Increasing Access to Satellite Data for Conservation The Protected Area Archive Tool

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Increasing Access to Satellite Data for
ConservationThe Protected Area Archive Tool
February 2005
Gary Geller Jet Propulsion Laboratory California
Institute of Technology
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Background
How can satellite images help conservation
practitioners?

• Observe land cover, boundaries, threats
• Monitor change in forest cover, land use
• Measure and map areas and boundaries
• Detect and map fires
• Assess for adaptive management
• Predict for proactive management
• Communicate

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Example Assess Encroachment
Dong Hua Sao NBCA IUCN Cat VI
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Assess Encroachment
1975
Village
Landsat image
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Assess Encroachment
1989
Village
Landsat image
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Assess Encroachment
2000
Village
Landsat image
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Assess Encroachment
Zoom
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Current Situation

• NASA has been collecting conservation-useful
  satellite data since 1972
• Traditionally
• Expensive
• Geared towards science and research
• Recent massive increase in data available
• Cost no longer an issue
• Loads of zero- and low-cost data available

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But There Are OBSTACLES

• Searching for and Ordering data
• Using data

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Obstacles for Conservation Users

• Too many sensors and products to choose from
• Too many organizations offering data
• Unfriendly search and order tools (EDG)
• Contorted order processes (Glovis for ASTER L2)
• Unfamiliar data formats (hdf)
• Data complexity (multiband)
• Expensive, sophisticated, and unfriendly tools
  (ENVI)
• RS is a highly technical field
• Internet access and bandwidth

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The Problem
For land data

• To Summarize
• Data access and analysis systems are for experts
• Result
• Many users are left out
• Data are underutilized

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Solutions

• Two solutions are possible
• Training
• Make satellite data easier to
• Obtain
• Use

Protected Area Archive
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Protected Area Archive

• Creates collections of images on a particular
  theme
• Packaged with tools to use them
• Simple and intuitive
• Audience Users having no experience with RS
• Requirements No Internet or computer skills
  needed

Sunderbans India and Bangladesh
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Demonstration
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Locator Map
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Collections
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Open Another Collection
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Zoom to Area of Interest
Double click to open
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Scene Displays
New scene displays
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Overlay Manager

• Click Overlay Manager
• Turn overlays on and off
• Add new overlays

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Measurement of Area and Distance
Draw a polygon using the mouse
Get the area of the polygon
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Select Another Image Layer
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Change Analysis
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Annotate Image
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Status Release

• Version 1 completed in November
• Released at IUCN World Conservation Congress
• Working out plans for next release

Bombetoka Bay Madagascar
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Status Geographic Scope

• Collections now available include
• Cambodia
• Thailand
• Uganda
• Sri Lanka
• Mekong trace
• Sunderbans
• UNESCO sites
• Birdlife International sites
• New collections sometimes created on request
  (caveats)

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Plans More Capabilities

• More data layers (eg, MODIS)
• More vector capabilities
• Change analysis tools
• Topographic layer, with draping capability
• Mosaicking
• Web-enabled
• Web version

Edgemont National Park New Zealand
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Plans Big Picture

• Formalized operations
• Open source version
• Collaborate with on-the-ground partners
• Incorporate into training classes

Garamba National Park, DRC
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Formalized Operations

• Permanent operational home needed
• New name, broad appeal
• Website for users to order collections
• Select specific ASTER images
• Select Landsat path/rows and epochs
• Generate collection
• Stage via ftp, or mail CD/DVD

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Open Source Version

• Eliminates DOC Export constraints
• Eliminates CalTech licensing constraints
• Brings in existing OS capabiliites
• Enlists OS community resources
• Allows user community to create custom versions
• Port from ESRI MapObjectsLT to OpenEV

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More

• More information is available at
• asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/paa