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FORSAT – A satellite processing platform for high resolution forest assessment

FORSAT is a software platform for the extraction of 3D geometric information and automatic change detection from high resolution (HR) and very-high resolution (VHR) imagery from satellite optical sensors.

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The FORSAT research project was co-funded by the national funding authorities of the participating countries under EUROSTARS and the European Commission. After project duration of 24 months the project was successfully finished with the final meeting and an associated user workshop on 02-03.10.2014, hosted in Nicosia, Cyprus.

The aim of project was to raise the current technological level of aerial imagery in combination with airborne laser scanning for forest cover mapping applications to a standalone satellite based monitoring capacity. Specifically, the project successfully aspired to transfer the existing precise processing capabilities of airborne techniques to VHR optical, stereographic satellite data, thereby providing a single source forest information solution.

Graphical user interface and main window of FORSAT software

FORSAT was developed as a 3D forest information platform and includes units for geometric and radiometric processing of satellite imagery and 2D/3D information extraction as well as 3D surface comparison for change detection. FORSAT supports most of the HR and VHR optical imagery like IKONOS, GeoEye-1, WorldView-1/2, SPOT-5, Pléiades-1A/B, etc. and can be easily updated to similar images from future missions.

Therefore, FORSAT is a powerful software capable to:

  • process mono, stereo as well as triplet images from common current optical HR and VHR satellites,
  • create ortho-rectified images,
  • generate 3D surfaces,
  • import and combine elevation data (e.g. LIDAR) to
  • calculate 3D differences and volume changes for
  • forest-related and other applications.
Ikonos 2001 (false colour image)
(© European Space Imaging / DigitalGlobe)		 Pléiades 2014 (false colour image)
(PLEIADES © CNES 2014, Distribution Airbus DS)		 3D differences visualized on digital surface model derived from Pléiades 2014 using FORSAT

Identification and assessment of deforestation caused by forest fire in Saittas, Cyprus and based on VHR satellite data of 2001 and 2014 using FORSAT

Ikonos 2001 (false colour image)
(© European Space Imaging / DigitalGlobe)		 Pléiades 2014 (false colour image)
(PLEIADES © CNES 2014, Distribution Airbus DS)		 Difference in heights visualized on ortho-rectified false colour image of Pléiades 2014.

Beside forest-related applications, FORSAT is also capable of detecting, delimiting and quantifying other changes like earthwork operations visualized above

In order to visualize the capacity and the benefits of FORSAT, six (6) case studies located in Austria, Cyprus, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey have been tested using optical data from different sensors. The results of the pilot applications proved that the platform can be used for different applications and would help forest managers and engineers, geomatics engineers, companies, local and regional authorities to extract 3D information from HR and VHR satellite information.

The very competitive price/quality ratio allows potential customers to use the optimum business model adapted to their real market service needs. Further details can be found on the Forsat fact sheet and the project website


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Web		 GeoImaging Ltd. is a SME based in Cyprus, established in 2002 at Nicosia. The company offers scientific and professional solutions in IT and Geo-informatics. It is also active in R&D programmes, in EU & national funded projects and provides consultations services as well. GeoImaging goal is to support its clients and partners in the responsible and successful completion of projects. The products and services span state-of-the art knowledge and technology from spatial/image information acquisition, processing, analysis to representation and visualisation. The area of projects’ that Geoimaging is acting concerns Geo-informatics and IT in the broader extent, i.e. software development, mobile & web applications, GIS, cartography, geodatabases & data mining, photogrammetry & computer vision, remote sensing, imaging, 3D modelling.
GeoImaging Ltd. was the project coordinator of the FORSAT research project.

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Web		 GeoVille Information System GmbH is a private sector enterprise located in Austria and is specialised in application production and services related to Earth Observation (EO) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications. GeoVille offers services in the fields of EO data processing, GIS operations, Geodata provision and distribution, Environmental applications and Management and consultancy.
The main thematic domains regarding EO and GIS applications comprise land use and land cover mapping; urban, regional and spatial planning; forestry; agriculture, infrastructure applications; environment; consultancy; cartography and promotion.
GeoVille’s mission is to provide turn-key solutions for spatial data management.

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Web		 4DiXplorer AG has started as a spin-off company of ETH Zurich (Switzerland), and now is an independent SME located in Zurich. 4DiXplorer offers advanced software and customized solutions for geospatial data acquisition and processing. The main areas of expertise are 3D high accurate processing of satellite, aerial, UAV and terrestrial images, reality-based virtual modelling of objects and environments based on image and laser scanning data. Thanks to the scientific knowledge and experiences gained through many years at ETH Zurich, 4DiXplorer proposes innovative software solutions, knowledge and technology transfer (courses and tutorials) and project consultancy. 4DiXplorer works in the international market, mainly focusing on Europe, Asia and North America.

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Web		 Ekinoks Surveying Software Engineering Ltd. Co. is co-founded in June 2011, in Istanbul (Turkey). It is a technology company providing advanced software, servicing and consulting in geo-spatial market and other markets related to surveying and 3D. The board members are qualified persons both in academia and in industry. The company has strong connection with universities and institutions. The motivation is to convert the scientific knowledge and experiences gained in the academia into commercial market values.

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Web		 Ingeniería Y Soluciones Informáticas S.L. (ISOIN) is a Spanish company working in Innovation and Technology fields, with a deep experience and a highly qualified background in ambient intelligence, GIS services, collaborative work and system integration within European projects. Our firm has a deep expertise in enterprise networks, and it is currently leading R&D activities in clusters, as the aeronautical cluster in Andalusia. ISOIN has potential contacts in South America, Spain and Europe due to its business activities.