TerraLookIncreased Access to Satellite Images

Woody Turner

July 10, 2007

OAS

What Is TerraLook?

1. Tool to order images2. Images3. Software

Coco RiverNicaragua

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Software Capabilities☯ Image display, roam, zoom☯ Change analysis tools☯ Measure☯ Overlay display, create, edit☯ Image annotation☯ GPS point ingest☯ Image enhancement☯ Image mosaicking☯ 3-D viewing (prelim)☯ Advanced capabilities☯ Multilingual

Case Study 1☯ Dong Hua Sao Reserved Forest, Laos

• Essentially a National Park☯ Encroachment by agriculture

• Extent not known in 1999• Very difficult to assess on the

ground ☯ Park managers had little experience

with remote sensing☯ Purchased IKONOS images in

February 2000 (very expensive!)• TerraLook not available then

Southern Lao PDR

AOI: On Bolovens Plateau

1973 1989

20042000

2004Zoom

Park Manager Assessment☯ “For the first time, we have current

and complete information on the status of forest clearing in the two critical areas of the uplands.”

☯ “This knowledge now enables us to suggest boundary adjustments and alternatives for dealing with the problem.”

Recommendation

2 km0 1

Case Study 2☯ Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India☯ Adjacent to Brahmaputra River

• Very seasonal• Extreme sediment load• Home to endangered one-horned

Asian rhinoceros, tigers, elephants etc

☯ Park essentially built on a sand bar☯ Susceptible to erosion

Future☯ Huge hydropower potential will be

tapped☯ Will impact river flow and sediment

load• Can have huge impact on park

☯ Need to communicate park vulnerability to Assam Minister of Power

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park

1973

2001

True Story☯ These differences

were discovered in real time during a presentation to the park managers

☯ They knew the river bank moved over time

☯ They did not know how much

Comparison

3 km

Tell the Story

RemovalAccretion

3 km

Both Case Studies☯ Managers were aware of the problem☯ Could not assess extent☯ Images allowed quantification and

documentation (and communication)

TerraLook and Monitoring☯ Can TerraLook be used for

monitoring?☯ Example: The Monitoring Loop

1. Order existing image set from TerraLook

2. Request periodic new ASTER acquisitions (free)

3. Order newly acquired scenes from TerraLook (free)

4. Add to collection

http://terralook.cr.usgs.gov