Africa”.

Remarks

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, ECOWAS’ Director of Environment, Dr Johnson Boanuh, said the satellite would facilitate the overall implementation of the MESA programme, which was launched in 2014.

He said despite the efforts of the ECOWAS region, in collaboration with development partners, the fisheries sector of the continent continued to face challenges that hampered its harmonious development.

Those challenges, he said, were preventing the sector from contributing maximally to food and nutrition security and poverty reduction within member countries.

He cited some of the challenges as the lack of effective and transparent management of fisheries resources; illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing practices; the low development of aquaculture below the hydrographic potential of the region and the weak processing and transparent infrastructure for intra-regional trade of fisheries products.

He was optimistic that the effective implementation of the MESA project would help address the challenges facing the fisheries sector in particular.

In a remark made on her behalf, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ms Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, expressed the government’s commitment to sustainable management of the fishing industry in Ghana.

“Ghana is currently implementing a marine fisheries management plan, which involves a two-month closed fishing season for tuna vessels and industrial trawlers, supposed to recover depleted fish stock,” she stated.

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by Charlotte Bishop is Remote Sensing Projects Manager with NPA Satellite Mapping, CGG (www.cgg.com/npa). There has never been such an abundance of satellite imagery and elevation data. It can, however, pose challenges in knowing where to start in selecting the right imagery for the job. NPA Satellite Mapping’s Charlotte Bishop traces the evolution of the market and reviews the options now on offer

When NPA Satellite Mapping was founded 45 years ago it initially focused on the application of satellite imagery for geological exploration before growing to become a leading independent supplier of satellite data and derived solutions to a global client base across a range of market sectors including oil & gas, mining, engineering, environment and defence. It is therefore a fitting moment to look back and consider the numerous ‘revolutions’ that have occurred within the satellite imagery market and how these changes impact the decisions we can now make in selecting and exploiting the optimum data set.

Lift-off

Most specialists would agree that the first revolution was the launch of Landsat-1, initially known as ERTS-1, in 1972, which was the first commercially available satellite mission.

The series is now on its eighth satellite and, with plans for the launch of Landsat-9 in 2023, continues to highlight the value of its medium spatial resolution multi-spectral imagery that is now publicly available. To this day, Landsat still provides the backbone to numerous remote sensing applications thanks to its unrivalled historical archive and fixed 16-day revisit period.

The next revolution was the launch of the first operational Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite mission following the success of SEASAT in the 1970s. SAR had the advantage of providing all-weather, day/night imaging capabilities. ERS-1, operated by ESA (European Space Agency), was launched in 1991 and its data acquisition strategy resulted in a significant global archive that continues to be exploited as part of historical assessments. Long-term C-band radar continuity was subsequently provided by ERS-2 (1995), ENVISAT (2002) and, more recently, Sentinel-1A/1B (2014/2016).

Aiming higher

At this early stage, the skies were largely dominated by lower spatial resolution satellite missions but diversity was creeping in with the availability of both optical and radar systems. It wasn’t until 1999, and the launch of IKONOS-2, that the first commercial Very High Resolution (VHR) optical satellite successfully reached orbit and imaged the world at a resolution better than a 10 m pixel.

A ground-breaking satellite of its age, it acquired imagery at 80 cm (panchromatic) and 3.6 m (multispectral) spatial resolution and became a workhorse for detailed mapping for the next 16 years. IKONOS-2 marked the start of many similar missions including Quickbird-2, Worldview, Kompsat, and Pleiades, to name but a few.

Another revolution, occurring in parallel with IKONOS-2, focused on increasing the spectral resolution (more spectral bands) of satellites to widen the range of information that could be discriminated from an image. ASTER, launched by NASA in late 1999, was the first satellite with this increased spectral range. Building on the Landsat spectral resolution, it had increased capabilities in the visible, short-wave and thermal portions of the electromagnetic spectrum and is, to this day, unmatched by any other spaceborne multispectral sensor.

Not all the advances were in the optical domain. TerraSAR-X and COSMO-SkyMed, launched within days of each other in June 2007, were the first X-band SAR missions capable of acquiring high spatial resolution data. This technology not only led to daily SAR acquisition capabilities as part of the COSMO-SkyMed constellation but also the generation of the WorldDEMTM global elevation product with a 12m grid derived from TerraSAR-X and its twin, TanDEM-X.

Relaxing the rules

For optical satellites, the next challenge was to improve spatial resolution still further. Worldview-3 was the first – and currently the only – satellite capable of collecting imagery at 30-cm spatial resolution. Launched in 2015, it prompted a relaxation of US Government restrictions by giving the commercial market access to 25 cm resolution imagery (the previous limit being 50 cm). Coupled with the increased spectral capabilities of its visible and shortwave sensor, it offers the balance of highly detailed mapping and increased feature extraction capabilities.

Although not a direct technological advancement, open access data is a revolution in itself and one that has brought significant benefits. The United States Geological Survey was the first to make all of its data freely available in the late 2000s leading, in turn, to an exponential increase in the usage of its data. Subsequently, ESA, with its extensive archive of SAR data, followed suit, setting the baseline for Sentinel. This satellite constellation, with various capabilities, is now providing data quickly and robustly to support the European ‘Copernicus’ programme. Making data open access not only makes it more accessible, but also encourages research and development. This, in turn, encourages new products and services into the marketplace.

SmallSat boom

The current revolution is the boom in constellations of small satellites such as Planet’s Doves. These missions, typically flown by innovative new operators, seek to improve temporal collection to never-before-seen levels at a fraction of the cost of the larger commercial missions, while also challenging how we ingest and use that data in new and novel ways.

These historical and contemporary satellite imagery revolutions now put us in an enviable position, with many missions, offering numerous, varied capabilities. However, this diversity of options makes for a complex landscape where determining the optimal image purchasing solution can be difficult. It invariably involves a compromise between multiple factors, both technical, economic and intended use. However, some key considerations can help with the selection. These include the following:
Image timing and date

For some applications, the most recent image may be the most important requirement. In others, a time-series may be required whereby satellite constellations can be exploited for both historical and ongoing monitoring. This can be particularly important in areas that are variable due to seasonal change or undergoing extensive development. For such applications, using a single image may not provide a truly representative view or provide sufficient context for analysis.

Spatial resolution

A 30-cm image will provide an extremely high level of detail but the tradeoff is that it covers only a small area and can be a costly option. Depending on the required mapping scale, a slightly lower resolution, even down to 1.5 m, can provide sufficient detail to derive a 1:10,000 map with the advantage that it covers an area three times the size of a 30-cm image.
Sensor type

Deciding whether to use an optical or SAR sensor, or a combination of both, comes down to a number of factors. An optical sensor, which relies on the reflectance properties of surface features, only operates during the daytime and its applicability can be severely limited in some areas due to cloud cover and haze. SAR, an active sensor, is capable of imaging through clouds during both day and night. In certain situations, SAR can provide some ground penetration, which may also provide useful information on shallow subsurface features. The ‘textural’ information from SAR and the ‘spectral’ information from optical has specific value for different types of projects, and combining them can provide additional insight beyond that available from either used in isolation.

Exciting prospect

Today, we can do far more with satellite data than we ever imagined possible 45 years ago, so what tomorrow could bring is a very exciting prospect. With its extensive applied satellite remote sensing experience, long-term relationships with satellite operators, and independent supplier status, NPA Satellite Mapping offers a simple, impartial entry point into the increasingly complex world of satellite imagery. Selecting the right imagery is the critical first step to unlocking actionable information.

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Getech developed a new satellite-based gravity data product that enhances explorationists’ understanding of the East African Rift. Potential fields data have proved particularly successfully within this environment, and numerous oil companies have cited how such information had direct positive impacts on exploration campaigns.

Getech experts are creating these new datasets by converting lake-surface satellite altimeter measurements to gravity. The raw data were obtained from measurements collected by Cryosat-2 and Jason-1 satellites, which then were combined with previously acquired GEOSAT data. This unique combination of data and expertise created information of sufficient density to produce real insight for explorationists.

Getech created these advanced processing packages and linked onshore data for Lake Albert, Lake Edward, Lake Malawi, Lake Mweru, Lake Rukwa, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria.

According to Simon Campbell, head of Gravity and Magnetic Solutions for Getech, “translating our processing methods developed in open oceans to inland lakes has been a significant technical leap forward. This advancement, combined with the increased data density, has resulted in us providing complete coverage and insight over these inland lakes; an environment where we have seen potential fields play a key role in exploration.”

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By combining the freely available Sentinel-2 satellite imagery with other data sources, VITO hands everyone in the Belgian value chain vitally important tools. They are then able to stimulate the further growth of potato production.

Satellite revolution!

In the past few years, a true revolution has taken place in the satellite business. Hundreds of Earth Observation satellites have been launched and are in orbit today, taking pictures of our planet on a daily – sometimes hourly – basis. A lot of the ESA satellite images are freely available. At the same time, prices for images taken by commercial satellite operators are also dropping. All this results in thousands of gigabytes of easily navigated data that opens up a world of possibilities for, amongst others, agricultural applications.

Bringing space technology down to the potato fields

To start with, it is now possible to keep an eye on every field everywhere in the world. Information can be derived from satellite imagery. For example, it’s possible to calculate a reliable indicator of a crop’s productivity (fAPAR).

Thanks to the commonly available high resolution satellite data, you can now derive the productivity indicator for every spot in the field and even tell farmers which parts of theirs field need attention. By combining this satellite data with the weather and soil data, it is even possible to provide meaningful information throughout the season on the development and health of the potatoes in every single field.

WatchITgrow®, a platform for everyone in the potato value chain

WatchITgrow®, launched on 14 March 2017, is a platform tailor-made for the potato sector in Belgium. It allows everyone in the potato value chain to monitor every single potato field in Belgium. It is designed to be both a platform for collaboration between farmers, traders and the processing industry, and a monitoring tool aimed at stimulating further growth of potato production to help it keep up with industry demand.

As the potential arable land in Belgium is limited, growth needs to come from increases in productivity. Currently, the sector reaches an average yield of 40 tons/hectare. By allowing farmers to record all actions taken on their land and by monitoring the health of the crops, it will be possible to further increase productivity in the coming years.

Farmers now can benchmark the productivity of their fields with the production averages of neighbouring fields, fields within their provinces or even at national level. This will allow farmers to investigate why their fields or varieties are performing better or worse than other fields or varieties. Industry will get accurate information on the evolution and productivity of different potato varieties at a regional level.

Can WatchITgrow® really revolutionize the sector?

In Belgium, potatoes have evolved from being a side crop to being a main crop. The processing industry is growing quickly. Innovative tools such as WatchITgrow® will help the sector to further increase both quantity and quality of potatoes. It will allow farmers to make timely corrections and, in doing so, increase their yields to an average of 60 tons/hectare. By investing in new technologies, the Belgian potato sector is convinced it can strengthen its position as a world leader.

More to come

WatchITgrow® will be further developed in close cooperation with the potato sector. As it is an open platform, more and more data from other sources will be integrated. On our roadmap we have a list of new functionalities that will be added over time to provide farmers with tailor-made advice, such as fertilization and irrigation advice and warnings for various pests and diseases.

For more information, please visit WatchITgrow® website.
This article is extracted from VITO blog