ASEAN - AN IMAGE ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR REMOTE SENSING TRAINING AND EDUCATION 
Nguyen Dinh Duong 
Institute for Geography, NCST of Vietnam 
Shoji Takeuchi 
Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan, Japan 
Kohei Cho 
Tokai University Research & Information Center, Japan 
Commision VI, Working group 2 
KEY WORDS: Remote_Sensing, Education, Research, Training, Software, Digital Image Processing 
ABSTRACT 
The image analysis system ASEAN (Advanced System for Environmental ANalysis with Remote Sensing Data) was designed 
and programmed by a software development group ImaSOFT, Department of Remote Sensing Technology and GIS, Institute for 
Geography, National Center for Natural Science and Technology of Vietnam under technical cooperation with Remote Sensing 
Technology Center of Japan and financial support from National Space Development Agency of Japan. ASEAN is continuously 
developed since 1989 with different version ranging from the simplest for MS-DOS with standard VGA 320x200x256 colors, 
through versions supporting SpeedStar 1.0 and SpeedStar PRO 2.0 true color graphics cards up to the latest version designed for 
Windows 3.1 operating system. The most remarkable feature of the ASEAN is the use of algorithms that speed up image analysis 
process even on PC platforms. Today ASEAN is continuously improved in cooperation with NASDA (National Space Development 
Agency of Japan), RESTEC (Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan) and released through Regional Remote Sensing Seminar 
on Tropical Eco-system which is organized by NASDA, UNCRD and ESCAP as public domain software for training, research and 
education. In the paper, the authors describe functionality of the ASEAN, some of relevant analysis algorithms and discussion on 
computer assisted remote sensing teaching and training aspect of the system. 
1. INTRODUCTION Regional Remote Sensing Seminar on Tropical Eco-System 
Management which is organized and sponsored by NASDA, 
We are living at the age when computers became popular UNCRD and ESCAP (1993 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 1994 
than at any time before. This fact is due to the fast advancement Bali, Indonesia. 1995 Subic, Philippines. 1996 Fiji). 
of microelectronics technology. This progress impacts almost 
every field of human activities including research, study, 2. OVERVIEW ON ASEAN 
learning and entertainment. The learning and teaching process 
became realized in favorable conditions with an assistance of ASEAN was continuously developed since 1989 with 
personal computer and the help of simple, easy-to-understand different versions ranging from the simplest for MS-DOS with 
and user friendly software. In the field of remote sensing, standard VGA 320 x 200 x 256 colors (MIPS), through version 
especially digital image processing, there are many software that supporting true color graphics cards SpeedStar 1.0, SpeedStar 
are being used in research and education. Professional software PRO 2.0 (ASEAN 1.0, ASEAN 2.0) up to the latest version 
is expensive, requires usually special hardware configuration designed for Windows 3.1 (WinASEAN 2.0, WinASEAN 2.1). 
and is very often locked so its usage is limited to office and not — ASEAN is an abbreviation that stands for Advanced System for 
every body can have easy access to it. This truth is doubled for Environmental ANalysis with remote sensing data. The most 
developing countries if the economic condition is taken into — remarkable feature of the ASEAN is application of data format 
account. Two problems arise during usage of a professional and analysis algorithm developed by the author that speed up 
digital image processing system. They are real understanding ^ image analysis process even on PC platform. ASEAN left the 
the nature of the analysis process and proper operation with the traditionally used pixel - by - pixel algorithm and utilizes look - 
system. In order to resolve this problem the user usually needs up - table approach when it manipulates with each pixel value 
long time of intensive training and experience. Now a days ^ combination instead of working with different pixel so problem 
there is a direction to develop low cost and small software of calculation with the same input data is avoided and overall 
package with basic processing functions that can run on various performance of the system is significantly improved. ASEAN is 
PC computer configuration. Such a kind of software is designed programmed by dynamic memory allocation techniques so it is 
for training or self-training and not for commercial purpose and not line - but array - oriented software. Number of spectral 
is developed under sponsorship from national or international bands which can be processed by ASEAN is up to 10. There are 
space and remote sensing organization. two ASEAN packages one for MS-DOS and the other for MS- 
Windows operating system. This paper will deal with Windows 
In this paper, the authors describe about a software that is version of ASEAN. 
result of international cooperation among ImaSOFT Lab., 
Institute of Geography, NCST of Vietnam, Remote Sensing The main processing functions of ASEAN are as 
Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC) and National Space following: 
Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). This is the software 
developed for hands-on-training in the frame work of annual Preprocessing.. 
34 
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B6. Vienna 1996 
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