Earth Observation Information and Decision Making: An ongoing story
Gilberto Câmara, INPE, Brazil
IGOS-GEO Symposium, 2009
~230 scenes Landsat/year
Yearly detailed estimates of clear-cut areas LANDSAT-class data (wall-to-wall)
INPE: Clear-cut deforestation mapping of Amazonia since 1988
Then, in November, 2004....
Yearly deforestation rate for 2003-2004: 27,100 km2
Public opinion reaction was strong
What is the proper scientific reaction?
T2 – Loss of smaller trees
How does deforestation happen?T1 – Selective logging
T3 – Loss >50% of forest T4 – Loss >90% of forest
time
Warning 1
Can we detect deforestation before it is too late?
Warning 2
Intensive Logging
Loss > 90%
Loss >50%
Warning 3
Satellites for Monitoring Tropical Forests (2004)
1
10
100
1 10 100 1000
Resolution (m)
Revis
it (
days)
CCD CBERS-2
50
50
5
Mapping
Detection
Identification
5
LANDSAT TM
MODIS
15-day warnings of newly deforested large areasMODIS data
DETER: Real-time Deforestation Monitoring
Altamira (Pará) – LANDSAT Image – 22 August 2003
Altamira (Pará) – MODIS Image – 07 May 2004
6.000 hectares deforested in one month!
Altamira (Pará) – MODIS Image – 22 June 2004
Go to the field....
...and get the bad guys!
Alerta DETER nov-2007Landsat/TM
August 2007
MODIS
November 2007
How hard is to use MODIS images to detect deforestation?
Monitoring forest degradation
(S 12,270 ; W 54,130)
For a while, everything was well...
Transparency builds credibility
“Today, Brazil’s monitoring system is the envy of the world. INPE providesautomated bi-weekly alerts thatother tropical nations would love to emulate.”
Transparency builds governance
500.000 registrations46 million protests
Then, in January 2008...
Transparency builds governance
Relative Variation 2007-2008 (%)
Smallest yearly increase since the 1970s
Yearly rates of deforestation: 2008-2009
A Global Forest Information SystemLANDSAT TM (30 m) CBERS HRC (2,5 m)
Navigate, describe, understand: image navigation and processing, production and dissemination of information, knowledge-building using semantics
“A few satellites can cover the entire globe, but there needs to be a system in place to ensure their images are readily available to everyone who needs them. Brazil has set an important precedent by making its Earth-observation data available, and the rest of the world should follow suit.”
Data for the world´s tropical areas
Global satellite data in 5 meter+ will be freeConcerted action needed with benefits to all involved
Cuiabá
Boa Vista
Chetumal
MaspalomasAswan
Jo´burg
Nairobi(?)Accra(?)
UrumchiMiyun
Ghuangzhou
Darwin)
Optical Satellites for Forestry
1
10
100
1 10 100 1000Resolution (metres)
Revi
sit (
days
)
WFI CBERS-2
CCD CBERS-2/3/4
AWFI CBERS-3/4
MUX CBERS-3/450
50
5
Mapping
Detection
Identification
5
AWFI Amaz-1/2
TM LANDSAT
HRG SPOT
500
MODIS
SPOT HRV
HRC CBERS-2B
SENTINEL-2
LISS-4 (IRS-P6)
LISS-3 IRS-P6/7
AWIFS (IRS-P6/7)
Multiple perspectives Type 1: Capable national agencies
Type 2: Other National agencies
Type 3: International organizations
Type 4: Scientists and experts
Type 5: Private companies (markets and services)
Type 6: NGOs and common citizens.
Supporting Type 1 users with high-resolution
CBERS-HRC image (2,5 meters)
DeforestationDegradation
Validation sites (INPE, Feb 2008)
High-resolution images support validation
Supporting Type 2 users with web tools
Angola national report?
Angola
CBERS CCD (20 m) 24-June-08
GoogleEarth (resolution? date? )
Web-based tools for mapping, validation and assessment of deforestation
Knowledge base A
What is deforestation?
Deforestation! Deforestation?
Knowledge base B
Supporting Type 4 users with semantics
Overcoming the semantical debate
Open Globes
Global Forest Information System
OpenForestMap WikiForest
Scientists, Citizens, Markets
National, int´l agencies
Angola
Congo DR
Development as Freedom (Amartya Sen)
The goal of development is the promotion and expansion of valuable capabilities. Capability is the freedom to achieve valuable beings and doings.
