Environment related satellite data sets available for use by developing countries

Abstract

The facilities of the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) for remote satellite data acquisition, data retrieval and processing are presented in view of their use for environmental applications by developing countries. The possibility and benefit of using the German Mobile Receiving Station is shown which is a transportable 8-meter antenna multi-satellite data acquisition system for remote sensing data that can be operated under a wide rage of environmental conditions and thus allows to cover currently non-covered areas. Also the Interactive Satellite Data Information System (ISIS) is discussed in its functions, access and content. As representative example for data processing collaboration, some results of inventory campaigns with radar remote sensing in the tropical rain forest are given elaborated in mutual coorperation with INPE, Brazil. This joint project in the field of space flight utilization aims at the objective of analysing satellite data for observation of the dynamics of change in the rain forest, e.g. as a result of lumbering and fire clearing, by means of multitemporal evaluation of radar and optical satellite data.