Table of contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 1
2. ALOS Science Program .............................................................................. 2
2.1 Concept and Background..................................................................... 2
2.1.1 Diversification of Earth Environment Problems................................. 2
2.1.2 Think Globally and Act Locally------Establishing Global Environment
Measures Corresponding to Local Needs. .................................................. 2
2.1.3 Popularization of GIS (Geographic Information System).................. 3
2.1.4 ALOS Mission Concept .................................................................... 3
2.1.5 The ALOS Kyoto & Carbon Initiative................................................. 5
2.2 Goals.................................................................................................. 10
2.2.1 General Goals ................................................................................ 10
2.2.2 Strategic Goals ............................................................................... 18
2.3 Data Analysis and Utilization.............................................................. 21
2.3.1 Calibration and Validation of PALSAR ............................................ 21
2.3.2 Calibration and Validation of PRISM and AVNIR-2......................... 23
2.3.3 Forest, wetlands and other vegetated areas .................................. 26
2.3.4 Topography and Geology ............................................................... 30
2.3.5 Hydrology, Water Resources, Snow and Ice .................................. 33
2.3.6 Disaster Monitoring and Damage Management ............................. 37
2.3.7 Land Use, Land Cover, Agriculture................................................. 45
2.3.8 Application Examples from the Oceanography Field...................... 47
2.3.9 International Polar Year (IPY)......................................................... 56
2.3.10 Cities........................................................................................... 58
3. Overview of ALOS.................................................................................... 60
3.1 Overview............................................................................................ 60
3.2 PRISM................................................................................................ 62
3.3 AVNIR-2 ............................................................................................. 64
3.4 PALSAR ............................................................................................. 66
4. Products.................................................................................................... 69
4.1 PRISM................................................................................................ 69
4.1.1 Specification of Product.................................................................. 69
4.1.2 Product Format............................................................................... 78
4.2 AVNIR-2 ............................................................................................. 81
4.2.1 Specification of Product.................................................................. 81
4.2.2 Product Format............................................................................... 89
4.3 PALSAR ............................................................................................. 92
4.3.1 Product Overview ........................................................................... 92
4.3.2 Product Formats............................................................................. 97
5. Operation ................................................................................................ 101
5.1 Sensor Operation Outline................................................................. 101
5.1.1 PRISM.......................................................................................... 103
5.1.2 AVNIR-2........................................................................................ 104
5.1.3 PALSAR........................................................................................ 105
5.2 Operation Scenarios ........................................................................ 106
5.3 Operation Priority Ranking................................................................116
6. User Services...........................................................................................117
6.1 User Services....................................................................................117
6.1.1 Service Outline ..............................................................................117
6.1.2 User Types ....................................................................................117
6.1.3 Data Policy ....................................................................................118
6.2 AUIG ................................................................................................ 122
6.2.1 AUIG Outline ................................................................................ 122
6.2.2 Service Limitations ....................................................................... 123
6.2.3 Usage Procedures........................................................................ 124
6.2.4 Notes and Limitations ................................................................... 125
6.3 ALOS Research Announcement ...................................................... 127
6.3.1 Introduction................................................................................... 127
6.3.2 Research goals and objectives..................................................... 128
6.3.3 Data distribution............................................................................ 131
6.3.4 Funding ........................................................................................ 132
6.3.5 Qualifications of applicants........................................................... 132
6.3.6 BENEFITS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PIS ............................. 132
6.3.7 Research organizations................................................................ 133
Appendix 1 Abbreviation Table
Appendix 2 Pertinent information
1
1. Introduction
The Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) "Daichi" was launched a year and a half ago.
Within this period, the initial mission check of satellite and sensors, initial calibration, and routine
calibration have been carried out, to verify the performance of the satellite and sensors. It was
confirmed that the satellite is operating properly, providing correct position, attitude, and time data to
the sensors. This means that the satellite fulfills its task of serving as a backbone for the earth
observation equipment. Accurate information helps the sensors to produce high quality images of a
level that is among the best worldwide. The observation sensors consist of a high-resolution stereo
mapping sensor (PRISM), a visible and near infrared radiometer (AVNIR-2), and an L-band synthetic
aperture radar (PALSAR), all of which are high performance systems. Over the last 18 months, their
performance was evaluated and image processing technology was applied to improve image accuracy
(geometric accuracy and radiometric accuracy, including calibration and validation). Application
research areas where extracted geophysical parameters have been used so far include the creation of
numerical elevation models, finalizing of orthogonal projection methods, acquiring data about seismic
and volcanic activity fluctuations, and detection of environmental changes such as deforestation.
ALOS is expected to contribute to society in numerous ways. One such example is disaster monitoring,
which requires the capability for establishing immediate observation plans, identifying affected areas,
and instant distribution of data. These functions were successfully tested over the past year and a half.
Of course, imaging accuracy is of utmost importance. In this area, a variety of feedback both on the
technical and the application side was received and processed during the testing stage, which has
helped us to develop an observation system that we believe is practical and easy to use. While the first
edition of the Reference Handbook which was compiled before the launch was based on a prognosis of
how the expected data could be used, this second edition reflects the results of various trials conducted
over the past 18 months. There are still many areas that are incomplete, and the handbook should be
considered as another step on the road to the final goal. It is hoped that the materials presented here
will help clarify the potential of the satellite and serve as an incentive for further research and
utilization (including calibration and validation). In this regard, the handbook should be considered an
addition to the library of reference tools available to users.
Masanobu Shimada
Earth Observation Research Center
2
2. ALOS Science Program
2.1 Concept and Background
2.1.1 Diversification of Earth Environment Problems
Most analyses on Earth's environmental problems have focused on forecasting, evaluating
and preventing of impacts of the global warming due to greenhouse gas effect. Greenhouse gas
from a single country spreads in a short instance and accelerates global climate changes.
Greenhouse gas emissions can be clearly recognized as a global problem. However, global
environment problems also have natural resource problem aspects, such as food supply.
A global food crisis may not occur suddenly. Instead, sneaking shortage and resulting price
rise of major crops may apply pressures to relatively vulnerable areas, which may slowly lead
to instability in global food trade systems worldwide. For instance, the current civil wars in
Africa are fundamentally related to long-term poverty due to land resource degradation and
water resource deficiencies. Moreover, devastation from the wars causes additional problems
such as large numbers of refugees. These land and water resource problem may lead to
instability of the world political system and, therefore, cause difficulties to individual countries
worldwide.
To alleviate and eventually solve these problems, it is necessary to continuously obtain local
information on land, water, and vegetation resources at global scale. Ecosystem preservation
and genetic resource protection are also influential subjects, which also require a steady flow
of local data acquired globally. So far, it is widely believed that low-resolution data is enough
for global problems. In fact, high-resolution data, which is useful for local area, should be
acquired globally to cope with the problem. Moreover, this is now becoming technically
possible.
2.1.2 Think Globally and Act Locally------Establishing Global Environment Measures
Corresponding to Local Needs.
As shown by the Kyoto protocol of COP3, the focus of global environment problems has
shifted from examining the influence and clarifying the mechanism to drafting
countermeasures, forming mutual agreement and developing implementation strategies. In the
area of greenhouse gas, effective countermeasures for controlling greenhouse gas generation
include forest preservation, carbon storage and fixation, carbon emission taxes, emission trade,
and energy saving technology development. Policies such as forest preservation and
reforestation are expected to be directly linked to regional interests and should therefore be
coordinated with regional needs, because a global policy that brings disadvantages to local
people is not sustainable.
Consequently, it is necessary to obtain local data to conduct policy globally. In particular,
policy issues such as preservation of land and water resources, stabilization of food production
by sustainable use of land and water resources, disaster risk mitigation, and various species'
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