A pioneer in free distribution on the Internet of medium resolution satellite data, the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE) exceeded on Monday (Sep 29, 2009) the mark of one million images available on the catalog: http://www.dgi.inpe.br/CDSR/
The free data policy adopted by INPE has turned Brazil into a worldwide model in Earth Observation, making Remote Sensing a tool of easy access. The success of this pioneering initiative has led other countries, such as the United States, to also make freely available medium resolution orbital data.
The free distribution through the Internet has started in June 28, 2004, with CBERS-2 images (China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite). Later on, INPE made it possible the free access to historical images of LANDSAT satellites. Presently, INPE Remote Sensing Data Center, located in Cachoeira Paulista (SP), has images of satellites CBERS-2 and 2B as well as Landsat 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, available to anyone in the world willing to access them.
Out of the total distribution, the CBERS Program is responsible for 716,889 images (from those, 460,480 are from CBERS-2 and 256,409 from CBERS-2B). From the LANDSAT family, 283,123 images were distributed (8,569 of Landsat-1; 16,247 Landasat-2; 7,022 Landsat-3; 230,783 Landsat-5 and 20,502 of Landsat-7).
Brazil has one of the oldest satellite image repositories of the world, receiving LANDSAT data since 1973 at INPE Ground Station in Cuiaba (MT). Launched in 1972, Landsat-1 was the first orbital remote sensing equipment of earth resources, therefore, Brazil is the third country, after the United States and Canada, to receive this kind of data.
The South American countries in the footprint of Cuiabá’s station are the most privileged ones and, soon, the African countries will also be able to receive free images of their territories, as a memorandum has been signed for the reception of CBERS data in the Canary Islands, South Africa and Egypt (an antenna in Gabon is under negotiation).
CBERS DATA
In charge of more than 70% of the free images distributed by INPE, the CBERS Program was conclusive for spreading out the use of orbital remote sensing. Recently, INPE has made a survey to evaluate the level of satisfaction of the users regarding the CBERS image quality and the number of people hired to work on satellite data.
The survey results made it clear that free image distribution of satellite images has helped to expand in a strong way, the number of Brazilians that make use of the space program. 15,000 out of the registered users, 3,470 answered the quiz and, from those, 1,100 have confirmed CBERS images availability has helped them writing their scientific papers. Another important finding was that more than half stated they did not use satellite images before having access to CBERS images from INPE.
“By establishing this free data policy, INPE has aimed at the impact and the effectiveness of its results. Something that has been accomplished with honor” says the director of the Earth Observation Coordination at INPE, João Vianei Soares.
Responsible for setting up a free access policy, INPE director general, Gilberto Câmara, considers that “free data offer allows a much better earth resources management of our planet, which is very important in times of global changes”.
