Applications The following shows typical MSRS applications like: Precision Farming Management of Forests Multi-Purpose Visual Mapping Basis Urban Planning Geological Mapping Water Quality 3-D Visualisation for Education and Tourism The applications shown are mainly derived from DAIS or CASI airborne sorveys whereby the spectral bands and band width is interpolated to the MSRS bands. Thus, we present here MSRS simulated applications to highlight MSRS performance. Precision Farming using MSRS Agriculture is closely related with world wide problems such as population, energy or environmental quality. Considering the worldwide supply and demand for agricultural products, the applications of Remote Sensing in general are many and varied.   Monitoring within Field-Scales Recent development of technologies enable the farmer to respond to the varying conditions within single fields and make it possible to effectively control and improve health condition and growth of cropping systems within field-scales (Precision Farming).   Decision Support Systems Due to the spatial and spectral capabilities of MSRS this kind of data will play an important role in Decision Support Systems for agriculture. Key indicators like NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) derived from the satellite data characterise the condition of the vegetation canopy and can be integrated with other spatial and non-spatial data sources to a computer-based decision system to better manage productivity within fields. The NDVI values for 3 specific fields in the image example - based on the simulated bands 11 and 7 of DAIS hyperspectral data - are color-coded. They contain information on the biomass content (red means highest biomass content) and relative variations respectively. MSRS band 3 provides the panchromatic background overlaid by several field polygons.   Precision Farming / Germany © DAIS Data: DLR / Oberpfaffenhofen © Image/Thematic Processing: GAF / Munich Management of Forests using MSRS Forests cover a considerable part of the world's land area. In many countries the forest industry ranks high with regard to economical impact and is especially concerned with timber management, maintenance and improvement of existing forest stands.   Synoptic View of Forest Stands Large parts of the European forests, particularly spruce stands, are affected by forest decline to varying degrees. Monitoring and mapping of forest condition by means of satellite remote sensing therefore is considered an important tool on national and pan-european level enabling reliability and comparability of inventories.   Assessment of Forest Damages MSRS band 7 provides information on the chlorophyll absorption whereas band 11 represents information on the maximum of chlorophyll reflectance. Both simulated bands have been used as input parameters to classify forest vitality in central Ore Mountains. Integrated with additional geocoded data and terrestrial data the color-coded image visualises forest damages strongly connected to crown closure classes of forest stands. Colors ranging from yellow to green and blue indicate different vitality levels in the image map. Additionally, the narrow MSRS bands 8, 9 and 10, located in the spectral transition zone between maximum chlorophyll absorption and maximum chlorophyll reflection shall provide further diagnostic information on forest stands.   False color composition with forest stand boundaries (right) Color-coded biomass information on damaged forest stands (left)  Central Ore Mountains / Czech Republic © DAIS Data: DLR / Oberpfaffenhofen © Image/Thematic Processing: GAF / Munich Multi-Purpose Visual Mapping Basis using MSRS Images from both aircraft and satellites are often used as a visual backdrop to mapping either purely for presentation, or for use in survey work. High resolution satellite images could transform the work of mapping organizations; dramatically cutting the costs of updating mapping at scales greater than 1:10000, and if frequently updated, it could prove valuable for detecting change to map features at less than 1:10000.   High Spatial Resolution The spatial resolution of the MSRS data would be sufficient to show roads, railways, rivers and large buildings clearly. Imagery at this resolution and with the intended bands provides a good mapping basis in the same way as it is a superior presentational backdrop to topographic mapping for mass media and educational uses. High Accuracy Standards For this test application CASI airborne hyper-spectral data for a site to the west of Salisbury in southern England was re-sampled to simulate the MSRS bands. This was then geo-referenced to the Ordnance Survey mapping for use as a backdrop in a GIS (Geographic Information System). The image shows line detail from Ordnance Survey's large scales mapping overlaid onto a simulated true colour MSRS image (red = MSRS band 11, green = MSRS band 6, blue = MSRS band 5).   Salisbury test site © CASI Data: Environment Agency, National Centre for Environmental Data and Surveillance / Great Britain © Image/Thematic Processing: Ordnance Survey / Southampton Urban Planning using MSRS The high spatial resolution of the upcoming generation of satellites has a lot of promise for urban planning, namely in cartographic feature extraction and map updating, characterising ever changing urban structure, delimiting urban agglomeration or urban modelling.   Analysing Urban Environment Local Planning Authorities typically work with digital parcel maps and parcel-level attribute data integrated with a wide range of socio-economic and environmental data sets in Geoinformation Systems. This enables urban and regional planners to analyse structures and functions of the urban environment and to formulate urban and regional policies and programs.   Assistance in Decision Making Process In order to study and document rapidly changing urban structures and urban environment there is an increasing need for planning agencies to have timely, accurate and cost-effective data sources suitable to updating existing databases. The MSRS simulation serves as ideal mapping and visualisation tool, e.g. to be used for the presentation of a planned street corridor as shown in the image map. The digital vector layer with block and street information was merged with the natural colour representation of the image data, where MSRS band 7 is assigned to red, MSRS band 5 to green and MSRS band 3 to blue respectively. The red coloured corridor clearly emphasizes the planned street corridor cutting through the central park. The buffer zone indicates a corridor where traffic noise will directly affect the environment.   Street corridor simulation study, Munich © DAIS Data: DLR / Oberpfaffenhofen © Digital block and street database: City of Munich, Planungsreferat © Image/Thematic Processing: GAF / Munich Geological Mapping using MSRS Geological applications of multispectral satellite sensor data are manifold, corresponding to the various fields of practical requirements in mining, the hydrocarbon business, geotechnical engineering, groundwater management, mine reclamation and many more.   Mapping Mineral Resources Rocks and subsequently developed soils consist of typical assemblages of minerals. Most minerals show distinct and subtle reflection patterns that can be precisely analysed if the spectral and radiometric resolution is high enough.   Rich Geological and Structural Information In combination with already existing information the spectral and spatial characteristics of MSRS data enable the discrimination of the major geological formations in the test site ranging from the Cenoman to the Turonian, followed by Pleistocene and Post-Pleistocene deposits. Considering the fact that MSRS will also be in the position to acquire stereo imagery suitable to calculate DEMs, real 3-D geological site representations will be possible. This would strongly improve the interpretation of the structural context of geological units. En-Gedi, Dead Sea / Israel © CASI Data: GFZ / Potsdam © Geological Map Information: Geological Survey of Israel © Image/Thematic Processing, Desk-study Interpretation: GAF / Munich   Water Quality using MSRS Wastewater reservoirs are used extensively in developed countries in order to reduce pollution of ground or coastal waters on one hand, and to supply additional water for irrigation of industrial crops on the other hand. Before reusing the water, they are treated in oxidation and polishing ponds and the quality of the water are examined frequently.   A Solution for Quantitative Monitoring of Wastewater Quality MSRS provides an advanced technique for the evaluation of wastewater quality in oxydation ponds and reservoirs by measuring the reflected radiation from the ponds. Two main groups of constituents can be distinguished: (1) phytoplankton and bacteria, (2) suspended matter as an indicator of water transparancy.   Visualisation of Chlorophyll Content In the true color image wastewater ponds are displayed in normal combination of red, green and blue colors (R, G, B = simulated bands 6, 5, 2) that reveals changes in chlorophyll content of water from light-polluted water to dark colors indicating clear water. The chlorophyll image is based on an algorithm developed from bands 7, 8, and 11 showing a reduction in chlorophyll content from the big reservoir in the top part of the picture to the small reservoirs in the lower-left end of the picture. Reference: Gitelson, A. Stark, R and Dor, I. Quantitative near-surface remote sensing of wastewater quality in oxidation ponds and reservoirs: a case study of the Naan syatem. Ashdod, Israel © CASI Data: Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) © Image/Thematic Processing: The Remote Sensing Laboratory of J. Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, BGU    True Color MSRS simulated real natural color bands 6, 5, 2         Chlorophyll Concentration Chlorophyll image displaying simulated MSRS bands 7, 8, 11 3-D Visualisation for Education and Tourism using MSRS These days tourism accounts for a major share in the economy of many countries. Promotion of holiday regions and facilities by visual means traditionally plays a major role for tourism managers.   Innovative Terrain Visualisation Currently spatial data processing technology is developing fast, and the market of 3-D applications is experiencing a boom. Interactive flight simulations within a highly realistic 3-D scenery clearly improve site presentations and give a taste of the surroundings.   MSRS Stereo Imagery Among 5 m spatial resolution and spectral bands enabling real natural color presentations MSRS will also be in a position to acquire stereo imagery. Not only applications in fields like tourism, education or mass media will profit from this technology, but also a broad range of scientific applications. MSRS equivalent bands 2, 5 and 7 were geocoded on the basis of 1:25.000 topographic maps. Assigned to blue, greeen, and red respectively these bands display the natural colour appearance as the human eye would do in late summer. A DEM derived from aerial photography was used to provide the 3-D impression. The simulated MSRS image was draped over the 3-D model. Finally, contour intervals to enhance the 3-D effect, the road pattern and and some attribute data were included.   Naxos, Greece © DAIS Data: DLR / Oberpfaffenhofen © Digital Terrain Model: GEOMET / Athens © Image/Thematic Processing: GAF / Munich MSRS real natural color image draped over DTM data. PAGE TOP For comments or further information, please contact: Boris Penné Last Updated: