Natural Resources

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CEOS WGCV 23rd Plenary Report on Natural
Resources Canada Activities
H. Peter White
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
Natural Resources Canada
Ressources naturelles Canada
CEOS-WGCV 23, CONAE, Argentina, 2005-03-07
E CCRS Seminar, Ottawa, 2005-01-21
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Overview

• Information Products
• Canada-wide LAI Maps.
• Canada-wide Clumping Index.
• Boreal Forest Carbon Cycle (FLUX-NET Canada).
• Forest Fire Monitoring

• Calibration Programs
• Hyperspectral Pre-processing Procedure.
• Radiative Transfer Modelling (FLAIR).
• CHRIS/PROBA, EO-1 Hyperion, Landsat 5 7
• HUST and HERO

• CCRS In-Situ Sensorweb Prototype Demonstrations
• Flood Hazard Monitoring Red River Watershed,
  Manitoba (2002-2003).
• Groundwater Monitoring Oak Ridges Moraine
  (2003-2004).
• Drought Severity and Vegetation Monitoring
  Alberta (2003-2005).

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Opportunities Tackling Issues Using Converging
Advanced Technologies and Technology Trends

• Motivations
• Better understanding of the changing Earth
  system.
• Direct and inform for efficient policy and
  decision making.
• More effective use of powerful science and
  technology tools.
• Opportunities
• Synthesis of Earth-based and space-based
  measurements.
• Convergence of advanced technologies.
• Global cooperation advancing applications and
  understanding.

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National Information Products
Algorithms for vegetation canopies were initially
developed by correlating NDVI from Landsat TM
with ground-based LAI. These algorithms,
developed using 30 m imagery, are applied to the
1 km imagery after consideration of the
difference between the sensors. Intensive studies
are being conducted to improve the methodology of
scaling between spatial and spectral resolutions
and sampling using contexture parameters. Field
data collection is planned each year, providing
assessment and validation of the LAI product, and
improving calibration of future products.
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National Carbon Exchange
Changes in land use, cover and natural
disturbance are thought to be major controls of
the dynamic sink/source balance for the boreal
terrestrial carbon stock. Fluxnet-Canada is a
national research network developed to study the
influence of climate and disturbance on
terrestrial carbon cycling along an east-west
transect of Canadian forest and peatlands. Land
use/cover and disturbance mapping at the 30 m
sampling scales are important contributors to
this project. Fluxnet-Canada is comprised of
seven flux stations making eddy covariance
measurements. Stable isotope measurements across
the transect and model evaluation at different
temporal and spatial scales are key network
activities. Fluxnet-Canada is part of the global
fluxnet network consisting of over 150 sites
where carbon, water and energy fluxes are
measured.
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Sensor Calibration/Validation
Continuous participation to validate sensor
acquisitions for information extraction
methodologies using targeted Canadian study sites

• EO-1 Hyperion
• Victoria Watershed (conifer forests)
• Sudbury (orphaned and active mining)
• CHRIS/PROBA
• Sudbury (orphaned and active mining)
• Baffin Island (northern mineral mapping)

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Hyperspectral Pre-Processing
HyperspectralAt-Sensor Radiance Data
Destriping
Spatial Shift Correction (multiple detectors)
Angular-Shift Correction
Noise Reduction
Keystone Detection
Smile / Frown Detection Gain and Offset Detection
and Correction
MODTRAN 4.2 Radiative Transfer Code
Spectral Calibration Tables
Atmospheric Correction
Smile Correction
Keystone Calibration Table
Keystone Correction
At-Surface Reflectance Data
Post-Processing of Data
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Radiative Transfer Modelling

• The quantitative assessment of vegetation
  properties and environmental monitoring has
  greatly matured in recent years due to advances
  in both satellite remote sensing technologies and
  canopy reflectance algorithms. The development of
  reliable standardized information products can
  benefit from exploiting these advances. Space
  borne hyperspectral remote sensing is one such
  advance.
• FLAIR (Four-Scale Linear model for AnIsotropic
  Reflectance) is being developed to take advantage
  of two contributions provided by advanced
  hyperspectral sensors
• To increase site re-visit frequency, sensors are
  being designed with tilt and roll targeting
  ability. FLAIR evaluates and utilizes the impact
  of variable view and sun geometry on scene
  reflectance (BRF) to extract information (such as
  canopy LAI and clumping levels).
• Satellite sensor technology is also developing
  increased spectral resolution. FLAIR is being
  developed to exploit spectral characteristics to
  extract information products (such as leaf water
  and chlorophyll maps) related to stress detection
  and environmental assessment.

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The Need for In-Situ Sensing
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Towards Integrated Earth Sensing CCRS Goal and
Objectives (2001)

• Goal To monitor remote environments,
  hazards and disasters, and natural resources
  using new data acquisition strategies and systems
  for integrated Earth sensing.

• Objectives
• Design and deploy smart sensorwebs for in situ
  data acquisition.
• Develop methods to fuse and assimilate in situ
  and remote sensing data into models that generate
  validated information.
• Facilitate the integration of in situ sensor data
  and/or metadata into on-line geospatial data
  infrastructures (GDIs).

Terrestrial Information Products in GDIs
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Transition to Issue-Driven Programs of the Earth
Sciences Sector (ESS) 2003

• Natural Hazards and Emergency Response
• Flood Hazard Project.
• Groundwater
• Remote Sensing in Support of Groundwater
  Monitoring and Vulnerability Assessment.
• Sustainable Development
• Intelligent Sensorweb for Integrated Earth
  Sensing.

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Flood Hazard Monitoring An In-Situ Sensorweb
Prototype Demonstration

• Red River Watershed
• Roseau River Sub-Basin
• Manitoba Deployment 2002-2003

Roseau River (Red River Watershed) Indian
Reserve April 30, 1997
Satellite-based soil moisture maps and
strategically deployed in situ sensorwebs can
monitor soil moisture changes in space and time
without ongoing field work.
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Manitoba Deployment (2002-2003) CCRS Sensor
Measurements
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OpenGIS Compliant (OGC) Web Infrastructure
York University is building the geo-server system
that will allow users to access and manipulate
multi-source data and vegetation models
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Most Important
Technology Surveys International Inc., Oakville,
Ontario, Draft Report, January 2005
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Concluding Remarks

• Convergence of advanced technologies
• Moving towards integrated Earth sensing
• In-situ sensing will help to provide solid
  underpinnings

• Time-critical and cost-effective monitoring of
  complex and dynamic systems in support of
  decision making
• CCRS sensorweb prototype demonstrations in the
  contexts of flood hazard, groundwater, drought
  severity and vegetation monitoring

• Next priority is sensor data fusion and
  assimilation with models to generate validated
  and valuable information
• Geostrategic technologies will make a difference
  but there are challenges to be addressed along
  the way

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Contact




Information Contact


Dr. H. Peter White

Research Scientist
Applications Division

Canada Centre for Remote Sensing

Natural Resources Canada
588 Booth Street


Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y7


PWhite_at_NRCan.gc.ca

www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca


The power of technological convergence will
bring measurable benefits to each and every
individual. Our Molecular Future, Douglas
Mulhall (2002)