We are facing a practical crisis rather that ideological one. We need to confirm legitimacy of our presence in overall international division of labor not through the way we choose but through competition and timely developments, solutions, approaches especially under conditions of open export/import of components, products, programs, services and technologies.
Geoinformation services and technologies which use satellite imagery are not an exception. Only globalization can give us a chance to reduce the costs, win competitions and level all specific approaches and requirements at the same time. The happy medium location of a certain company or a structure in the pyramid of further consumption is dependent on many technological, administrative aspects of competence and even cultural and historical approaches.
That is why by suggesting yet another ‘technocratic’ issue to our readers we decided to focus our attention on Earth imagery problems from the ‘humanitarian angle’ in one of our next issues in 2012. Specifically humanitarian aspects often turn out to be more valuable to access tendencies and understand the vectors and rates of development for a certain industry than those technical and exact science representatives get accustomed to.
Vladimir Gershenzon
Editor-in-Chief,
ScanEx RDC General Director
Cover story
Development of Russian Space Industry: Primary Strategies.By I. Moiseev
The article reviews the main issues of space industry development in Russia. The current situation is examined using the SWOT-analysis terminology to get the big picture showing the status of the national cosmonautics.
Specifics of the Russian ERS Market Legal Regulation.By E. Ash
With basically complete absence of national Earth observation data the Russian RS market exists and develops, using data, received from foreign satellites. One of the main obstacles on the way of the “space” economic sector development is the regulatory gaps, regulating the operations in space imagery.
The Prospects of ERS Space Systems Market Development.By A. Lomov
Based on expert evaluations the number of operating ERS satellites will double by 2015. Governmental organizations and agencies will remain key structures, ensuring further development of both space systems and the entire market, still aimed at meeting the state needs in space imagery data in the first place. Cooperation of different countries in generation and operation of ERS space systems will hit further development. The article reviews the trends and prospects in Earth observation data market development.
WTO and Earth Remote Sensing Services.By V. A. Evseev
Russia’s membership in WTO will create additional opportunities for expanding presence of domestic ERS operators in foreign markets and could mean a second wind for the national industry. Full-pledged development of the civil sector of space services including Earth remote sensing and use of WTO advantages are not possible without bringing legal framework of space activities in Russia in synch with the modern requirements.
Applications of Satellite Monitoring Technologies in Russia.By A. Cheremisova, N. Pupysheva
Technologies of satellite imagery data reception and processing have been created at ScanEx RDC, as well as technologies of operational delivery of derived data products to customers. To resolve a variety of tasks, especially in emergency, the operability of getting hold of satellite data is very important. A group for operational monitoring has been established at ScanEx RDC, which specialists work on projects for monitoring and control of fire situations, season and flash floods, natural and human-induced emergency situations, etc.
Time History of Anapa Bar Coast Line over the Last 70 Years According to Remote Sensing Data.By N. Lavrentyev, S. Kuklev
Based on the results of studies, carried out using Earth remote sensing data, the coast line from Anapa city up to Vityazevo village has been reconstructed for the period between 1941 and 2011. Over these years the coast line recession was 20-40 m on average. This enables to conclude that degradation of the Anapa bay bar beaches will continue.
Urban Eco-Footprints on MSU Geoportal.By T. Khaybrakhmanov
Widespread access to the Internet within the major cities, as well as the consistent development of web-mapping provides significant opportunities for the implementation of research results of urban systems as specialized geo-services. This service is developed on the territory of the Eastern district of Moscow and is based on ScanEx’s Web Geomixer technology. The results of ecological research, presented by maps, database, satellite images, are realized within a single web service that allows reviewing and analyzing the information together, gaining access to research results from any location with Internet connection, adding new data directly into the online project. Service is represented on the basis of geoportal MSU with open access to the entire scientific community.
The Study of Tukulan Dynamics in Vilyuisky District, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).By V. Zhirkova, A. Ivanova, T. Dolgunova
Space images were used during the studies of the tukulans dynamics in Vilyuisky ulus of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), when detecting the reasons of respective changes. Analysis of 2000 and 2010 images revealed that the acreage of wind-borne formations has not much increased. The tukulans weediness was also registered, which on the contrary resulted in their smaller area and strengthening.
Oil Pollution of the Guinea Bay per Space Radar Data.By N. Terleeva, S. Kamagate, A. Ivanov
Satellite radar data was used to study oil pollution of the Guinea Bay — radar images from the library of the European Space Agency (ESA). Analysis of radar images, acquired in 2003–2009, showed that the main source of oil pollution in Guinea Bay is oil production and transportation. The analysis revealed 335 oil spots, mostly in Nigeria waters, which constitutes 44% of the total number of detected oil slicks.
Regional Space Monitoring of Emergency Situations. Experience of Murmansk Region.By N. Rybchak
Earth observation data have been used by the Monitoring and Forecasting Center of the Murmansk Region EMERCOM Department to monitor floods, forest fires, water oil spills and those along the shoreline of the Kola and Kandalaksha Bays. Geodata and geodata products are supplied in form of the service of the end-user, available via Internet.
Application of Satellite Altimetry for Studying Natural Events in the Black Sea
Satellite altimetry is one of the modern methods of Earth remote sensing from space. Nowadays during the ocean water circulation specifics studies it represents up to 90% of all the required information. In 2003 changes in atmospheric circulation over the Black Sea waters resulted in essential change in properties of dynamic processes in the sea surface layer. Satellite altimetry data have been widely applied when studying changes in the Black Sea currents. Detailed information was presented by the Ukrainian Marine Hydrophysical Institute Senior Researcher S. Stanichny.
“Skolkovo” Space Cluster: Development Frame, Innovation Media, Experts Ground
S. Zhukov, the cluster CEO, speaks about the operations of the space technology and communications cluster of the “Skolkovo” Foundation and the problems of the Russian space industry and possible ways for their solution.
“Space Imagery Technologies Will Be More and More Accessible and Transparent. This Is Inevitable”
The rates in creation and introduction of technology innovations in satellite imagery industry grow with each year. Vladimir Gershenzon, ScanEx RDC General Director, talks about their application practices and specifics of working with innovation products.
Q&A
Space Industry and WTO
Russia is going to become a full member of World Trade Organization after ratification of a package of commitments in August 2012. We asked several experts in space industry to answer the following questions: “Will WTO membership affect Russian space industry? If you think so, then what exactly may change?”.
