AVNIR First Images

Panchromatic Band Image
Multispectral Band Image

September 1,1996 received Place:Kagoshima Pref. Ohsumi Peninsula

The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) received on September 5, 1996, at its Earth Observation Center (EOC) located in Hatoyama, Saitama Pref., the first image taken using the panchromatic band (resolution: approx. 8 m) of an Earth observing sensor called the Advanced Visible and Near-infrared Radiometer (AVNIR) aboard the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS) launched from NASDA's Tanegashima Space Center on August 17 this year.

The image released today show Hiroshima Pref., of Japan. ADEOS took it using the pointing function of AVNIR at approx. 11:30 a.m. JST on September 5 when the satellite was flying about 800 km above the East China Sea.

The first image show us the city of Hiroshima, and the area indicated on this image is approx. 8 km X 10 km. On the other hand, the second image is the enlarged version of Hiroshima City, and the area seen on the second image is approx. 1,400 m X 600 m.

Image acquisition of this time was done as part of AVNIR checkouts following image acquisition using multi-spectral bands of AVNIR conducted on September 1 and for calibration of the equipment. NASDA continues the checkouts regarding the ground segments as well as those in space.

AVNIR data will be used for environmental awareness and monitoring of such phenomena as desertification, destruction of tropical rain forests, and pollution of coastal zones, as well as for resources exploration, land use, etc.

FIRST IMAGE TAKEN BY A SENSOR CALLED
Advanced Visible and Near-infrared Radiometer(AVNIR) ABOARD
Advanced Earth Observing Satellite(ADEOS)

The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) received on September 1, 1996, at its Earth Observation Center in Hatoyama, Saitama Pref., the first image taken using the multi-spectrum band of a Earth observing sensor called the Advanced Visible and Near-infrared Radiometer or AVNIR aboard a remote sensing satellite ADEOS.

The image is of Kagoshima Pref., a southern part of Japan. ADEOS took it using the pointing function of AVNIR at 11:38 am JST when the satellite was flying about 800km above the East China Sea. The image is about 80km wide.

This image acquisition was a part of AVNIR checkouts which include image acquisition by the panchromatic band and calibration of equipment. NASDA continues the checkouts regarding the ground segments as well as those in space.

1. Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer (AVNIR) Instrument Characteristics
AVNIR is an optical sensor with 4 spectral bands used to observe land and coastal zones in the visible and near-infrared regions. The 3 bands in the visible region correspond approximately to blue, green and red while the near-infrared band is suited to observing plant growth. In addition to these 4 bands, called the Multispectral Band, AVNIR has a Panchromatic band whose spatial resolution is twice as high.

AVNIR utilizes large linear-array CCDs with 5,000 pixels for the Multispectral band and 10,000 pixels for the Panchromatic band. AVNIR scans the earth's surface in an 80 Km (ground distance) swath perpendicular to the satellite track. Due to the narrow swath width of 80 Km AVNIR has a pointing function which can change the location of the observation field by +/- 40 degrees from the satellite track.

Main Characteristics of AVNIR:

Multispectral Bands (Mu)
(micro meter) 0.42 Å` 0.50
0.52 Å` 0.60
0.61 Å` 0.69
0.76 Å` 0.89
Panchromatic Band (Pa)
(micro meter) 0.52 Å` 0.69
Data Rate 60Mbps
Spatial resolution 16mÅiMuÅj
8mÅiPaÅj
Swath Width 80km
Pointing Range +/-40 degrees
Pointing Step 1degree

Multispectral Bands (Mu) (micro meter)	0.42 Å` 0.50
0.52 Å` 0.60
0.61 Å` 0.69
0.76 Å` 0.89
Panchromatic Band (Pa) (micro meter)	0.52 Å` 0.69
Data Rate	60Mbps
Spatial resolution	16mÅiMuÅj
8mÅiPaÅj
Swath Width	80km
Pointing Range	+/-40 degrees
Pointing Step	1degree

2. Expected Result
AVNIR is a high resolution sensor designed to observe land and coastal zones which have a changeable topography. AVNIR data can be used to determine soil and plant conditions which will aid in understanding global environmental problems such as desertification and decreasing tropical rain forests. Observation and study of green plant and building distribution within cities may be helpful in improving urban living environments. AVNIR can also observe the reflective characteristics of the ground surface and the atmosphere and these data may play a significant role in evaluating energy influx and expenditure on the ground surface.

The earth environmental problems derive from regional/local environmental problems. Thus, it is important to have a high resolution means of understanding localized phenomena.

3.Comparison of Optical Sensors(OPS)

ADEOS
AVNIR JERS-1
OPS MOS-1
MESSR LANDSAT
TM SPOT
HRV
Observation
Wavelength
Bands
(micro meter) Mu
0.42Å`0.50
0.52Å`0.60
0.61Å`0.69
0.76Å`0.89

Pa
0.52Å`0.69 0.52Å`0.60
0.63Å`0.69
0.76Å`0.86
1.60Å`1.71
2.01Å`2.12
2.13Å`2.25
2.27Å`2.40

0.51Å`0.59
0.61Å`0.69
0.72Å`0.80
0.80Å`1.10

0.45Å`0.52
0.52Å`0.60
0.63Å`0.69
0.76Å`0.90
1.55Å`1.75
10.40Å`12.50
2.08Å`2.35

Mu
0.50Å`0.59
0.61Å`0.68
0.79Å`0.89

Pa
0.51Å`0.73

Visible
Near Infrared

Visible
Near Infrared
Shortwave Infrared

Visible
Near infrared

Visible
Near Infrared
Shortwave Infrared
Thermal Infrared Visible
Near infrared

Panchromatic
band O X X X O
Resolution Mu 16m
Pa 8m 18.3mX24.2m

50m

30m
120mÅiThermal
InfraredÅj Mu 20m
Pa 10m
Pointing O X X X O
Stereo O O X X O

Mu:Multi Spectrum Band
Pa:Panchromatic Band

	ADEOS AVNIR	JERS-1 OPS	MOS-1 MESSR	LANDSAT TM	SPOT HRV
Observation Wavelength Bands (micro meter)	Mu 0.42Å`0.50 0.52Å`0.60 0.61Å`0.69 0.76Å`0.89 Pa 0.52Å`0.69	0.52Å`0.60 0.63Å`0.69 0.76Å`0.86 1.60Å`1.71 2.01Å`2.12 2.13Å`2.25 2.27Å`2.40	0.51Å`0.59 0.61Å`0.69 0.72Å`0.80 0.80Å`1.10	0.45Å`0.52 0.52Å`0.60 0.63Å`0.69 0.76Å`0.90 1.55Å`1.75 10.40Å`12.50 2.08Å`2.35	Mu 0.50Å`0.59 0.61Å`0.68 0.79Å`0.89 Pa 0.51Å`0.73
Visible Near Infrared	Visible Near Infrared Shortwave Infrared	Visible Near infrared	Visible Near Infrared Shortwave Infrared Thermal Infrared	Visible Near infrared
Panchromatic band	O	X	X	X	O
Resolution	Mu 16m Pa 8m	18.3mX24.2m	50m	30m 120mÅiThermal InfraredÅj	Mu 20m Pa 10m
Pointing	O	X	X	X	O
Stereo	O	O	X	X	O

Earth Observation Research Center

Comments to: adeossupport@eorc.nasda.go.jp
Last Update: 11 November 1996