MODIS: Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer National-Scale Remote Sensing Imagery for Natural Resource Applications Mark Finco Remote Sensing Applications Center Salt Lake City, UT (801)

Briefing Overview Objectives & Deliverables Brief Technical Description of MODIS Selected Applications  Fire Information Support  Rangeland Monitoring  Land Cover Change Estimated % Canopy Cover

ObjectivesObjectives Utilize new remote sensing system to provide quick response imagery and geospatial resource information to support : Utilize new remote sensing system to provide quick response imagery and geospatial resource information to support :  National-scale reporting and mapping (e.g., burn areas/severity)  Effectiveness monitoring of watershed restoration and rehabilitation work  National scale strategic planning – restoration prioritization and asset allocation  Regional and forest scale analysis where vegetation and landcover change information is required

Actions and Deliverables Establish MODIS satellite downlink and data processing capability at RSAC – GSTC Provide MODIS imagery and GIS data to field offices via Geospatial Data Clearinghouse Continue development of MODIS image processing algorithms in cooperation with NASA, universities and Forest Service geospatial data users Provide training and technical support

MODIS (MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)

MODIS utilizes latest technology, sensor specifically designed for vegetation, landcover and burn area mapping MODIS images 2,300 km swath in single pass Single MODIS satellite images same location on the ground every two days Two MODIS satellites will be operational early 2001 – second system will provide daily coverage MODIS Characteristics

MODIS Orbital Characteristics Terra Platform – EOS AM1 Aqua Platform – EOS PM1 705 km, Near-polar, Sun Synchronous ~2300 km Swath Width 1 to 2 day revisit

MODIS Sensor Characteristics Red / 250-meters 5 Visible to Mid-IR 500-meters 29 Visible to Thermal 1-km Narrow Spectral Width High Dynamic Range (12-bit) Multiple Thermal Bands Sophisticated Onboard Calibration Spectral Property Summary Comparison of Landsat 7 and MODIS Bands 1-7

Summary: MODIS / Landsat Comparison MODISLandsat 7 Revisit Period1-day16-day Observations per Visit2 day time / 2 night time1 daytime Swath Width~2300 km~185 km Spatial Resolution250 / 500 / 1000 meters30 / 15 meters Number of Spectral Bands36 Total8 Total Dynamic Range12-bit (4096)8-bit (256) Observation to Application Latency ~12 hours2 - 3 weeks MODIS : Unique Niche in Earth Observing Systems & Opens the Door to New Natural Resource Applications

Comparison of MODIS & AVHRR

MODIS Direct Readout Facilitates applications that require near real- time imagery Wider use of data Moderate cost solution

Proposed USDA Forest MODIS Applications Network 3.1-meter X-band Antenna Terra (Aqua) Spacecraft GPS Timing System Level 0 Processing Antenna Control and Programming Tunable X-band Down Converter Demodulation and Frame Synchronization Assembly of Level 0 product Level 1b Processing Level 0 Reformatting Geolocation using Ephemeris and Attitude Calibration to top-of- atmosphere radiance Direct Broadcast Workstation RAID Automated Tape Backup Level 2 & 3 Processing (RSAC) Existing MODLand Products MOD09 - MOD13 MOD14 Algorithm Development Burned Severity / Intensity Watershed Assessment Support Strategic Fire Management Support Level 2 & 3 Processing (FiSL) Algorithm Development Enhanced Active Fire Smoke Dispersion Algorithm Development Burned Severity LANDFIRE Support? Ethernet LAN Broadband Virtual Network Connection (< 60 min. lag) RSAC Image Processing Workstation FiSL Image Processing Workstation

MODIS fire mapping Montana Fires August 23, 2000

MODIS fire mapping Montana & Idaho Fires September 26, 2000

MODIS fire mapping

MODIS Support for Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Nationwide Forest Cover Maps Nationwide Change Detection for Sample Stratification

MODIS Support for Rangeland Management Monitor daily rangeland changes:  Improves forage production estimates  Improves rangeland cover mapping capabilities Identify annual trends in rangeland production:  Develop guidelines for sustainable range management 1 year sequence of “greeness” images

MODIS Vegetative Cover Conversion Alarm for where rapid land cover conversion Multiple change detection algorithms 250-meter Spatial Resolution

Annual Landcover Map MODIS-Derived 1-km Spatial Resolution IGBM Classification Prototype of Annual Land Cover Map

Vegetation Continuous Fields (VCF) – Tree Cover

VCF – North West CONUS Treecover

VCF – Idaho Tree Cover