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19th
November 2007 VOL 3 Issue 46 |
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Top Stories |
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Coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), the Earth Observation Research Center (EORC) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has started to release image data of a high-resolution global precipitation distribution map in quasi real time (about four hours after observations) on the Internet. The map is composed by the EORC using acquired data by earth observation satellites including the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM.) The image data is updated every hour, and can also be represented as an animated image of precipitation distribution over the last 24 hours. The establishment of this quasi real-time provision system of image data enables users to timely offer information to regions, such as developing countries in Asia, which do not have enough data on precipitation although they are often hit by typhoons and heavy rainfall.
It is interesting and informative to see the precipitation levels during the recent cyclone which slammed into Bangladesh and Eastern India. This data will further help fine tune regional crop acreage and biomass yield models like India's project CAPE and FASAL.
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With over 800,000 sq. km of forest cover today, India is one of the few countries which have managed to decrease the rate of deforestation. Though the overall forest cover has increased the density is on the decline. Having seen the devastation of the California forests due to fires, the Indian government has put in place the Indian Forest Fire Response and Assessment System (INFFRAS) has been established under the Decision Support Center, (DSC), under Disaster Manage Support Programme, to facilitate forest fire management. INFFRAS integrates multi sensor satellite data with Geo Informatics System (GIS) data bases to address forest fire management relevant to pre, during and post fire scenarios.
INFFRAS provides near real time, daily, day time and night time active forest fire alerts during the fire season (Feb – June). Fire alerts are prepared using satellite data from the MODIS sensors aboard the Terra and Aqua platforms (for daytime observations), as well as the Operational Linescan System (OLS) on the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites (for night time observations). The fire alerts report only active forest fires observed by these satellites. This is being made available to users on a no-cost basis.
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Product
news review
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Image of the Week |
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Audiocast |
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News Cast
By Hrishikesh
Samant
This News Cast is 17.13 minutes long and contains news and discussions on the happenings in the geospatial domain.
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| Editorial |
Uncertainty galore...
Out of a zillion bizarre ideas from space-tech geeks fewer than 1% are workable and finally reach the drawing board. The ones that reach the launchpad are the really sensible and lucky ones. It is surprising as to why the 'Galileo' programme of the ESA continues to face stormy weather. The question of concept, need (political, national and economic), and technology of GPS is passé but one still gets to hear questions like 'if you are getting pepsi for free, why do you want to pay for coke ?' The recently released UK's House of Commons – Transport Committee report on Galileo makes interesting (and at times hilarious) reading, especially the transcript of the oral evidence. The report delivers a rather stinging inculpation and also considers the 'zero option' or scrapping the Galileo project. The cost over-run of 66% in phase-1 (complete), 37% in phase-2 (not yet complete) and approx. 62% in phase-3 (not commenced) is raising hackles in the UK's HC with a repeated reference to the 17% financing by UK and the five year delay from present, in project completion. The viable option appears to be SSTL's offer of putting up the 'early' system of 12 satellites. With SSTL's record, reputation and experience with GIOVE-A it appears to be the best thing yet. In the mean while, all of us who believe in competition, right to choose, option of a choice and off course free GPS services (even in the future) can keep our fingers crossed. With the recent 'winds of change' between Russia and the US SA in some or the other form may raise its head.
 Dr.
Hrishikesh Samant
hrishikesh@gisdevelopment.net
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To see the previous issues
of ‘GIS Development Weekly’: Click here |
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