EARTH OBSERVATION Edited by Rustam B. Rustamov and Saida E. Salahova Earth Observation Edited by Rustam B. Rustamov and Saida E. Salahova Published by InTech Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia Copyright © 2011 InTech All chapters are Open Access distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license, which allows users to download, copy and build upon published articles even for commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. After this work has been published by InTech, authors have the right to republish it, in whole or part, in any publication of which they are the author, and to make other personal use of the work. Any republication, referencing or personal use of the work must explicitly identify the original source. 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Publishing Process Manager Igor Babic Technical Editor Teodora Smiljanic Cover Designer InTech Design Team First published January, 2012 Printed in Croatia A free online edition of this book is available at www.intechopen.com Additional hard copies can be obtained from orders@intechweb.org Earth Observation, Edited by Rustam B. Rustamov and Saida E. Salahova p. cm. ISBN 978-953-307-973-8 Contents Preface IX Part 1 Earth Observation – Capability and Advances 1 Chapter 1 Earth Observation – Space Technology 3 Rustam B. Rustamov, Saida E. Salahova, Maral H. Zeynalova and Sabina N. Hasanova Chapter 2 Nanosatellites: The Tool for Earth Observation and Near Earth Environment Monitoring 25 Marius Trusculescu, Mugurel Balan, Claudiu Dragasanu, Alexandru Pandele and Marius-Ioan Piso Chapter 3 Clarification of SAR Data Processing Systems and Data Availability to Support InSAR Applications in Thailand 41 Ussanai Nithirochananont and Anuphao Aobpaet Part 2 Approaches of Earth Observation Monitoring 61 Chapter 4 Vision Goes Symbolic Without Loss of Information Within the Preattentive Vision Phase: The Need to Shift the Learning Paradigm from Machine-Learning (from Examples) to Machine-Teaching (by Rules) at the First Stage of a Two-Stage Hybrid Remote Sensing Image Understanding System, Part I: Introduction 63 Andrea Baraldi Chapter 5 Vision Goes Symbolic Without Loss of Information Within the Preattentive Vision Phase: The Need to Shift the Learning Paradigm from Machine-Learning (from Examples) to Machine-Teaching (by Rules) at the First Stage of a Two-Stage Hybrid Remote Sensing Image Understanding System, Part II: Novel Developments and Conclusions 99 Andrea Baraldi VI Contents Chapter 6 8-Band Image Data Processing of the Worldview-2 Satellite in a Wide Area of Applications 137 Cristina Tarantino, Maria Adamo, Guido Pasquariello, Francesco Lovergine, Palma Blonda and Valeria Tomaselli Chapter 7 Convex Set Approaches for Material Quantification in Hyperspectral Imagery 153 Juan C. Valdiviezo-N and Gonzalo Urcid Part 3 Remote Sensing and GIS in Earth Observation Applications 175 Chapter 8 Forest Fires and Remote Sensing 177 Abel Calle and José Luis Casanova Chapter 9 Ocean Reference Stations 203 Meghan F. Cronin, Robert A. Weller, Richard S. Lampitt and Uwe Send Chapter 10 Current Advances in Uncertainty Estimation of Earth Observation Products of Water Quality 229 Mhd. Suhyb Salama Preface Space science and technology applications are the key instruments in modern information and industrial society. Natural resources study, environmental monitoring, communication and TV reporting around the world, satellite navigation systems (GPS), and precise climate and weather analyses, all depend on space science and technology achievements. There is no doubt that over the past 50 years, space observations of the Earth have accelerated the cross-disciplinary collection, analysis, interpretation, and, ultimately our understanding of the dynamic processes that govern the planet. Taking into account this momentum, we can assume that the next decades will bring more significant and remarkable discoveries, as well as the capability to predict Earth processes and reduce the impact of negative consequences in order to protect human lives and property. Using space science and technology achievements and providing full and open access to international audiences capitalizes on the investment in satellite technology and creates a more interdisciplinary and integrated Earth science community. International data sharing and collaboration on satellite missions lessens the burden on individual nations to maintain Earth observational capacities. Satellite Earth observations often reveal known phenomena and processes to be more complex than previously understood. Recently, a wide array of cases related to Earth study have become clearer thanks to space science and technology applications. This brings forth the indisputable benefits of multiple synergistic observations including orbital, suborbital, and in-situ measurements. The valuable benefits of satellite observations of Earth are successfully realized only when the essential infrastructure, such as appropriate space data, models, computing facilities like software, ground networks, successful integration of both space and ground data, and trained personnel are in place. The scientific advances resulting from Earth observations from space illustrate the successful synergy between science and technology. Innovative space technologies help us to monitor environmental protection agreements, forecast the impact of climate change, and deal with natural disaster. X Preface Using a number of satellites for the daily synoptic global view of Earth, has revolutionized Earth studies greatly, and ushered in a new era of multidisciplinary Earth study sciences with an emphasis on dynamics at all accessible spatial and temporal scales, even in remote areas. This new capability plays a critically important role in helping society manage planetary-scale resources and environmental challenges. There is no doubt that one of the most important and controversial uses of satellites today is that of the study and investigation of the Earth's surface environment. Many satellites study features on the ground, the behavior of the oceans, or the characteristics of the Earth's upper atmosphere. Satellites that observe the Earth to collect scientific data are usually referred to as “Earth observation satellites.” Sometimes the interpretation of their data has been controversial because the interpretation is difficult and people have used the data to call for substantial changes in human behavior. Today a huge of area of space technology is demonstrating evidence that it can be used as an excellent instrument in Earth observation applications. It is based on data collection using the satellite as well as other available platforms for remote sensing data Observations from space provide global and consistent measurements of the Earth at daily intervals or better; measurements which are not available by any other means. We use a sophisticated array of instruments, operating at all wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, that can penetrate the atmosphere, including visible light, and ultraviolet, infrared and, microwave radiation. Remote sensing data collection uses a wide range of electromagnetic energy which is emitting, transmitting, or reflecting from the Earth surface. Appropriate detection systems need to be implemented for further data processing. The application of space technologies has been proven to play a key role in sustainable development, at national, regional, and global levels. Earth observation technologies and techniques are considered to be of great importance and to have great impact. Today, radar remote sensing is one of the new and modern Earth observation technologies with promising results and a promising future. It is an established technique for precise assessment of land surface movements, and generating high quality digital elevation models (DEM) from spaceborne and airborne data. Modern space technology technique is able to produce DEM with the precision of just tens of meters and its movement map results have sub-centimeter precision. The technique has many applications in the context of Earth sciences such as in topographic mapping, environmental modeling, rainfall-runoff studies, landslide hazard zonation, and seismic source modeling. Space technology has been found to be a successful application for studying climate change, as it can compare dynamic processes using current and past data. [...]... different aspects of Earth observation studies with the exploration and application of space science and technological achievements Dr Rustam B Rustamov Institute of Physics, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan Dr Saida E Salahova ENCOTEC –Engineering & Consulting Technologies, Baku, Azerbaijan XI Part 1 Earth Observation – Capability and Advances 1 Earth Observation – Space Technology... research 2 Earth observation systems It is necessary to emphasize that one of the most important and controversial uses of satellites today is that of monitoring the Earth' s environment Many satellites study features on the ground, the behavior of the oceans, or the characteristics of the atmosphere Satellites that observe the Earth to collect scientific data are usually referred to as Earth observation. .. means particularly in geo-hazards and disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and land subsidence 2.1 Earth observation satellites The first satellite to be used for Earth observation purposes was Explorer VII, launched in October 1959 This satellite was equipped with an infrared sensor designed to measure the amount of heat reflected by the Earth This measurement, referred to as the “radiation... comprehensive national records pertaining to the many related aspects of earth observation In the meantime evaluating country-wide assessments of earth observation and conducting natural disaster assessments, incorporating technical dimensions would be a significant contribution for this issue There is an important to assume that earth observation is a national and local priority with strong institutional... understanding of global change The data from satellites like Envisat is used to develop complex computer models of how the Earth' s environment works and how human activities, like burning down forests or operating automobiles, affects the environment 8 Earth Observation For successful Earth observation issues sustainable development can be defined as maintaining a delicate balance between the human need to... understanding of Earth' s dynamic processes and helping society to manage limited resources and environmental challenges Earth observations from space open and makes requirement to address scientific and societal challenges of the future Space technologies play the significant role in the sustainable development in national, regional and global level Modern and advances of the Earth observation techniques... incoming energy from the sun and the outgoing thermal and reflected energy from the Earth But it was not until the launch of the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) in 1984 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that more authoritative readings of this important figure were obtained Many Earth observation satellites like ERBS use specialized sensors that operate in non-visible... infrared, allowing them to gather data on many different types of atmospheric and ground phenomena The most important early Earth observation satellites were members of the Nimbus series NASA launched eight Nimbus satellites between 1964 and 1978, with only one failing to 6 Earth Observation reach orbit Although they started out as part of the weather satellite program, the Nimbus satellites were not... controversial because the interpretation is difficult and people have used the data to call for substantial changes in human behavior One of the popular satellite for Earth observation the Envisat is an advanced polar-orbiting Earth- observation satellite that provides measurements of the atmosphere, ocean, land and ice It was launched in March 2002 on an Ariane 5 rocket into an 800km polar orbit by... critical technologies and strategic industries, construction, engineering and engineering management have been realized in light of the space technologies Earth observation techniques are considered of great importance amongst these technologies Earth observation techniques which apply optical and thermal spectra of the electromagnetic wavelengths have so far developed considerably Although there is done . Earth Observation – Space Technology 3 Rustam B. Rustamov, Saida E. Salahova, Maral H. Zeynalova and Sabina N. Hasanova Chapter 2 Nanosatellites: The Tool for Earth Observation and Near Earth. geo-hazards and disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and land subsidence. 2.1 Earth observation satellites The first satellite to be used for Earth observation purposes was Explorer. the Earth& apos;s environment works and how human activities, like burning down forests or operating automobiles, affects the environment. Earth Observation 8 For successful Earth observation