There is a number of impartial and judgmental contradictions in production and application of satellite imagery. The operator (as a rule, the owner of the program) is interested in increase of profit from sales of proprietary information resources in support of continuous and quality services rendered (by launching new satellites, services) on the limited competitive market. The end-user tends to most efficiently (economically and technically) resolve his tasks, combining different information sources. The third and sometimes not the least important side of “production-introduction” are international and national controllers, as well as “observers” interested (mostly indirectly) in operations on the territories and industrial facilities: advocates of other methods and tools of solutions (e.g., “shadow economy” representatives). These tasks become especially delicate, if rendering operational services is required, when the speed of information communication to the customer and the time allocated for decision-making are limited. In these cases it’s hard to overestimate the value of data direct reception and processing on-site. Moreover, the data volumes sometimes become very bulky (dozens of gigabytes) even for contemporary Internet-access channels.
Vladimir Gershenzon
Editor-in-chief
Cover story
International Information and Measurement System of the Global Earth Observation from Space (GEO).By L. Vedeshin
The Global Earth Observation System is the international non-commercial organization. It primary goal is the implementation of principles and development of the technology of application of satellite- and ground-based Earth observations data to the fullest extent in the interest of all the countries-members of the GEO.
A Network of Ground Stations for Data Reception from Earth Remote Sensing Satellites.By A. Ivanov, D. Sysenko, A. Shumilin, A. Yadykin
The article describes the composition and the characteristics of a network of UniScan ground receiving stations and of the system of centralized control of the network, ensuring a coordinated operation of such and enabling to carry out monitoring and assessment of their status.
Monitoring Using Earth Remote Sensing Techniques and Practical Experience of Region Management.By A. Chernov
With colossal potential of monitoring applying remote sensing data, the examples of its commercial introduction into management practices are few.
Satellite Images in Real-Time: Web-services Possibilities and Constraints.By G. Potapov, M. Potanin, D. Kudelko
Services, created based on operational satellite-based monitoring data, are nowadays in great demand by the customers. Web-service cannot substitute the components of all the process chain of working with RS data. But for the purpose of operational monitoring it allows getting access to data in near real-time mode, with information presented in open-access and most frequently used format on the webservice.
Operational Satellite-Based Monitoring of Northern Caspian Water Areas.By O. Zornikova, A. Kucheiko, N. Filimonova, A. Antonyuk
From the beginning of the XXI century Russia and Kazakhstan have been actively developing offshore fields of the Northern Caspian. ScanEx RDC together with the partner organizations by the order of the “Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft” have been developing projects for satellite-based monitoring of oil pollutions in Northern Caspian. Observations from satellites became of special importance in 2010 after the start of oil production at the Yuri Korchagin oil field.
Motor Boat – Water Plane – Satellite: Environmental Safety of the Maritime Traffic in the Port of Novorossiysk
The harbor business and maritime traffic at the seas of Russia nowadays require a broad introduction of technology innovations to increase navigation safety, port services operational efficiency and to preserve maritime ecosystems. Captain of the Novorossiysk seaport V. Yerygin talks about the practical application of modern technologies for monitoring and control of the Black Sea water areas.
Application of Argos Satellitebased System for Tracking Animals in Russia.By A. Salman, V. Rozhnov
Over 30 years the Argos international system of location and data collection has been intensively used within the frames of multiple biological and environmental programs. A number of measures, reviewed in this article, were taken to give grounds for active introduction of the method of satellitebased monitoring of animals into the Russian biological studies.
Monitoring of Olympic Constructions and Dangerous Geomorphologic Processes Based on Satellite Imagery Data.By Yu. Kuznetsova
The area of the Big Sochi – the largest in the country recreation and touristic zone – has been suffering severe anthropogenic stress over several decades. For the past few years the pressure on the territory even increased due to the forthcoming 2014 Winter Olympics. Tense schedule and large-scale construction require special attention to the design and survey work and to detailed environmental monitoring of the area. The goal of this article is to demonstrate how important it is to monitor the developments and rates of modern terrain-forming processes, to assess geomorphologic risks for the construction and operations of the engineering facilities applying Earth remote sensing data.
Operational Service of National Forest Inventory: from a Satellite to an Interpreter in 48 Hours.By A. Maslov
The system of remote monitoring to resolve the tasks of national forest inventory has been developing in our country since 2005. Currently FSU “Roslesinforg” is the customer of these activities, whereas ScanEx RDC is the contractor. The article throws light on the 2010 imaging season results.
Middle and High Resolution Satellites’ Data Application for Operational Monitoring of Disastrous Fires in Russia in Summer 2010.By A. Sonyushkin, A. Shumilin, A. Kucheiko, A. Nikitsky, N. Yevtushenko
In summer 2010 ScanEx Research and Development Center launched a daily monitoring of fire situation in Russia using remote sensing data acquired from space. Specialists of the Center have developed a special web-based geoinformation service of operational satellite monitoring of fire (ScanEx Fire Monitoring Service SFMS) “Fires-Kosmosnimki” (http://fires.kosmosnimki.ru/). The service has been successfully tested during the summer 2010 fire season.
Analysis of Forest Fire Situation in Murmansk Region in 2010 Using Satellite Data.By N. Rybchak, M. Utrobin
Along with the existing systems of monitoring, the Center of Monitoring and Forecasting of the Main Operational Department for Civil Defense and Emergency Situations of Murmansk Region started to use Earth remote sensing data in 2010 in order to track the spring flooding processes and to control the forest fire situation in Murmansk Region.
Trends
It’s All About Elevation: Radar Satellites Cover Our Earth in 3D.By G. Riegler
The innovation product of Infoterra company — TerraSAR-X ELEVATION Product Suite — is the global digital surface model displayed with an absolute height accuracy of up to 5 m. The successful launch of the TanDEM-X satellite marked an important step towards the company’s future: in close formation flight, TanDEM-X and TerraSAR-X will begin collecting radar data for a global digital elevation model of an unprecedented quality in early 2011.
GeoEye: VHR Data Market Development Trends
GeoEye company is one of the world leading suppliers of satellite images. The successful operation of the company in this area is directly linked to the use of such spacecrafts as IKONOS, OrbView-2, OrbView-3 and GeoEye-1. Senior Vice-President Chris Tully speaks about the high-resolution imagery market development trends.
Geospatial Information: the Key to Managing Our Future.By Rani Hellerman
A formative decade has passed, during which the civilian highresolution satellite data business has reached a critical level of maturity. The timing is auspicious, as the industry applies itself to the growing challenges of managing our world and its resources. ImageSat International is playing a key role in this trend.
Multisource, Multiresolution Today with Spot Image.By Anne-Sophie Runavot
The French Spot Image company — the leading supplier of Geoinformation services and the Operator of the SPOT satellite system.
Geomatica 10.3.2 Software: New Features
“Geo-Alliance” celebrated its 5th anniversary this year. Starting in 2005, it has been working in sphere of distribution of satellite data and special software applications, intended for operations with RS data and creation of GIS.
Geoinformation System of the Memorial Museum of Academician S. Korolev.By A.Lazutkin, O. Moroz
Educational museum project “Geoinformation system of the Memorial Museum of Academician S. Korolev” has integrated several projects, included in Federal and city plans of 50th anniversary of the Gagarin’s flight to space.
Virtual walks through “Bitsevsky forest” nature park.By E.Tyotushkina
One of the essential advantages of geoservices, created based on GeoMixer Web-GIS technology, is that they allow a wide range of users to work with ecological data on interactive maps. This option was used by the employees of the biggest South-Western Moscow Nature Park “Bitsevsky Forest”.
Legal Relations
Security Restrictions with Respect to RS Data: Russian Reality
The paperwork is still ongoing on the legitimacy of restrictions with respect to handling satellite images of the Russian territories with the resolution better than 2 meters. In November 2010 ScanEx RDC sent an Open Letter to the RF Vice-Premier Sergei Ivanov.
