(EO-1) (introduced e.g. by S. Blonski et al of Lockheed
Martin and NASA CRSP in relation to satellite hyper-
spectral imaging simulation)
- HYPERION (EO-1, introduced by J. Pearlman et al of
NASA CRSP)
- Litton Emerge’s airborne digital imaging system (using 6
Mpixel Kodak 640 DCS with GPS and INU)
- APEX (Airborne PRISM experiment — a new airborne
hyperspectral imager for the simulation of ESA's Land
Surface Processes and Interactive Missions, as intro-
duced by M. Shaepman et al)
- IFSAR (interferometric SAR, introduced by B. Hous-
mand, JPL CALTECH in sensor integration with AVISRIS
for urban analysis)
- CASI compact airborne spectrographic imager (intro-
duced by M.R. Davenport developing practical tools for
shadow removal and also by K. Staenz of CCRS, Chair
of the ISPRS WG VII/1 in classification of hyperspectral
agricultural data with spectral matching techniques)
- LWIR AIRIS multispectral infrared imaging chemical sen-
sor (introduced by C. Gittins of Physical Sciences Inc)
also referred as Adaptive Infrared Imaging Spectrora-
diometer
- ASAS advanced solid state array spectroradiometer as
used in the impact analysis of the 100-year event ice
storm in US/Canada in January 1998.
Participation at the UNISPACE Ill, Vienna
Dr. D.P. Rao of NRSA, Chair of the ISPRS WG VII/2 deliv-
ered a lecture on “Sustainable development and remote
sensing” at the ISPRS Workshop chaired by John Trinder
(UNSW) and Klaas Jan Beek (ITC) devoted to “Resource
Mapping from Space” on 10th June, 1999. The contribu-
tion of G. Csornai et al of FOMI RSC, core members of WG
VII/2, gave an in-depth overview on the operational crop
monitoring and production forecast by remote sensing in
Hungary. The papers can be found in the ISPRS Interna-
tional Archives Vol XXXII Part 7C2.
"The Special UNISPACE Ill Volume” published in July,
1999. The volume contains the papers of the ISPRS-
EARSeL Workshop devoted to *Remote sensing for the
detection, monitoring and mitigation of natural disasters,
as well as the ISPRS/NASA Seminar on *Environment and
Remote Sensing for Sustainable Development".
Goal: Supporting Information Requirements Posed by
the Kyoto Protocol
In 1999, ISPRS VII/5 Working Group activities lead by Ake
Rosenqvist were focused on the potential of remote sens-
ing in the context of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC). The Kyoto Protocol stipulates quantified and
legally binding national commitments on greenhouse gas
emissions, and a principal aim of the working group has
been to assess the potential and limitations of global scale
remote sensing in the context of the Protocol, with particu-
lar emphasis on forest inventories and change monitoring
of global carbon stocks. The review of available and future
technology for monitoring treaty compliance was the sub-
ject of the meeting organised as shared team effort by Ake
Rosenqvist of DG JRC SAI, Marc Imhoff of NASA GSFC,
Tony Milne of UNSW and Craig Dobson of UoM, as joint
action of the ISPRS VII/5 (Global monitoring) and VII/6
(Radar applications) working groups inclose co-operation
International Archives of Photogrammerty and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part A. Amsterdam 2000. —
MEC M E MR ER Bá —€——M ——
with the hosting University of Michigan (Dept. of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Science, EECS) in Ann Arbor,
October 20-22, 1999. The Protocol requirements on bio-
mass monitoring were assessed and the capabilities of cur-
rent and future RS sensors to meet those requirements
were addressed. Particular emphasis was put on the
potential of low frequency SAR sensor technology in
improving the current capacity to perform quantitative bio-
mass assessment from space, in service of the Kyoto Pro-
tocol. Meantime, the Report has been published entitled:
Remote Sensing and the Kyoto Protocol: a review of avail-
able and future Technology for Monitoring Treaty Compli-
ance". | would emphasise two of the recommendations of
the authors made in the Report:
"Although political in nature, the global impact of the Kyoto
Protocol on technical and scientific issues of relevance to
the remote sensing community is considerable and
unprecedented. Issues related to the Protocol, in particu-
lar to afforestation, reforestation and deforestation (ARD)
activities, will affect the work of the scientific community
for years to come. Consequently, it is recommended that a
considerable part of international remote sensing research
activities be focused and aligned to fulfill, the specific
information needs posed by the Kyoto Protocol and, in a
broader context, the needs relating to full carbon account-
ing and an improved understanding of the terrestrial car-
bon budget. Research topics of specific relevance, not
only related directly to remote sensing but also to the need
for adequate in-situ information, have been identified
above", and
"The ISPRS, being an international organisation without
national bias, can play a significant role in this context. It is
therefore proposed that the ISPRS, in particular Commis-
sion VII (Resource and Environmental Monitoring), for its
next mandate period, 2000-2004, forms a dedicated Kyoto
Task Force with the aim of promoting and stimulating
remote sensing research and development aligned with
the topics identified above".
Some of the recent, significant technical breakthroughs
include:
- After the successful launch of Ikonos 2, the era of the
very high resolution satellite remote sensing has come
true, having a positive impact on application-oriented
R+D activities and it is anticipated that the commercial
market will be increased significantly, especially if com-
petition begins. In the mid-term, imagery will became
one of the base data of many of public inventories and
registers having a geospatial referencing possibity or
requirement. Improved EO systems and knowledge-
based information systems will facilitate the contribu-
tion of science to problem-solving in burning issues
related to environment and resorce monitoring.
- The development of virtual laboratories enabling
knowledge-based effective design, analysis, simula-
tion, optimisation and verification of application-tai-
lored RS systems within pure software environments.
- According to the Landsat Remote Sensing Policy Act of
1992, NASA is charged to ensure Landsat data continu-
ity through the use of advanced technology. Such a serv-
ice will ensure long-term stability operational applications
in environmental and resource monitoring at local,
regional and global level. Final preparation of NASA's
New Millennium programme Earth Observing-1 should
— 199
ISPRS
_ M
