Report of the Kick-off Meeting in Indonesia, June 1, 2016

Summary

• Venue: National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), Pekayon, Jakarta, Indonesia

Kick-off Meeting of National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN)'s prototype for mapping and monitoring oil palm plantations was held in Indonesia on June 1, 2016. 20 participants joined the meeting.

On behalf of Dr. Muhammad Rokhis Khomarudin (Director of LAPAN), Ms. Parwati Sofan, LAPAN made opening remarks and expressed expectation of the prototyping. After her speech, Dr. Lal Samarakoon of Asian Institute of Technology, Mr. Ko Hamamoto of JAXA, and Dr. Wataru Takeuchi of University of Tokyo also mentioned their expectation of the meeting.

The SAFE Secretariat introduced outline of APRSAF and SAFE initiative. From Indonesian side, Ms. Ita Carolita, executor of the prototyping introduced their SAFE prototype "Mapping and Monitoring Oil Palm Plantations Using Optical and SAR Space borne Data" and explained the expected benefits.

Following the introduction to the prototyping, several potential end users expressed their needs for operational use. First of all, Ms. Galih Surti from Ministry of Agriculture delivered her expectation for the result of SAFE prototyping. Especially mapping the age of can help the estimation of the productivity and the planning of the timing of replanting, she said. Mr. Hendarto of West Kalimantan local government reported their mapping activities of plantations so far and expected the future use of PALSAR data. Mr. Dhimas Wiratmoko of oil palm research institute in North Sumatera also mentioned his expectation for yield estimation. Finally Mr. Sujud Pratomo of oil palm government company (PTPN 13) in West Kalimantan told that PALSAR would be effective for identification of planting areas and productivity.

Through the discussion, information were shared about the needs of stakeholders, potential of satellite data usages, technical challenges, and so on. The participants also shared the importance of involving end users through the prototyping.

During 30-31 May, just before the kickoff meeting, hand on training was conducted by the technical adviser University of Tokyo using ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 data. The target of the training and discussion was

1) to understand backscatter characteristics of PALSAR-2 on oil palm,
2) to create correlation model between field survey data (age, yield, height and crown diameter) and backscatter of PALSAR-2, and
3) to make a map of image composite from PALSAR-2, and map of distribution of oil palm.

Agenda

List of Participants

From Prototyping Executor and Stakeholder

From Technical Supporter and SAFE Secretariat

Photographs

Kick-off Meeting in Indonesia

Opening remarks (Ms. Parwati Sofan, LAPAN)

Introduction to SAFE initiative (Mr. Ko Hamamoto, EORC, JAXA)

Introduction to "Mapping and Monitoring Oil Palm Plantations Using Optical and SAR Space borne Data"
(Ms. Ita Carolita, LAPAN)

Needs from Ministry of Agriculture for Plantation (Ms. Galih Surti, MoA)

Needs from Local Government for Agriculture, West Kalimantan (Mr. Hendarto)

Needs from Oil Palm Research Institute, North Sumatera (Mr. Dhimas Wiratmoko)

Needs from Oil Palm Government Company (PTPN 13), West Kalimantan (Mr. Sujud Pratomo)

Discussion

Group Photo

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PALSAR-2 Training

PALSAR-2 Training

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