Satellite Remote Sensing
Satellite remote sensing involves gathering information about features on the Earth's surface from orbiting satellites. The digital data acquired by the satellites is transmitted to ground stations and can be used to reconstitute an image of the Earth's surface, similar to an aerial photograph.
Satellite imagery is fast becoming the mapping method of choice, because it offers improving resolutions and decreasing costs. Also, it offers the advantages of greater spectral range and timeliness.
Terranean is one of the largest suppliers of Satellite Imagery in Australia and is one of the few companies that add value to satellite images through analysis and integration with other spatial data. Terranean can develop data that is tailored to your requirements, or alternatively you may choose one of Terranean’s standard value-added satellite products, which you will find in the Spatial Data Products section.
Benefits of Satellite Remote Sensed Data
Remotely sensed data acquired by the Earth observation satellites provide a number of benefits for studying the Earth's surface, including:
- continuous acquisition of data
- regular revisit capabilities (resulting in up-to-date information and continuous monitoring)
- broad regional coverage
- broad spectral range (including infra-red bands)
- good spatial resolution
- ability to manipulate/enhance digital data
- ability to combine satellite digital data with other digital data
- cost-effective data
- map-accurate data
- possibility of generating DEMs
- large archive of historical data
How is the data used?
Satellite data is used to provide timely and detailed information about
the Earth's surface, especially in relation to the management of our renewable
and non-renewable resources.
Some examples of uses of satellite data are:
- assessment and monitoring of vegetation types and their status
- soil surveys
- mineral exploration
- map making and revision
- production of thematic maps
- water resources planning and monitoring
- urban planning
- agricultural property management planning
- crop yield assessment
- natural disaster assessment
Satellite Imagery is particularly useful for the detection of change in the landscape. The following are images from a Terranean project in which vegetation change was detected and mapped.
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| pre clearing | post clearing | vegetation change |
Determining the best value solution
Resolution is not necessarily the critical factor when it comes to performance, value, or business success. Of at least equal importance is the ability to provide reliable information to decision-makers in a dependable time frame. That time frame may be rapid, as in disaster response, or ship detection. It may be tied to longer-term reliability, such as providing imagery reliably and frequently for crop monitoring or security purposes. If there is a strong need for imagery, the first imagery that can be acquired and delivered is often the most valuable imagery regardless of resolution.
Terranean has negotiated the rights to provide a wide range of satellite image products of varying resolutions, spectral bands and revisit times over the entire globe. With over a decade of experience using different image products, Terranean is well placed to advise you about which satellite imagery has the characteristics of most value for your application.
Once the imagery has been accessed, Terranean can then help you realise the greatest business value – by analysing the images, integrating them into a GIS, or producing hard- copy maps.