Innovation in remote sensing technology and algorithm
The limitation of existing approaches has often been recognized in the course of the Earth environment studies using remote sensing. In this program, novel sensors and algorithms are explored in order to establish remote sensing methodologies that enable more in-depth and comprehensive analyses of various targets including vegetation and atmosphere. In this way this program aims at the innovation of remote sensing through such activities as construction and operation of next-generation satellite sensors, and the integration of wide spectral-range observations using optical and microwave remote sensors.
Main faculty members
- Josaphat Tetuko Sri Sumantyo (Professor)：Josaphat Lab.
- Yoshiaki Honda (Associate Prof.)
- Koji Kajiwara (Associate Prof.)
Research targets during 2010-2015 (6 years) and representative achievements
- Environmental applications of circularly polarized synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data/ preliminary design of SAR onboard unmanned aerial vehicles, airplanes, and small satellites.
- Development of microsatellite GAIA-I for ionospheric monitoring.
- Development and validation of algorithm for retrieving greenhouse gases from satellite-borne sensors.
- Development and practical application of novel remote sensing devices that enable innovative data acquisition.
- Atmospheric sounding by combining satellite and ground-observation data.
- Activities for next-generation Earth observing satellite GCOM-C: Establishment of validation methods for the visible and near-infrared data/algorithm development for the GCOM-C standard products including biomass index, water stress index, shadow index, and vegetation roughness index.
The goals of this program are the integration of wide spectral-range observations using optical and microwave remote sensors, and practical applications of innovative remote sensing to global and regional problems.
- Development of unmanned aerial vehicle and small satellite for microwave remote sensing and their application to Earth observation.
- Feasibility study of air pollutant and other atmospheric minor gas retrieval from geostationary satellites.
- Information retrieval of environmental information by means of next-generation satellite-based and ground-based sensors, especially aimed at the atmospheric and vegetation monitoring.
- Implementation of validation and various data applications of the next-generation Earth observing satellite GCOM-C.
Development of Advanced Microwave Sensor and Its Applications
CEReS develops several advanced microwave sensors for unmanned aerial vehicle, aircraft, and microsatellite in order to observe earth environment. The original sensor is circularly polarized synthetic aperture radar (CP-SAR) to monitor global land deformation, electron density – temperature probe (EDTP). In application development, CEReS develops differential interferometric SAR (DIn-SAR), permanent scatters interferometric SAR (PS-InSAR) etc to monitor land deformation and subsidence in several countries.
Measurement of CO2 concentration over urban canopy based on infrared DOAS
Long-term measurement of CO2 concentration has been achieved by means of infrared light source transmitted over the urban canopy.
Atmospheric correction of MODIS imagery based on the ground-observed aerosol model(left) and Forest biomass estimation by using BRDF(right)
Spectroradiometer data are supposed to be removed from aerosol optical properties, which can bring the precise atmospheric correction of satellite imagery (Terra/MODIS)
《BRDF simulation by using forest structure model》
Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) simulator has been developed by using ground truth data which are forest structure data by laser and directional radiance measured with spectrometer on UAV. The simulator can be used to estimate global plant biomass by multi-view-angle earth observation data.
Retrieval of greenhouse gas concentrations from the thermal infrared band of GOSAT/TANSO-FTS
We have developed an algorithm to retrieve vertical profiles of CO2 and CH4 concentrations from the thermal infrared band of GOSAT/TANSO-FTS. The three-dimensional data of greenhouse gas concentrations retrieved by the developed algorithm can be used to discuss the transport of greenhouse gases from the surface to the upper atmosphere. These data have been released to the public from the following web site:
http://www.gosat.nies.go.jp/
