AUTOMATING THE AUTOMATING THE TERASCAN IMAGE TERASCAN IMAGE

PROCESSPROCESS

Mentor: Keisha WilkinsMentor: Keisha Wilkins

Brandi R. BrehonBrandi R. Brehon

Jameson D. GibbsJameson D. Gibbs

AbstractAbstractSince the establishment of the Center Of Excellence and Since the establishment of the Center Of Excellence and Remote Sensing Education and Research (CERSER) in 2002, Remote Sensing Education and Research (CERSER) in 2002, the center has remotely sensed Advanced Very High the center has remotely sensed Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Sea Wide Field-of-View Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Sea Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWIFS) data. The data has been processed, Sensor (SeaWIFS) data. The data has been processed, annotated, and converted into .tiff files manually by using a annotated, and converted into .tiff files manually by using a series of TeraScan and LINUX commands. This process is time-series of TeraScan and LINUX commands. This process is time-consuming and requires a person to physically be at the consuming and requires a person to physically be at the TeraScan machine.TeraScan machine.

The objective of the 2005-2006 Remote Sensing Team will be The objective of the 2005-2006 Remote Sensing Team will be to automate the process of creating AVHRR images. This will to automate the process of creating AVHRR images. This will be accomplished by first creating a TeraScan dataset that be accomplished by first creating a TeraScan dataset that delimits a geographical area of the Earth and specifies a map delimits a geographical area of the Earth and specifies a map projection and pixel resolution, also known as a ‘master’, to projection and pixel resolution, also known as a ‘master’, to the areas of North Carolina and Virginia. In addition, a script the areas of North Carolina and Virginia. In addition, a script will be created which will process raw AVHRR data from the will be created which will process raw AVHRR data from the passdisk using the ‘master’. Next, a coastal boundary, passdisk using the ‘master’. Next, a coastal boundary, gridlines, wedge, and a legend will be overlayed on the gridlines, wedge, and a legend will be overlayed on the processed image. The image will then be converted into a .tiff processed image. The image will then be converted into a .tiff file. Once images have been processed and converted into a file. Once images have been processed and converted into a picture, they will be sent to the server, which automates the picture, they will be sent to the server, which automates the process and eliminates the need for the individual to process and eliminates the need for the individual to manually process the data.manually process the data.

Using the TeraScan system, CERSER has provided Using the TeraScan system, CERSER has provided remotely sensed Advanced Very High Resolution remotely sensed Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Sea Wide Field-of-View Radiometer (AVHRR) and Sea Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWIFS) data for research during the Sensor (SeaWIFS) data for research during the summer and academic years.summer and academic years.

The 2005-2006 Remote Sensing Team automated the The 2005-2006 Remote Sensing Team automated the process of creating AVHRR images by implementing process of creating AVHRR images by implementing a script that automatically processes datasets and a script that automatically processes datasets and FTPs them to the CERSER server. FTPs them to the CERSER server.

TeraScanTeraScan

TeraScan is an integrated system of hardware and TeraScan is an integrated system of hardware and software designed for automated reception of data from software designed for automated reception of data from meteorological and environmental satellites and for meteorological and environmental satellites and for processing the data into images and data overlay.processing the data into images and data overlay.

TeraScan software:TeraScan software:• Based on UNIX Operating systemBased on UNIX Operating system• Consists of more than five hundred command-line Consists of more than five hundred command-line

functions for the reception and processing of satellite functions for the reception and processing of satellite data.data.

• Contains a set of reference files and databases Contains a set of reference files and databases • Contains a set of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) Contains a set of graphical user interfaces (GUIs)

TeraScan functions:TeraScan functions:

• ingesting raw satellite telemetry or ingesting raw satellite telemetry or industry standard archive format dataindustry standard archive format data

• defining area of interest maps using defining area of interest maps using various projections and remapping data to various projections and remapping data to those mapsthose maps

• managing datasets managing datasets

• retrieving and setting data sets and retrieving and setting data sets and variable attributes such as variable units. variable attributes such as variable units.

Terascan imports data into its own Terascan Terascan imports data into its own Terascan data format (TDF).  data format (TDF).  TDF is an extremely TDF is an extremely versatile file format capable of assimilating versatile file format capable of assimilating a wide variety of data types, shapes, and a wide variety of data types, shapes, and sizes.sizes.

‘‘MASTER’MASTER’

- - Before creating the script for automating Before creating the script for automating the TeraScan process a ‘master’ must be the TeraScan process a ‘master’ must be produced.produced.

A ‘master’ is a TeraScan dataset that A ‘master’ is a TeraScan dataset that defines a  geographical area of the defines a  geographical area of the Earth and specifies a map projection.Earth and specifies a map projection.

‘‘Master’Master’

This function generates a master dataset This function generates a master dataset containing attributes that parameterize an containing attributes that parameterize an earth transform. earth transform.

• This transform relates line and sample This transform relates line and sample coordinates to latitude and longitude coordinates to latitude and longitude coordinates for a user-defined geographical coordinates for a user-defined geographical region using a user-specified map projection. region using a user-specified map projection.

• 'master' defines the region by the center 'master' defines the region by the center latitude and longitude, and the pixel size at latitude and longitude, and the pixel size at the center. the center.

Master DatasetsMaster DatasetsMaster datasets are used by a variety of ingest functions Master datasets are used by a variety of ingest functions such as hrptin and rtdin to limit data extraction to only the such as hrptin and rtdin to limit data extraction to only the rectangular subset of sensor data that intersects the rectangular subset of sensor data that intersects the geographical area specified by the dataset. geographical area specified by the dataset.

These datasets contain dimensions and attributes that These datasets contain dimensions and attributes that displaydisplay

various overlays various overlays geopolitical boundaries geopolitical boundaries Latitude and longitude gridsLatitude and longitude grids

The coast of North Carolina and Virginia is utilized in the The coast of North Carolina and Virginia is utilized in the creating of the master dataset used in automating the creating of the master dataset used in automating the TeraScan system and any data falling outside the master TeraScan system and any data falling outside the master dataset is discarded.dataset is discarded.

MethodologyMethodology• The first step used in creating the The first step used in creating the

script was inputing the function hrptin script was inputing the function hrptin into the C-shell window. into the C-shell window.

• hrptin creates TeraScan AVHRR hrptin creates TeraScan AVHRR datasets from HRPT telemetry data. datasets from HRPT telemetry data.

• Input telemetry data can be read from Input telemetry data can be read from the pass disk or standard UNIX disk the pass disk or standard UNIX disk files. Multiple passes on tape or the files. Multiple passes on tape or the pass disk can be processed at once. pass disk can be processed at once.

Parameters of the ScriptParameters of the Script

CERSER/ECSU ImageCERSER/ECSU Image

Future ResearchFuture Research

Suggestions for future research Suggestions for future research would be to locate a way for the would be to locate a way for the script to run without any manual script to run without any manual input.input.

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

• Dr. Linda HaydenDr. Linda Hayden

• Keisha WilkinsKeisha Wilkins

• Dr. Malcolm LeCompteDr. Malcolm LeCompte