Satellite Image Pixel Size vs Mapping Scale (using one pixel = 0.3 mm on a map) * OrbView-3 has the same spatial resolution

Landsat

SPOT-5 5m

SPOT-5 Fused image of 10m multispectral and 2.5m pan

What Is QuickBird Imagery? Highest ground resolution satellite data commercially available 61cm/pixel size b/w, 2.44m/pixel size colour Obits at 450 km Minimum order size 272 km2 US$29/ km2

What Can You See With High-Res Imagery?

Quickbird / Ikonos

Shadow areas

QB-IK Change Detection Image Newly exposed areas are yellow-red and newly regenerated areas are green-blue. Areas with relatively little or no change are shown in purple tones.

C&E - canopy gap ID

DEM capability

Costs Image acquisition cost 2000 price = $0.21/ha $3360/1:20,000 map sheet Image will have < 20% cloud cover Image processing/orthorectification cost $1500 for average scene

Optical Satellite Imagery Aerial Photography (Film Based) Satellite Imagery vs Aerial Photos Optical Satellite Imagery Aerial Photography (Film Based) Price increases linearly with area increase. Price increases at a lower rate with area increase. Data captured digitally so no film to process. Photos typically captured on film. Require scanning and corrections for flying direction. Cloud cover a problem. Revisit of 3+ days. Can fly below clouds, or fly another day. 61cm currently finest ground resolution. Can produce images down to a few centimetres by varying flying height. Imaging in both visible and near infrared parts of spectrum simultaneously. Film-based cameras typically image using colour, b/w or near-infrared film separately. A single scene for urban applications covers 10x10km or 16x16km (IK and QB). @1:40,000 scale photo for 1m pixel, the useable area in 1 frame is 3.6 km x 6.4 km Less mosaicking required. More mosaicking required. North-South imaging easier than East-West due to near polar satellite orbit. Any direction for imaging is OK. On average a suitable image available 7 days after ordering an image. Up to a month for very cloudy/rainy areas. Depends upon availability of aircraft and weather. C C C C C C C C C C

Next Generation Satellites WorldView – launch 2006 50 cm panchromatic resolution 2.0-meter multispectral resolution Orbview-5 – launch 2007 41 cm panchromatic resolution 1.64 m MSS

High Resolution Imagery - Summary Strengths Provide good input for mapping, inventorying, monitoring, prioritizing inspections, surveying of high priority areas Information captured in digital format plus provides visible and NIR spectral information Allows digital processing / interpretation / change detection 11 bit data better for shadowed areas Weaknesses Cost (US$ 29/km2 for b/w + colour) Min order size 272 km2 Cloud cover (up to 20%) Need to order for future date (for low demand areas)

CONCLUSIONS High-resolution satellite imagery is a new tool that can be used cost effectively for high priority areas. For aerial coverage - the sky is no longer the limit !

Satellite Imagery vs Aerial Photo Prices Orthorectified US$ prices (based on an area of 121 km2) Sarah R. Finley, “High-Resolution Satellite Imagery and Resource Management – Fact Sheet 3”, University of Minnesota, Dept. of Forest Resources.