SPACE SI SATELLITE SYSTEMS AND SERVICES

Space SciencesCentre and of fromTechnologiesExcellence Slovenian for

Satellite Assembly Integration and Testing

Ground Control Stations Automatic Satellite Data Processing Remote Sensing Services

ZRC SAZU Our main developments

Earth observation mission by Ground stations and NEMO-HD microsatellite X-band transmitters

Thermal-vacuum chamber Web and mobile-based GIS and satellite testing facilities applications Foreword

The Slovenian Centre of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies SPACE-SI has been established in 2010 by a consortium of academic institutions, high-tech SMEs and large industrial and insurance companies in order to bene t from the advantages of small satellite technologies and applications in Earth observation, meteorology and astrophysics.

The RTD activities of SPACE-SI are focused on high resolution interactive remote sensing and formation ying missions. These goals are supported by the development of an advanced microsatellite for Earth observation and RTD infrastructure that includes ground control infrastructure, satellite integration facilities as well as a multidisciplinary laboratory for testing of satellite systems and components in simulated space environments.

The data sources from small satellite missions have been combined with the data from large space programs such as Copernicus to enable frequent and cost-eective remote sensing applications in ecology, agriculture, forestry, land cover mapping, urbanism and maritime, as well as for monitoring climate changes, natural disasters and use of natural resources.

Ljubljana, October 2017 Interactive Remote Sensing

SPACE-SI has developed a high precision Applications interactive remote sensing mission for acquiring • real time video and multi-spectral imaging from space multispectral images and real time HD video. The • support of search and rescue operations mission is based on NEMO-HD microsatellite for • observations of events in smart cities, ports, logistic centres, Earth Monitoring and Observation, STREAM 54 etc. ground control station and STORM system for • real time monitoring of natural and man-made disasters automatic processing of satellite images to • natural resources, agriculture and forestry generate web-delivered end-user-oriented • sea and coast monitoring thematic maps. The unique combination of • biodiversity (ecosystems, invasive plants) NEMO-HD real time video streaming and • change detection multispectral imaging enables very advanced • climate change remote sensing applications of interest to the • urbanism NewSpace economy. • insurance

NEMO-HD still imagery observation bands

Channel Spectral band GSD Swath HRS-PAN 400 - 900 nm 2.8 m 10 km HRS-MS1 420 - 520 nm 5.6 m 10 km HRS-MS2 535 - 607 nm 5.6 m 10 km HRS-MS3 634 - 686 nm 5.6 m 10 km HRS-MS4 750 - 960 nm 5.6 m 10 km NEMO-HD Microsatellite

Features NEMO-HD microsatellite is an agile three-axis • 2.8 m PAN and 5,8 m MS GSD cowering a swath width of 10 stabilized spacecraft with mass 65 kg and high km from a reference altitude of 600 km pointing accuracy. It carries two optical • Four spectral channels (420–520 nm, 535–607 nm, 634–686 instruments The primary instrument is capable of nm, and 750–960 nm) imaging in four spectral bands at a pan-sharpened • High-Definition real time video at 1920 by 1080 pixels GSD of 2.8 m covering a swath width of 10 km • Three-axis stabilized bus while the secondary instrument produces images • 50 Mbps X-band downlink at a GSD of 40 m in a much wider eld of view up to • 279.4 GB of on-board strage 75 km. Both instruments can record high de nition • Peak energy production 770.9Wh video at 25 frames per second. The spacecraft is • Peak power production: 55W capable of real-time imaging and video streaming • Solar cells capacity: 180W (at -10deg C) when in contact with a ground control station. • 300 Wh Li-ion battery X-band Transmitter for Small Satellites

Features For the modern small satellites an effective • Power consumption: typ. 10 - 15 W transmitter for high-speed data transfer is crucial. • Frequency: 8.0 - 8.4 GHz With the remote sensing technology progress even • Output RF power: 1 - 2 W very small satellites collect increasingly large amount of data. Therefore the problem of data • Data rate: up to 200 Mbit/s transfer is more and more pressing while the • Modulation type: O-QPSK restrictions on mass, power consumption and • Low phase noise and excellent spectral purity volume remain the same. Addressing this • Input VBUS voltage: 9 - 36 Vdc challenge, SPACE-SI has developed a compact • LVDS synchronous data interface satellite transmitter for the transmission of large • FEC: CCSDS convolutional (option) amounts of data with low power consumption, low • Data encoding: Differential (option) mass and volume. The transmitter is available in • In-flight frequency adjustment two sizes – for micro satellites and for CubeSats. • Dimensions: 95 mm x 95 mm x 50 mm • Mass: 400 g STREAM 54 Mobile Ground Station

Characteristics STREAM represents the next generation of high • Dish diameter: 3.7 - 10 m precision LEO tracking ground control stations for • Bands: S & X up to Ka/Ku broadband and multiband communications at frequencies up to 40 GHz. Its state-of-the-art • Radome loss: < 0.2 dB (up to 40 GHz) design capitalizes on key innovations such as new • Pointing accuracy: < 0.01 degree thin membrane radome material, new three axis • Max. wind: 250 km/h (operational) geometry having full hemispherical coverage • Power (antenna): < 1kW without keyholes, new high precision single motor Features drive system, use of carbon bre materials for • High precision LEO tracking lighter, stier components and precise operation • Ka/Ku-band ready as well as modular design including portable and • Full hemispherical coverage without keyholes mobile versions with high use of COTS equipment • Carbon fibre dish and open source software to minimise operational • Extremely low-loss ultra wide-band radome and maintenance costs. • Fully automated, published API Multidisciplinary Laboratory

Features The goal of our multidisciplinary terrestrial laboratory for research of highly accurate closed • thermal-vacuum chamber loop solutions is to raise the efficiency of • ISO 8 clean room micromechanical actuators characterization and to • nanoindenter test micro- and nanosatellite interactive visual • vibrating table based guidance by merging them into a common • air bearings connected solution. This will enable comprehensive research of all control elements for Applications orbital manoeuvres, from actuators to platform • testing of small satellites responses (modelling spacecraft dynamics and • testing of satellite components space environment) and sensors. • testing of subsystems • material testing Thermal-Vacuum Chamber

Features Thermal-vacuum chamber is one of the most comprehensive risk mitigation components of the • vacuum up to 10  mbar integrated spacecraft environmental test program. • temperature range from -70°C to +140°C Centre of excellence SPACE-SI and its industrial • feed-throughs tailored to customer's needs partners have developed a series of thermal-vacuum chambers for small satellite and Applications satellite components testing in the simulated • small satellite testing space environment. In the chamber the different • testing of satellite components and subsystems vacuum stages can be combined with thermal cycles from lower to upper temperature extremes. In the table below two chambers are presented.

Dimensions 0,85m dia x 1m 0,35m dia x 0,35m Vacuum 10-5 mbar 10-5 mbar Thermal system Temp. control unit Peltier cooler Temp. range -70 to +140°C -5 to +20°C • Control and measuring plate Control system • Vacuum sensors and instruments • Temperature sensors and instruments • SUB-D 25 pins Feed-throughs • N-connector • SMA connector • RS-232 • see through window Helmholtz System

Features Helmholtz system consists of a control system and a cage made of three pairs of coils with mutually • the cage dimensions: 60 x 60 x 65,5 cm perpendicular axes. The system creates a • homogeneous magnetic field: 10 x 10 x 10 cm homogeneous magnetic field with a magnetic flux • max. magnetic flux density: +/- 200 μT (in each axis) of up to +/- 200 µT in all directions. The system can • magnetic flux density display resolution: 0,1 μT operate either in the open loop mode where the • USB connectivity user can set the currents through the individual • coils and driver overheat protection coils, or in closed loop mode where the set magnetic flux vector is provided by using the Applications reference magnetometers in a cage. The control of • satellite attitude determination and control system testing the system is possible via a simple user interface or • testing of satellite components and subsystems the controller or via a USB connection. • suitable for CubeSats Aluminium Alloys for the Aerospace Industry

SPACE-SI in cooperation with consortium partner Features Impol d.o.o. develops advanced aluminium alloys • small grains in the microstructure with targeted thermo-mechanical properties. We • better homogeneity without micro segregation are specialized in the design and manufacture of • improved mechanical properties of the alloys structural components and subsystems for • direct extrusion without heat treatment micro/nano satellites. Participation in the • 20% increase in productivity, up to 15 % energy savings consortium resulted in the development of a low-frequency electromagnetic casting (LFEC) Applications device. The device enables casting of special alloys, • satellite components and subsystems shortens the processing time and improves the • satellite technologies thermo-mechanical properties of alloys. Impol • automotive, aerospace and space industry d.o.o. produces more than 170 different aluminium alloys including alloys from the series 7000 – the most commonly used alloys for space applications.

LFEC

Hot Top

Web and Mobile Applications

Spatial data used in GIS (Geographic Information Features Systems) applications is becoming more and more • more than 1000 layers of spatial data important part of everyday life. Years ago GIS • raster and vector layers applications were only used within the institutional • further data editing options frameworks (cadastre, agricultural subsidies, and • crowdsourcing infrastructure). Nowadays they can be found in almost every smart phone. For the simplest Applications possible access to the information our online GIS • spatial analyses viewer is based on the Geopedia.si technology. It • communicating and informing enables viewing of vector and raster data, editing • data forwarding of vector data and a variety of spatial analyses. In • monitoring of extreme weather events addition, with the selection of suitable layers from the database of 1000 different layers of spatial data users can build their own GIS applications according to their needs. Automatic Satellite Data Processing

Applications Automatic satellite data processing is a dream of every remote sensing professional. Our STORM • automatic generation of orthoimages (which present an processing chain is a rst step towards ful lling this alternative to the aerial orthophotos) from optical satellite dream. The processing chain automatically executes images of medium, high and very-high resolution all the necessary processing steps from raw optical • automatic generation of thematic maps satellite data to end-user-oriented web-delivered • monitoring seasonal activities and sudden changes thematic maps. Bene ts A satellite image is positioned into the chosen • rapid processing of satellite data coordinate system, and atmospheric and • prompt automatic interpretation, which makes satellite data a topographic corrections are applied to ensure valuable source for forestry, agriculture, natural disasters comparability of multitemporal images. Finally, the prevention, hydrology, biology, insurance business image is interpreted into a thematic product which • autonomy of processing and an increasing volume of is easily understood by experts from dierent elds. available satellite data enable continuous monitoring of many processes on the Earth's surface

processing cluster for pre-processing main control Automatic processing of optical and generation of thematic maps module satellite data (the STORM processing chain) enables fast new acquisition availability of accurate and exact spatial information. It is therefore one of the key elements of advanced processing systems, such as rapid mapping of natural database data and image servers application (web) servers user requests disasters. Geometric Corrections

Applications Geometric distortions of a raw satellite image are a result of height, speed, position and orientation of • automatic generation of orthoimages (which are an the satellite, sensor optics, rotation and curvature of alternative to aerial orthophotos) Earth and terrain. Geometric corrections remove all • processing optical satellite images from multiple sensors these e ects. of medium, high, and very-high resolution If the image is not geometrically corrected it is practically useless for mapping, interpretation or Bene ts analysis. On the other hand, each pixel of the • geometric corrections position a satellite image into a chosen corrected image, i.e. an orthorectified image, coordinate system possesses geometric fidelity. This means we can • orthorectification enables spatial comparability with other make direct and accurate measurements of spatial data distances, angles, positions, and areas directly from • automatic processing (in the frame of the STORM processing the image. The measurements are essentially the chain) same as if they were taken on Earth's surface.

An important part of the automatic geometric correction process is automatic extraction of ground control points. It is performed with image matching based on reference road data (left). River Drava (NE ) on a raw

(right). Rotation and displacement of the relief can be clearly seen. 0 1 km Atmospheric and Topographic Corrections

PPhohoto:to: Žiga Žiga K Kookkaljalj

Applications Due to several reasons, pixel values of a raw satellite image are not entirely precise; e ects of atmosphere • generation of atmospherically and/or topographically and relief have the biggest impact. These effects are corrected optical satellite data of medium, high, and minimised with the atmospheric and topographic very-high resolution corrections. • enables direct comparison between satellite data of the Atmospheric corrections minimize the e ect of same or di erent sensors atmosphere, such as haze and scattering, and Bene ts determine the positions of clouds and their • enhanced temporal comparability of satellite imagery shadows. • improved interpretation Topographic corrections minimize the differences • image pixel values represent reflectivity between illumination of surfaces exposed to Sun • adequate monitoring of landscape changes are possible only and surfaces in shadows. They are dependent on the on atmospherically and topographically corrected images Sun incidence angle and relief. • automatic processing (in the frame of the STORM processing chain) Appearance of an image is more homogeneous and two-dimensional after corrections. An area along the river Drava (NE Slovenia) is shown on a RapidEye image with 6.5 m resolution. An uncorrected image is shown on the left and corrected image on the right. 0 1 km Monitoring Invasive Plants

PPhohoto:to:Nataša Žiga Ko kĐurićalj

Applications We often hear that Slovenia is a European crossroad. This also brings a rapid spread of non-native invasive • detection of invasive species growing sites plant species. One of the worlds’ most intrusive • monitoring the level of spread and environmental damage plants is Japanese knotweed that thrives well along • monitoring the effectiveness of eradication streams, roads, and construction sites, but is also spreading increasingly on meadows and elds. We designed a mapping method of its occurrence Bene ts sites in all stages of growth. We can also monitor its • high accuracy of detection of sites sprawl and the effectiveness of the (mostly • planning assistance of eradication activities unsuccessful) eradication. The accuracy of detection • simultaneous inspection of the entire area of a municipality of Japanese knotweed sites is almost 90 %, which is or region much better than previously known methods. Most of the undetected sites are either too small to be detected or are located under tree canopies.

Japanese knotweed growing sites along the eastern Ljubljana bypass and the Ljubljanica river. The plant is rapidly spreading across

eradication and restriction measures. The same applies to other non-native invasive plant species (Canadian goldenrod, 0 100 m 0 1 km 0 500 m Himalayan balsam etc.). Classi cation of Agricultural Land

Applications Remote sensing is a well-established source for monitoring agricultural land, as it provides • monitoring crop type, location, area, and stress transparent, timely, and clear information on some • transparent and timely information on agricultural land of the key indicators. • consistent and product-oriented infrastructure for observation of crop dynamics In Slovenia, the location of agricultural land and its classi cation are determined by visual Bene ts interpretation of aerial photographs. Such a • automatic farmland detection processes procedure is time consuming and uncertain for • less manual vecto risation and visual interpretation most crops. We have therefore designed a method • fast processing of larger areas (country scale) for producing high-quality land cover maps from • all-seasonal data display raw images without the intervention of the • additional temporal dimension of data operator. Important additional information is data of • multilevel operation, simultaneous learning, iterative phenological phases of vegetation obtained from veri cation time-series of satellite images. • advanced and robust procedure

NDVI Change of growth properties 0.6 2 2 Time-series of satellite images

0.4 quality of determination of 3 3 crops characteristics. 1 4 1 4 0.2 3

4 0 1 July 0 200 m September 2 Jun. Aug. Sept. Determination of Ineligible Land Use

Photo: Žiga Kokalj

Applications Agricultural subsidies in Slovenia are paid per area of agricultural land. Farmers have a right to obtain a • eligibility control of agricultural subsidies subsidy if their farmland is used e.g. as field, • increase of effectiveness of risk analysis grassland or orchard (eligible land use). Land use • support for visual control and field verification categories that are not eligible for subsidies are e.g. overgrowing fields, built-up areas, or forest. The Benets control is currently done by visual image • fast verification of large areas interpretation and field verification, where trial areas • fewer and better targeted field checks are selected randomly and with infringement risk • survey of an entire region not just trial areas analysis. It is thus time consuming and partial. • determination of ineligible land use categories We are therefore developing a process for automatic which cannot be checked visually identification of particular types of ineligible land use. The results will serve as an aid to visual inspection and as an additional parameter in the risk analysis.

Areas of ineligible land use

and mapped on aerial or satellite images to properly distribute the agricultural subsidies

farmland registered for subsidy farmland ineligibly 0 100 m 0 100 m registered for subsidy Mapping the E ects of Major Disasters

0 200 400 m

Applications The largest space agencies and other satellite data providers have committed their resources to the • situational maps of large areas International Charter Space and Major Disasters for • study of the dynamics of a disastrous event in a wider area providing space data acquisition and delivery in the • damage assessment case of major natural or man-made disasters. • preparation of mitigation and prevention management The Charter is activated by authorised users – in plans for extreme natural processes Slovenia this is the Administration for Civil Bene ts Protection and Disaster Relief. Remote Sensing • rapid mapping Centre participated as a local data processing • time series maps (monitoring the development of a disaster partner, performing mapping and analysis in all past in time) Slovenian activations, including the first ever • radar data are weather independent activation of the Charter, immediately after its • optical data give better spatial distribution of the establishment in autumn 2000 . phenomena

Fire extent estimation at Time series of image Formosat Črni Kal (SW Slovenia) SPOT from a 6.5 m RapidEye in 2010. IRS image (left). Radarsat Jezero data acquisition Envisat data delivery 5 A usual water level and 4 1

1 1 2 2 Podpeško jezero, as detected by dierent 1 2 1 3 2 2 2 ok 1 1 3 1 4 5 1 1 ot systems in September i p iljsk 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 0 500 m 2010. M September October Drought Monitoring

Applications We are establishing a system for automatic detection of the vegetation state, which is the basis • rapidly available drought maps of an integrated system for identifying drought • occurrence maps of droughts in the past conditions. The system is based on machine • analysis of the drought incidence depending on the type learning methods, satellite data, meteorological of vegetation measurements, and other spatial data. • planning of irrigation systems In the preparation for new European satellites Bene ts Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 we currently support • the system is calibrated on local data MODIS and MERIS satellite data. The obtained • multiyear satellite and meteorological observations are used results are relevant to the area of Slovenia and its together with best available ancillary data surroundings, but the method is designed so that • drought recognition accuracy is 92 % overall the model can be easy recalibrated to other regions • the system can be relatively easily upgraded to new sensors and is particularly suitable for variable landscapes. that will have higher spatial, temporal, and/or spectral resolution

mixed Maribor Training points for calibration of the ! homogeneous 359 system for automatic detection of very homogeneous drought condition (far left). Cumulative 355 ! days image of detected drought S L O VENI A with drought conditions for year 2013, when Maribor 352 > 60 ! Slovenia was hit by a catastrophic 311 drought (left). ! 786 ! ! LJUBLJANA 309 0

0 25 km 0 25 km Mapping Water Bodies

Applications We developed a system for detection of water bodies from Sentinel-1 radar data. The system is • continuous monitoring of water levels and water volume triggered as new data becomes available. The • verification of hydrological models algorithm automatically detects water bodies and • flood monitoring prepares the results for distribution. The best • flood risk assessment available terrain model is used in the process of detection and filtering where neighbouring Bene ts operations are applied to determine the presence of • daytime and nighttime observations water at each pixel. • independent of weather conditions Observations of each part of Europe are available • fully automatic operation every 6 days (3 days with both satellites), which • short processing time enables continuous monitoring of the extent of water bodies, and fast response in the case of a natural disaster.

Heavy rains in autumn 2014 caused Cerknica central and western Slovenia. Broken tree crowns caused by a record ice storm in spring of the same year can also be seen on the far left image. Cumulative image of detected water bodies in central Slovenia

Photo: Peter Pehani 0 5 km Monitoring Forests

Photo: Žiga Kokalj

Applications Satellite observations provide continuous quantitative measurements of forest parameters • large area forest observation and enable real-time mapping, change detection, • dynamics of processes in forest through vegetation and early detection of developing trends. We can parameters obtain information on photosynthetic activity, • analysis of the forest state, monitoring natural vegetation stress, moisture content, and other biophysical processes, and timely detection of harmful processes properties of plants, and estimate structural • monitoring adverse events and hazards, and assessment characteristics of forest stands. Satellite observations complement eld surveys in Bene ts large-scale forest monitoring and in remote areas. • quick access of forests state maps They contribute to understanding the complex • time-series observations (monitoring development) relationships and recognition of processes in forest • timely detection of deviations and adverse processes ecosystems, as well as to planning and monitoring • establishment of an early warning system forest management measures.

1.0 Hrašče - Osojnica Vegetation index (NDVI) dynamics historical data for the forest management unit new data Maribor ble history (FMU) Hrašče - Osojnica (central 0.8 start of the monitoring Slovenia) that was distressed by sleet. period

S L O VENI A Vegetation index is calculated from VI

D MODIS satellite data for a ten-year

N LJUBLJANA 0.6 period and an average in the area of devastated forest within a FMU (far left). affected FMUs most heavily aected by 2014 A D RIAT I C not affected 0.4 S E A ice storm (left). 0 50 km 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2015 0 25 50 km Urban Heat Island

Photo: Žiga Kokalj

Applications Increase of the average temperature in urban areas has a strong impact on people who live there. To • maintain the same quality of life, an urban heat • annual and seasonal comparisons (including daily and island and its characteristics must be taken into hourly comparisons in lower spatial resolution) account for efficient planning of urban activities and • creation of detailed heat maps of individual buildings from infrastructure. aerial observations, allowing a creation of energy efficient Temperature dierences can be observed with a reconstruction plansof consequences series of satellite images. Observations of the Slovene capital Ljubljana showed a presence of the Bene ts urban heat island; temperatures of the ground in the • relatively high spatial resolution city are much higher than in rural areas. On a hot • continuous temperature measurements across the observed summer day the di� erence may exceed 10 °C. The area most heat-polluted areas are major industrial • various detailed spatial analysis are possible facilities and shopping centres. • flexibility according to the purpose of observation Šentvid Posavje Črnuče

[°C] north south Dravlje Šiška 38 temperature Bežigrad Jarše agriculture Polje 34 Moste forest Center Rožnik water 30 built-up Golovec Trnovo Rudnik Sostro Vič 26 0 Sava center Ljubljanica 15 km 30 40 0 5 km 0 5 km [°C] Gameljne Savlje Bežigrad Ljubljanski grad Ljubljansko barje Solar Insolation Modelling

Applications The measurements of solar energy in Slovenia are only available for a few meteorological stations. We • evaluation of locations for solar power plants therefore calculated the amount of received solar • assessment of solar power plant profitability energy for the whole Slovenia with our own algo- • viability of placement of the solar domestic water heating rithms that are based on physical laws and incorpo- panels rate detailed information about the terrain and • estimation of optimal orientation of solar panels ground albedo. This way we obtained solar insola- Bene ts tion maps for every month and for the whole year. • very high temporal and spatial accuracy of the results We also calculated the optimal orientation of solar • calculations are tailored for a particular building panels at individual location. The maps are freely • models incorporate effects of nearby vegetation and other available on the internet (gis.zrc-sazu.si/zrcgis). factors, which inuence insolation For high-precision insolation mapping we use advanced algorithms based on detailed models of buildings.

Vipava Slap ca Dobec ni We modelled the insolation U Gradišče pri Vipavi Ivanje selo Lože Gorenje Planina Bukovje Unec Manče received by a ground surface for Rakek Poreče ica R Cerknica the entire country. We also Podnanos šč Zagon a Šmihel pod Nanosom no k a N M o Lozice Hrašče č Dolenje Jezero iln produce highly detailed city ik Postojna Dilce Griže Hruševje models so that we can Razdrto Orehek

Dolenja vas accurately determine the

Senožeče P Slavina iv optimal position and orientation k a Selce

Petelinje of solar panels on roofs of Divača Trnje Dolnje Ležeče Pivka Klenik Palčje Kal individual buildings, taking into Gornja Košana Jurišče Famlje Neverke Parje Lokev Matavun account vegetation, chimneys, Kačiče-Pared Re Barka ka Narin Zagorje Bač Rodik roof windows, and other Ostrožno Brdo Knežak Koritnice obstacles. Advanced Maritime Surveillance

Photo: Urša Kanjir

Applications Ship detection with remote sensing is an important segment in ensuring maritime safety, fisheries • detection and identification of vessels control, observation and prevention of oil spills, • classification of vessels oversight on unauthorized migration on the sea, • monitoring coastal areas and deep waters and similar. We have developed a simple, universal, and e cient Bene ts method for detection and classification of vessels • effective and universal method – it works with different very from optical data. The method is useful in particular high resolution optical systems when there is a need to provide results in real-time, • employment of spectral and spatial characteristics of vessels which is of major importance in maritime domain. • successful operation also on rough seas • fast performance The accuracy of detection on images of different sensors and in varied regions exceeds 80 %. • substantial reduction of time effort for manual certification

of vessels on the coast of Lampedusa island (S Italy). The image with a spatial resolution of 0.5 m was acquired by GeoEye satellite on July 14th 2013. not a vessel small vessel medium sized vessel large vessel Mapping Informal Settlements

PhotPo:ho Ptrimo: Uršaož K oKvanjiračič

Applications Cartographic information about informal settlements (shanty town, slums) is usually rare, if it • map production without a long-term field survey exist at all, and poorly accessible due to intensive • monitoring expansion and density increase of informal and hard to follow immigration. We can improve or settlements • support to the improvement of the quality of life of the acquire it with the analysis of very high resolution satellite images. population living in the area With satellite images taken at di erent dates we can Bene ts observe and monitor changes in the structure of the • mapping of large and complex areas settlement and its expansion, and give an • monitoring, planning, and management of informal assessment of the number of inhabitants. Such settlements remotely collected spatial information may assist in • estimation of population without a census the improvement of infrastructure and social • observation of the growth and/or emergence of new informal welfare services in informal settlements worldwide. settlements

formal settlement roads Kibera (Nairobi, Kenya) is one of informal settlement muddy roads the largest informal settlements trees in Africa. We observed spatial greenery Makina development of the settlement Ayany housing Mashimoni between 2006 and 2009, based Karanja Kianda Kamdi Muru Laini Saba on very high resolution GeoEye Olympic Kisumu Ndogo and Quickbird images. Together Soweto East Soweto West Gatwekera Lindi with the MapKibera team we Silanga also provided an estimated Raila number of inhabitants. Photo: Anuša Pisanec 0 1 km Observation of Archeological Sites

Photo: Žiga Kokalj Aerial laser scanning (lidar) has a great potential in Applications archaeology because it provides not only deeper • effective interpretation of lidar data understanding of already known sites, but also gives • identification, mapping, and monitoring archaeological sites a unique way of searching for new ones. With data • lidar data is usable also in many other fields, e.g. detailed processing we can virtually remove the vegetation hydrological modelling, observation of forests, 3D cover and get a product that exposes natural and modelling of cities, and production of topographical maps anthropogenic objects, both modern and ancient, Bene ts also under a dense forest canopy. • very detailed information about the shape of terrain and We focus on development and testing of techniques natural and man-made objects lying on it for lidar data processing, visualization, and • surveying challenging terrain, for example densely overgrown preparation of suitable products that help with and steep ground assist archaeological interpretation. Our tools • extensive areas can be covered rapidly (iaps.zrc-sazu.si/en/rvt) are used in everyday • field examination can be more targeted and better planned operational work in many countries, from Europe to China and USA.

Roman settlement traces have been found on a levelled severe hilltop with a church of St. erosion Helena (W Slovenia). The images show a helicopter orthophoto, the area of the archaeological site with visible outlines of ancient houses and a slope endangered due to

0 100 m erosion, and heights of trees around the site. SPACE-SI SATELLITE SYSTEMS AND SERVICES

SPACE-SI Aškerčeva 12 SI-1000 Ljubljana Slovenia w: www.space.si e: [email protected]