Istanbul 2004
CAN LAY USERS DIRECTLY UTILIZE SATELLITE-IMAGE INFORMATION IN THE
NEAR FUTURE?
Oktay Baysal and Guoging Zhou
Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529
Phone: 757.683.3789 — E-mail: obaysal@odu.edu
ISPRS FIEOS Special Session, Commission I
KEY WORDS: Users, Satellite, Image, Information, Future, and Intelligence
ABSTRACT:
Why are today’s TV users able to receive different programs in their homes using different channels with a remote control? Why
have lay users of satellite images not been able to receive satellite information directly for their applications until today? What is the
future of earth observing satellite systems? These questions make us contemplate whether or not future Earth observing satellite
systems can become so intelligent, that a lay user can directly receive the satellite image information that they specify for their
applications. We believe that the Earth observation satellite has passed the threshold of maturity as a commercial space activity, and
the next generation of satellites will be highly intelligent. This paper reviews the development of Earth observing satellites, and
presents a vision of future intelligent systems. This system is a space-based configuration for the dynamic and comprehensive on-
board integration of earth observing sensors, data processors and communication systems. It will enable simultaneous, global
measurement and timely analysis of the Earth’s environment in real-time by mobile, professional, and lay users for meeting their
demands, which have migrated from basic imagery to temporal, site specific, update image-based information. Data and information
revisions will be requested more frequently, that is, analogous in many ways to today's weather updates. Lay users may soon be able
to directly access data in a manner similar to selecting a TV channel.
1. INTRODUCTION
We believe that the Earth observation satellite hds passed the
threshold of maturity as a commercial space activity after the
satellite family experienced significant development in
technologies and applications during the past decades of year.
The current generation of satellite development is of high-
resolution, multi-/hyper-spectral satellite systems, which are
being marketed and widely applied to a wide variety of Earth
sciences (Zhou 2001). The development of the satellite can be
roughly divided into the following periods: (Zhou and Baysal
2004)
e Early satellites era (early 1960’s thru 197%)
e Experimentation and initial application of satellites
(1972 thru 1986)
e Wide application of satellites (1986 thru 1997)
* High-resolution satellites (1997 to *2010^)
Zhou and Baysal (2004) concluded that there is a significant
jump in the technology of earth observing satellites about every
13 years. Based on this cycle, it is estimated that the current
generation of earth observing satellites will be replaced by
another generation by the year 2010. This leads us to ask,
"What will characterize the next generation of Earth observing
satellites?, and “What is the NEXT next generation of Earth
observing satellites beyond 2010?"
An interesting answer may be one that is constructed by asking,
“Why do today's TV users receive different programs using
different channels with a remote control at home?” “Why can
cell phone users directly communicate with each other in real-
time?” “Why does a lay user of satellite images not receive the
satellite information directly for their applications until today?”
These questions make us contemplate whether future Earth
observing satellite system can become so intelligent that a lay
297
user can directly receive the satellite image information that
they specify for their applications in a manner similar to
selecting a TV channel using a remote control. To this end,
will future Earth observing satellite systems enable
simultaneous global measurement and timely analysis of the
Earth's environment in real-time, by mobile, professional, and
lay users to meet their demands. Demands have migrated from
basic imagery to temporal, site-specific, update image-based
information. Will the data and information revisions be
updated more frequently analogous in many ways to today's
weather updates (Zhou and Baysal, 2004)?
This paper presents our vision for the architecture of the future
intelligent earth observing satellite and part of its current
progress.
2. MULTI-LAYER SATELLITE SYSTEMS
2.1 Simulation of Multi-layer Satellite Networks
We designed and simulated a two-layer satellite network called
first intelligent earth-observing satellites. (FIEOS). — This
satellite network, consisting of two layers, is enough to reach
all functions required by users (Figure 1). In contrast, more
than a two-layer satellite network will add the load of data
communication of cross-links. Thus, FIEOS configuration is
conceptually designed into a two-layer satellite network. The
first layer, which consists of many earth-observing satellites
(EOS) viewing the entire earth, is distributed in low orbits
ranging from 300 km to beyond. Each EOS is small,
lightweight and inexpensive relative to current satellites. These
satellites are divided into groups called satellite groups. Each
EOS is equipped with a different sensor for collection of
different data and an on-board data processor that enables it to
act autonomously, reacting to significant measurement events
on and above the Earth. They collaboratively work together to
