CARTOSAT-1 Applications
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Indian
Remote Sensing satellites
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Once commissioned, CARTOSAT-1 will give further fillip
to remote sensing services by providing imagery
with improved spatial resolution. The unique high-resolution along-track
stereo imaging capability, carried out for the first time anywhere in
the world, will enable generation of the Digital Elevation Models (DEM)
and other value added products. The data from CARTOSAT-1 is expected
to provide enhanced inputs for large scale mapping applications and
stimulate newer applications in the urban and rural development, land
and water resources management, disaster assessment, relief planning
and management, environment impact assessment and various other Geographical
Information System applications. The data can be used for updating topographic
maps, besides generation of large-scale topographic maps.
Indian Remote Sensing Satellites
India has established the National Natural Resources Management System
(NNRMS) for which the Department of Space (DOS) is the nodal agency.
NNRMS is an integrated resource management system aimed at optimal utilisation
of the country’s natural resources by a proper and systematic inventory
of resource availability using remote sensing data in conjunction with
conventional techniques. The major elements of NNRMS encompass conceptualisation
and implementation of space segments with the necessary ground-based
data reception, processing and interpretation systems and integrating
the satellite-based remotely sensed data with conventional data for
resource management applications.
The Indian Remote Sensing satellites form an important
element of NNRMS for providing continuous remote sensing data services
for the management of natural resources of the country. A series of
Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites have been launched by India starting
with IRS-1A in March 1988. There are six remote sensing satellites in
service at present — IRS-1C, IRS-P3, IRS-1D, OCEANSAT-1, TES and
RESOURCESAT-1 — making IRS system the largest civilian remote sensing
satellite constellation in the world. CARTOSAT-1 is the latest satellite
under IRS programme.
CARTOSAT-1 will be followed by CARTOSAT-2, which will
have a spatial resolution of about one metre. A Radar Imaging Satellite
(RISAT), carrying a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with a spatial
resolution of 3 to 50 m and a swath of 10 km to 240 km is under development.
With all weather remote sensing capability, RISAT will enhance remote
sensing applications in the areas of agriculture and disaster management.
RISAT is slated for launch by 2007.
The data from IRS satellites is utilised for several applications.
They include land use/cover mapping for
agro-climatic zones planning, wasteland mapping, forest cover mapping,
wetland mapping, Crop Acreage and Production Estimation, National River
Action Plan for Sewerage Treatment Plants, Coastal Zone Regulation mapping,
Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development, National (Natural) Resources
Information System, etc. In addition, different application studies
of local/regional level are also being carried out by many organisations.
With high-resolution imageries of CARTOSAT-1, cadastral level applications
will receive further impetus.
National Remote Sensing Agency, under DOS, receives, processes and distributes the data from Indian remote sensing satellites to various users. The imagery from IRS satellites are disseminated worldwide on a commercial basis through Antrix Corporation of DOS.
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IRS
applications
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