The goal to perform 2D/3D surveys of preserved areas have been implemented in such a way to define an easily reproducible methodology, which could be easily applied to several survey sites for the implementation of a GIS based project. The analysis of thematic maps through the integration of Satellite Navigation Systems with Remote Sensing (RS) data in a Geographic Information System (GIS) offers improved insights in sustainable development (SD).
GNSS Applications
In the frame of Project MONITOR of the Galileo Joint and International Research Programmes, the Innovative Educational and Research Programmes are planning to analyse GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) real time positioning and innovative telecommunication applications by using various kind of almost wearable or personal digital assistants (PDAs), Remote Mobile Investigators (RMI), pocket PCs and Smartphones as well Virtual Reference Station (VRS– www.cgtsrl.it), GPS/PL/INS (Global Positioning System/ Pseudolite/Inertial Navigation System) and novel telecommunication applications.
The European Union’s MONITOR project objectives are to demonstrate the use of GNSS for environmental and civil engineering monitoring, highlighting the added benefits of EGNOS/Galileo, and to analyze barriers to the wider penetration of GNSS within the land survey and civil engineering markets. In particular, the engineering model of the first Galileo satellites has completed platform integration tests at the Thales Alenia Space facility in Rome. The platform is now undergoing functional testing. Delivery of the engineering model payload from Astrium UK is expected in December.
These tests are an important step towards building and launching the first four Galileo satellites. Integration testing verifies the interfaces between units or subsystems and the larger integrated system. The definition phase and the development and In-Orbit Validation phase of the Galileo programme were carried out by the European Space Agency (www.esa.int) and co-funded by ESA and the European Community.
The consortium intend to analyse many applications of GNSS in environmental analysis and in cartography. Selected cases became pilot projects, for which a real time monitoring centre facility at Thales Alenia Space has been added.
Less guarantee is possible if GPS or GPS+GLONASS is used to monitor landslides and building monitoring in deep valleys or in town centres. In several cases it was found that hills and buildings may create problems when carrying out GNSS monitoring. Hence more satellites are needed. Moreover, particular features of Galileo could be of general interest in an area which cannot be easily covered by other data communication systems.
GeoIntelligence Analysis: background and motivations
Wealth of new RS applications has been developed over the last years using data from several instruments onboard the 4-tonne Japanese Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS). Under the terms of a cooperative agreement, ESA has been delivering data to users across Europe and Africa since its launch three years ago. In particular, Array, a leader in remote sensing applications, has made significant contributions to the ESA SMOS Earth Observation mission employing innovative algorithms for estimation of soil moisture from L-Band telemetry. SMOS , launched in November 2009, will lead to major advancements in weather and extreme-event forecasting and climate monitoring. Furthermore ESA Member States have recently approved the new principles for the Sentinel Data Policy, which establishes full and open access to data acquired by the upcoming Sentinel satellite missions.
The Sentinels comprise five new missions being developed by ESA specifically for the operational needs of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme (GMES). GMES is an EC-led initiative to ensure the provision of Earth observation (EO) services that are tailored to the needs of users, both public policymakers and citizens, on a sustainable basis. As part of the ESA-led GMES Space Component, which guarantees access to a variety of EO data, ESA and the EC worked together to define the principles and implementation scheme of the Sentinel Data Policy.
The new data policy ensures free-of-charge access to all Sentinel data as well as the products generated via the Internet to anyone interested in using them, mainly for GMES data use but also for scientific and commercial use. Other access modes and the delivery of additional products will be tailored to specific user requests, but not necessarily within ESA’s remit. The policy continues the international trend for full and open access to EO data, in line with the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) data sharing principles. Furthermore, it responds directly to the increasing demand of EO data in the context of climate change initiatives and in support for the implementation of environmental policies (www.esa.int). European partners cooperate to implement a wide range of environmental datasets.
We now plan to extend educational and research projects in the field of OS geospatial analysis with the support of novel geomatic applications in Sicily. This technique was employed to the implementation of thematic cartography of the Etna Park watershed studies for sustainable development (SD). The goal to perform 2D/3D surveys of preserved areas have been implemented in such a way to define an easily reproducible methodology, which could be easily applied to several survey sites for the implementation of a GIS based project. The survey areas due to its cultural and natural features are optimum test sites to check the effectiveness and the efficiency of integrated use of RTK GPS, VRS and terrestrial laser scanning, with no integration of classic topographical measurements, in order to output digital terrain models (DTM) of the survey areas, thematic carthography and colour 3-D models with triangular mesh.
When surveying a coastline, the integration of remote sensing (RS) analysis, thermographic imaging and laser scanning (above sea level) data causes problems due to the different imaging properties. However, by ensuring that the different data sets have been accurately georeferenced. The experiments are trying to analyse that GNSS system may increase the position availability in environmental applications.
Analysis of the cultural landscape terrain above the see level combined with water pollution tests was obtained. Spectral luminescence characteristics of various water samples may also be investigated using laser spectrometers with excitation wavelengths 266 and 337 nm and lamp fluorescence spectrometers as a method for in situ measurements of water quality. A well-designed GIS based project provides a platform on which all aspects of the assessment management system (AMS) process can be built. The resulting system, GIS/AMS, represents a significant enhancement of all aspects of the AMS process.
A variety of spatially integrated data are important to management decision making. GIS technology is shown to be the most logical way of relating these diverse, but relevant, data. The components include data collection, preliminary data analysis and interpretation, system assessment, determination of strategies, project identification and development, and project implementation.
Each of these stages in the AMS process is enhanced by Open Source Geospatial technology for streamlined operations and cost savings. Looking at the AMS process in its entirety leads to the enumeration of a set of functions to be embedded in the GIS platform that is required for effective GIS/AMS.
These functions included thematic mapping, a flexible data base editor, formula editing, statistics, charting, matrix manipulation, network generation, models and algorithms, and hooks to external procedures. Novel RS Land cover classification with temporal evolution of NDVI provides an example of thematic mapping in order to understand patterns and changes in “risk zones”. The implemenation of algorithms for innovative classification methods, after choosing training sets describing environmental stress, water pollution and brownfields are the main task of this analysis: subdivision in cluster with an unsupervised algorithm or new implementations and identification of cluster typologies with a collection of spectral firms. Despite the advances of the GIS based project, the processes involved in data fusion are still currently under development.
The data fusion method focus on enhancing the appearance of a hybrid high-resolution image to facilitate visual image exploitation. In particular we analysed the HIS method (intensity, hue, saturation). In sharpening process is essentially a fusion, which involves merging data from the different sensors with different resolutions thus attempting to improve the interpretability of the lower resolution images. The pan image has been found to be roughly image brightness and is used to replace the intensity in the IHS image. The “high resolution” IHS image can then be backtransformed to the RGB space for display. This back-transformed image then appears to be a high-resolution three-band spectral image.
This process is also called the colored fused image (IHS to RGB). Case studies demonstrate that the higher spatial and temporal resolution of thematic maps can provide better understanding of some unexpected consequences of development, and also creates opportunities for adopting more sustainable approaches to environmental management. They also illustrate the current capabilities of open-source geospatial technology for GeoIntelligence analysis and data processing, analysis, modelling and visualisation for SD strategies. The current capacity to acquire such geospatial data exceeds the ability to analyse it. The project has also highlighted the need for more training and interoperability and the need to implement this field of studies.
Article by Prof. Arch. Agata Lo Tauro, Minister of Education, the University and Research, IPSIA “Majorana-Sabin”, Viale Libertà 151, 95014, Giarre, Italy. e.mail: agatalotauro at tiscali.it http://www.miur.it
Acknowledgments Thanks to Roberto Rinaldi, FLIR System, S. Fazzina, Franco La Fico, UMUC headquarters and staff (WebTycho Programme), A. Verga, CGT srl and Dr. N. Costa for information and data processing.
Further reading
Carrillo, M. and Kuhns, L. Data to Design: Good Design Requires Accurate Base Maps. Cadalyst, Integrating Technology for Manufacturing, AEC and GIS, Jan 7, 2009, www.cadalyst.com
Giuffrida A. Lo Tauro A. Technologies and community mechanism for civil protection assistance and cultural heritage conservation. CORP 2006 & Geomultimedia06, Sustainable Solution for the Information society – 11th International Conference on Urban Planning and Spatial Development for the Information Society, Vienna, pp. 249-253, 2006 http://www.corp.at/Download/CORP2006_CDRom/archiv/papers2006/CORP2006_GIUFFRIDA.pdf
Lo Tauro, A. Terrestrial laser scanner in natural heritage: new perspectives in 3D surveying. in 2° Seminario Europeo Optech LaserScanner 3D, Milano 31 Maggio – 1 Giugno 2006 http://www.codevintec.it/
Mitasova, H. and Neteler, M. GRASS as Open Source Free Software GIS: Accomplishments and Perspectives. Transactions in GIS, 145–154, 2002.
Websites
http://www.esa.int
http://www.flirthermography.com
Author Biography
Agata Lo Tauro (15/11/69) graduated at the Faculty of Architecture, Palermo (110/100 & lode). She held different positions with the Simpson Associates Architects and The Pickard Filanson Partnership, BBC Project Office under the COMET Programme and attended the M.Phil course at the University of Manchester, School of Architecture and Town Planning and two Master Courses at the “Scuola Superiore”, Catania University. Part of her research was also conducted at the Innovation Relay Centre (http://www.innovationrelay.net/, Catania University), API Industrie and Consorzio Catania Ricerche. She participated in several European Research and Educational Programmes providing supply and academic supports for cultural exchange programmes. Agata Lo Tauro worked for the ESE (European School of Economics – Communication & Media Studies) as a Visual Communication & Computer graphics lecturer (a.a. 2001-2). She also attended the Ph.D Course in “Geomatics and Territorial Information Systems” at Trieste University. She completed the Teaching with WebTycho Training Session “CTLA201” – UMUC’s Center for Teaching and Learning – University of Maryland University. She was “Direttore Tecnico dei Lavori, Progettista e Collaudatore” of Sicilian Curie Arcivescovili under Sicilian POR Programmes, tasked with developing new business and achieving ambitious growth plans within Sicilian SMEs, Local Institutions and Research Centres (e.g. http://www.supinfo.it). Thesis, papers and scientific works have been published in National and International Cultural Events, Magazine and Journals since 1993 (topic – Geomatics).
