Second Level Processing Tools for Environmental Parameters Monitoring

for HR Geostationary Sensors

Simone MANTOVANI
1,2
, Maurizio BOTTONI
2
, and Stefano NATALI
1,2
1
Meteorological and Environmental Earth Observation, MEEO S.r.l., Via Saragat 9, I-44122 Ferrara, Italy
2
SISTEMA GmbH, Whringerstrae 61, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
PM MAPPER (MEEO S.r.l., 2009) is an air quality monitoring system elaborating data
collected from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor. The
system retrieves Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) map, Particulate Matter PM
2.5
and
PM
10
maps and Air Quality Index (AQI) map.
Visible (VIS) to Near Infra Red (NIR) spectral bands are mandatory to extend the
applicability of the system to other satellite sensors; Thermal Infra Red (TIR) spectral
bands are necessary to increase the accuracy of the cloud screening procedures.
PM MAPPER fine spatial resolution product (see Figure 2 with respect to Figure 1) and
integrated surface information have been recently presented at the Hyperspectral
Workshop (Nguyen et al., 2010).
The feasibility study to retrieve AOT maps up to 1x1km
2
spatial resolution is showing
promising results (see Figure 3).
Introduction
MEEO S.r.l., 2009. PM MAPPER System Description, Issue 1.1. Internal Report, unpublished.
Nguyen T.N.T., Bottoni M., Mantovani S., 2010. PM MAPPER: An Air Quality Monitoring System with Fine Spatial Resolution Product and Integrated Surface Information,
Hyperspectral Workshop 2010, ESA ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy, March 17-19, 2010.
References
Portability to HR GEO algorithms
Final products to be transferred from MR-LEO system to HR-GEO system consist of:
OPERATIONAL APPLICATIONS, based on methodologies already established for MR-LEO systems:
1. Map distribution of AOT, PM and AQI. Frequency of data collection would
enable identification of contaminant sources in urban or industrialised areas.
2. Detection of sources of dust or sand from desert or sub-desert areas,
their tropospheric transport and deposition upon mid-latitude regions.
EXPERIMENTAL APPLICATIONS, based on methodologies to be envisaged
but not immediately achievable on the basis of past experience.
It includes (see for reference: Hyperspectral Workshop 2010,
ESA ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy, March 17-19, 2010.):
Construct maps of vegetation areas at risk of fire by detecting EWT
(Equivalent Water Thickness). Detect inception of natural or man-made fires
and spreading of burning areas. Map vegetation recover after fires.
Detect pollution of inland waters due to phytoplankton algae, by measuring
water surface reflectance. Use visible and infrared spectrometers in the
spectral range 400 - 900 nm with ground resolution of a few dozen meters.
In benthonic habitats detect pollution of costal waters by suspended inorganic
or organic particles and by phytoplankton species (cyanobacterial algae).
Monitor bottom reflectance corrected for depth of water and influence of atmosphere.
MODIS HR GEO
Band [m] Resolution [m] Band Resolution [m]
0.646 250 10 -100
0.855 250 10 - 100
0.466 500 10 - 100
0.553 500 10 - 100
1.243 500 10 - 100
1.632 500
2.119 500
MWIR 1000
TIR 1000
Characheristic MODIS HR GEO
Temporal frequency 1 img / day Every 5min to 1hour
Processing time < 10 minutes / img
Input file HDF
Input size 500MB
Figure 2. General view and detailed Italy areas
monitored at 3x3km
2
resolution.
Figure 1. General and detailed view of Italy
areas monitored at 10x10 km
2
resolution.
Table 1. Wavelength bands used in the elaboration of
MODIS data and directly applicable or of uncertain
application (marked with ?) in the frame of a GEO system.
Table 2. PM MAPPER characteristics and performances.
Applications of Low Resolution (LR) data from Geostationary (GEO) and of High-to-Very
High Resolution (HR-VHR) optical data from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites have been
thus far almost completely disjointed. GEO satellites were used mainly for regional-to-
global scale meteorological analysis (4D data retrieval), and early warning systems. HR-
VHR LEO data were used to monitor land surface characteristics.
Besides, GEO data are processed by software at high level of automation while HR-VHR
LEO data are seldom processed automatically but require in most cases dedicated
software packages and human interaction.
Application of existing HR-VHR software to GEO processing systems may be difficult,
whilst could be more profitable to analyze the portability of Mid-Resolution (MR) LEO
applications with larger degree of automation, moving from multi-temporal applications
(few images per week or month) to hyper-temporal applications (many images per day)
also increasing the spatial scale of the output.
PM MAPPER portability
Figure 3. Detailed view and zoom areas monitored
at 1x1km
2
resolution.