Abstract
FORMOSAT-2, Taiwan’s first remote sensing satellite, was successfully launched in May of 2004 into the Sun-synchronous orbit at 891 kilometers of altitude. With the daily revisit feature, the 2-m panchromatic, 8-m multi-spectral resolution images captured have been used for researches and operations in various societal benefit areas. This paper details the orchestration of various tasks conducted in different institutions in Taiwan in the efforts responding to international disasters. The institutes involved including its space agency-National Space Organization (NSPO), Center for Satellite Remote Sensing Research of National Central University, GIS Center of Feng-Chia University, and the National Center for High-performance Computing. Since each institution has its own mandate, the coordinated tasks ranged from receiving emergency observation requests, scheduling and tasking of satellite operation, downlink to ground stations, images processing including data injection, ortho-rectification, to delivery of image products. With the lessons learned from working with international partners, the FORMOSAT Image Processing System has been extensively automated and streamlined with a goal to shorten the time between request and delivery in an efficient manner. The integrated team has developed an Application Interface to its system platform that provides functions of search in archive catalogue, request of data services, mission planning, inquiry of services status, and image download. This automated system enables timely image acquisition and substantially increases the value of data product. Example outcome of these efforts in recent response to support Sentinel Asia in Nepal Earthquake is demonstrated herein.
Highlights
FORMOSAT-2, Taiwan’s first remote sensing satellite, was successfully launched in May of 2004 into the Sun-synchronous orbit at 891 kilometers of altitude
In the efforts to support responding to disasters, FORMOSAT-2 has been contributing to international initiatives or organizations such as Sentinel Asia, International Disaster Charter, United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UNSPIDER), and UNITAR’s Operational Satellite Applications Programme
In order to make the operation efficient and effective, a value-chain to produce satellite image is coordinated by synergizing the National Space Organization (NSPO) Image Processing System (IPS) and other domestic institutions-CSRSR of NCU, the GIS Center of FCU, and the National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC)
Summary
FORMOSAT-2, Taiwan’s first remote sensing satellite, was successfully launched in May of 2004 into the Sun-synchronous orbit at 891 kilometers of altitude. The NSPO has developed an Application Interface for mobile access to its system platform that provides functions of search in archive catalogue, request of data services, mission planning, inquiry of services status, and image download. This automated system enables timely image acquisition and substantially increases the value of data product. Considering the health conditions of FORMOSAT-2, joint operation of the two satellites is under planning This automation effort in provision of high resolution image product chain will be shown to enhance the system operation performance and create even more benefits in rapid response to major disasters for international community
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