On the 6th International Conference “Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions” winners of the “Living Map” Internet competition were awarded for their work with satellite images. First place went to the team “Rezhevsk gems” (secondary school № 2, Sverdlovsk Region, Rezh town) , headmaster – Anastasia Orekhova. Silver medal went to the team “Tveryaki-46” (secondary school №46, Tver town), headmaster – Tatiana Medovnikova.
The prizewinners are:
1. “Pathfinders” team (secondary school №500, St. Petersburg, Pushkin), headmaster: Anastasia Golyudova;
2 . “Integral” team (“Station of young naturalists”, Perm Territory, Tchaikovsky), headmaster: Galina Medzhitova;
3 . “Unicums 3” team (High school №25, Irkutsk), headmaster: Inessa Torosian-Shelunova;
4 . “Our World” team (Isaevskaya High School, Rostov Region, Isaev) headmaster: Natalia Shevakova.
The session “Modern technologies in schools and universities” has been held on October, 3. Participants discussed the current specifics and prospects of satellite imagery technologies introduction in scientific and educational process, as well as international experience in the field of science and education.
As it was marked by Natalia Dumnaya, Chair of the Microeconomics Department of
Finance University under the Government of the Russian Federation, the primary driver behind innovation-based development in all leading countries all over the world are National Innovation Systems (NIS), which offer a well-balanced joint operation of three major elements: education (academics) – business – government. In this fundamental triangle, the major innovation driver is education represented by universities, research laboratories and knowledge intensive enterprises (KIE).
— In Russia ScanEx Research & Development Center, developing and introducing Earth remote sensing technology, has been successfully overcoming the hurdles commonly preventing KIEs from performing their proper functions in NIS. We believe it is a new format of cooperation between education and business which could be a great role model, – said Natalia Dumnaya.
Today, Space Monitoring Centers are operating at more than 20 Russian universities. The backbone of their operations are “UniScan” stations for receiving and processing data from remote sensing satellites and geoportal technology.
Back in 2011, higher education institutions with centers for satellite imagery data reception and processing based on “UniScan” ground stations have joined together into the “University geoportals” consortium ( UNIGEO). At present it includes 27 universities in Russia. The consortium, helping the participating universities to solve the problems inherent in the educational network structures (improving the quality of training, opening of new educational programs, organization of continuing education programs, taking into account the multi-level training, etc.), in the global perspective is aimed at promoting the creation of integrating networks structures in the regions based on Space Monitoring Centers (hereinafter – SMC).
For example, one of the Space Monitoring Centers is operating at the Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography (MIIGAiK). The team of its students and postgraduates has developed based on Earth remote sensing data the techniques for creating digital terrain models (DTM) covering large areas comparable in size with such administrative and territorial entities as Territories and Regions. As a result of the research work carried out, an algorithm was suggested, which in the shortest possible time and in the absence of field survey data (GPS) enables to get a DTM that is suitable for many applications such as data ortho-rectification of high spatial resolution imagery data, geomorphological analysis of the territory, hydrological modeling, 3D visualization, etc.
ScanEx IMAGE PROCESSOR software, developed by ScanEx RDC, was selected by the MIIGAiK students as the tool for this solution. Its modules has algorithms to create DTMs and to support a great number of geospatial data formats. Stavropol Territory has been selected as a pilot area for testing the methodology.
At the Ural Federal University, where the Space Monitoring Center is working, the following lectures for bachelor’s degree holders on “ERS Basics” are organized:
• “ERS radar systems. Problems in space radar image creation and distortion elimination”;
• “Main directions of ERS data application. Problems and solutions”;
and for bachelor’s degree holders on ‘ERS Radio-electronic systems’:
• “Optical-electronic systems of observation from space (problems in resolution enhancement)”;
• “Distortions of space radar images”.
Laboratory search work and studies with scientific research elements are considered the most important forms of active learning in engineering and technical disciplines at Ural Federal University. Here are some examples of such work: “Technological study of ERS data acquisition in Space monitoring center”, “Analysis of space radar image quality characteristics”;”Image-fusion in multispectral ERS systems”; “Speckle noise filtration in radar images”;”Building of digital elevation model applying space radar interferometry method”; “Study of phase noise filtration methods with radar data interferometry processing”.
— What makes them different from routine lab work is that the guidelines lack any detailed and step-by-step explanation as to what should be done and what sort of result should be expected. Students only have some general direction to go and general research guidelines, whereas the ways to accomplish the tasks are left to their own discretion. Results of experimental research are not defined in advance either, — explained Victor Kobernikov, assistant professor of the Chair of Theoretic Basics of Radiotechnics of the Ural Federal University.
Yuri Kutinov, Director of the Space Monitoring Center at the Northern (Arctic) Federal University, spoke about the application of the Earth observation technology in his university. In its activities the Center has accumulated a lot of materials (50,000 images in the interactive catalog) on the Archangelsk Region and neighboring areas. More than 800 students passed the training at the workshops «Methods and Practices of Earth Remote Sensing (ERS)», held by the Center. Information is provided for scientific research. The geoportal is functioning with constant space imagery supply for use in the training process and projects (geoportal.narfu.ru).
— The Center is the co-developer of long-term target program of the Archangelsk Region “Utilization of Space Activity Results in Behalf of the Social and Economic Development of the Archangelsk Region” in 2013 – 2016, — noted Yuri Kutinov and drew attention of the audience to the lack of qualified specialists in the area of spatial data application, insufficient level of training of state executive authorities as well as local authorities in the Archangelsk Region for wider utilization of geoinformation and space technologies. This is reflected in the Program: the plan is to provide training to 100 specialists of executive authorities of the Archangelsk Region.
