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Remote Sensing News

 

17 Nov 2008 09:00:00 +1000

Satellite image product release - Update

We plan to release Resourcesat (IRS P6) satellite image products in late 2008.

To ensure we release the best possible product to meet your needs, we will be utilising your feedback when preparing our draft IRS-P6 image distribution and pricing model; the details of which will be published online once they are finalised.

Key proposed features include:

  • All IRS P6 imagery to be pre-processed to a standard set of specifications
  • Sample imagery to be made available to clients after the product specifications are finalised

Potential users should:

  • Compare Landsat and Resourcesat (IRS P6) data to assess the suitability of Resourcesat sensors LISS-II and AWIFS data to their applications
  • Note: that although the USGS/NASA publication compared CBERS and Resourcesat (IRS P6) satellite data, Geoscience Australia does not currently plan to acquire or distribute CBERS satellite data.

Are you interested in funding additional image acquisition?

Under our contract with the Resourcesat data supplier, Antrix, we acquire about 40% of total possible image acquisitions of Australia.

We invite major stakeholders to discuss the sourcing of funds to obtain additional acquisition. If you would like to discuss this issue, or provide feedback, please contact Remote Sensing Client Services +61(2) 62499779.

Related Documents:

A comparison between Landsat and Resourcesat data

LISS-II and AWIFS data in applications that utilise Landsat data.

 

17 Nov 2008 09:00:00 +1000

Landsat update

Dr Shanti Reddy from Geoscience Australia recently attended the 37th Landsat Ground Station Operators Working Group (LGSOWG) meeting held in Shanghai. At the meeting the United States Geological Survey (USGS) provided an update on the latest Landsat issues, and worldwide ground-stations had the opportunity to exchange experiences.


Highlighted information included:

  • Landsat 5 and 7 have no new failures since last year's LGSOWG meeting.
  • The current Landsat 5 pattern of restricted acquisitions during our winter will continue into the future, even though there will be a new method for charging the satellite's batteries by the end of November 2008.
  • GA has already addressed this issue by implementing IRS-P6 acquisitions to ensure continuity of moderate resolution land imaging data to Australian users. Landsat 5 is now imaging to the southern tip of Tasmania.
  • The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM, or Landsat 8) project is currently on track. However, the Standing Review Board recently identified that the June 2011 launch date and the project baseline budget may not be adequate. Consequently they recommended postponing the date by 6 to 18 months, which could see the launch of Landsat 8 as late as December 2012.
  • Also, recent lobbying from the water resources sector has forced officials to consider adding a thermal IR sensor. As a result, NASA has set up a team to investigate the addition of two thermal IR bands in the 10 to 12 micron region at 120m resolution. A final decision will be made before May 2009.
17 Nov 2008 09:00:00 +1000

Release of Landsat 5 image cut off map

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has released a map indicating areas of the globe that can expect to be imaged all year round, which are indentified by the green area in the image below.

The remaining areas can expect seasonal variations, and are identified by the yellow lines to determine the maximum latitude of possible imaging for any given date on the x-axis. For example, by 29 September imaging should go as far south as Bass Straight. For more information please see the USGS web site

 

Image of Landsat 5 Duty Cycle September
17 Nov 2008 09:00:00 +1000

Landsat 5 to image all of Australia by mid-October

As most of our clients will be aware, Landsat-5 has undertaken reduced imaging over Australia in the past few months due to ongoing technical issues. The two images below show the reduced imaging during June, followed by the increased imaging to early September of this year. The entire Australian continent, including Tasmania, should be imaged by mid-October.

Image of Landsat 5 Duty Cycle SeptemberImage of Landsat 5 Duty Cycle October 2008

Images showing the areas acquired by Landsat-5 in June (left) and early September (right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


11 Sept 2008 09:00:00 +1000

New satellite images of Australia (MODIS Composites)

Geoscience Australia is now producing cloud-free satellite images of the whole of Australia using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor on board the Terra and Aqua satellites.

A new image will be produced every four days, comprised of the past 16 days worth of data, to create a single composite product of Australia.

The processing we apply to this data creates an image which is cloud-free, and has been corrected for view and sun angle effects. These effects are more prominent on sensors such as MODIS, which have a wide field-of-view of the Earth. The removal of these effects creates an image known as Normalised Bottom of Atmosphere Surface Reflectance (NBAR) products.

There are key specification differences between our products and the existing MODIS composite products available through the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

  • Geoscience Australia composite products are available faster - typically three days after the last acquisition. This period of time allows for the best available satellite positioning and atmospheric information to be used in generating the product.
  • We update the product every four-days.
  • We customise map projection to optimise using MODIS data with other spatial information.             

An additional benefit of these MODIS composites of Australia is that they provide information about atmospheric conditions which can be used to improve atmospheric corrections for other imagery acquired at similar times. 

MODIS composite images are available free of charge on GA's website for approximately six months after image acquisition.

More information about our MODIS products is available on our website.


11 Sept 2008 09:00:00 +1000

Landsat Mosaic 2006 Now Available

This unique visual record of landscape and vegetation changes in Australia now extends to 34 years, with the availability of 2006 data from the Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 satellites.

Satellite images and data, spanning from 1972 to 2006, are now available from Geoscience Australia and Landsat distributors.

Data for several epochs within the 34 year time span are available in 1:1M scale tiles or as individual images of the Australian landmass. More information on the products can be found at the Landsat Mosaic (AGO) product suite page. AGO data has been produced by the Department of Climate Change.

Contact:

acres@ga.gov.au

Updated: 18 November 2008