Greetings from the President
The history of satellite-based remote-sensing in Japan, for resource exploration and environmental monitoring, began in 1992 with the first Japan Earth Resource Satellite (JERS-1) project with an optical sensor and synthetic aperture radar as its payloads. The JERS-1 optical sensor was greatly enhanced to become the Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection radiometer (ASTER). ASTER was successfully launched on the spacecraft called Terra in 1999 by NASA and is still in operation. The JERS-1 synthetic aperture radar evolved into the development of the phased-array L-band synthetic aperture radar (PALSAR). PALSAR was launched on ALOS in 2006 and its successful operation continues. Many countries around the world are competing to complete the development of the next generation sensor, hyperspectral sensors.
ERSDAC(Earth Remote Sensing Data Analysis Center) was established in 1981 as gEarth Resources Satellite Data Analysis Centerh for the research and development of satellite-based remote-sensing technologies, primarily for exploration of underground resources such as oil and minerals. It was about the time of the planning of an earth resource satellite project, which later became JERS-1, started. The first report by the Club of Rome gThe Limits to Growthh was published in 1972; the world experienced two oil crises first in 1973 and second in 1979. The world became widely aware that depletion of resources and environmental problems were serious. While hardware such as JERS-1, ASTER and PALSAR sensors were developed, ERSDAC expanded its role to the development of applications for space-borne remote-sensing technology to address global environmental issues. In 1994, ERSDAC changed its name to the current Earth Remote Sensing Data Analysis Center.
Remote-sensing has reached the practically viable level: it can play an important role in mineral exploration by a mining company, temporal monitoring of deforestation and glacial retreat, and three-dimentinal grasp of the impact of earthquakes and excessive pumping of underground aquifers. In addition to the exploration for energy, metallic ore resources, and environmental monitoring, applications for remote-sensing technology can be expand to the prevention of natural disasters and the advancement of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Development of commercial applications, however, is slow and industries with remote-sensing as the core technology are still at the emerging stage.
A quarter of a century has passed since ERSDAC was created, and ironically we are facing serious environmental problems and shortages of resources on global scales once again. These challenges provide remote-sensing technology with opportunities to make significant contributions to the world.
A great amount of remote-sensing data has accumulated over the years. With this data set, a high-precision global digital elevation model is being developed. It will become the foundation for analyses of various global-scale issues. Many advanced applications to leverage the digital elevation model, I hope, will be developed.
The gBasic Law of Spaceh that governs aerospace development and applications by Japan entered into effect in May 2008 and is expected to stimulate advancement of remote-sensing.
ERSDAC is committed to promote practical use of remote-sensing technology through its R&D activities.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Earth Remote Sensing Data Analysis Center
Yoshiro Kamata
President
