System Development of Remote Sensing and GIS for Field Study and Education

Makoto HANAYAMA, Kazumasa OSAWA and Genya SAITO

Remote Sensing Laboratory, Field Science Center, Graduate School of Agriculture Science, Tohoku University

1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981-8555 Japan genya@bios.tohoku.ac.jp

Abstract: Remote Sensing Laboratory, Field Science Center, Graduate School of Agriculture Science, Tohoku University starts

at April 2004. For studies and education at the laboratory we developed the system of remote sensing and GIS. Our system consists of ordinary PCs, one digitizer and one color laser printer. The PCs are assembled by us for the optimal performance and the low cost. Gigabit LAN connects each PC, and one PC used for file server for store common data such as maps, remote sensing images, and GIS data. File server has RAID system for safety storage from HD trouble. Main-use software is ArcGIS and ERDAS/Imagine and we use them jointly with floating licenses. This report introduces a characteristics of this system, and announces the Digital Field Science Center, which we are building by using this system.

Keywords: Agricultural database, GIS, Remote Sensing, Field Study, Education 1. Introduction

Recently, the importance of terrestrial and marine field sciences might be realized in many courtiers including Japan, and remote sensing and GIS are powerful tools for the study. For this reason, Remote Sensing Laboratory, Field Science Center, Graduate School of Agriculture Science, Tohoku University in Japan started at April 2004, and at the time, there was nothing about Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) tools [1]. First, we developed analytical system for the remote sensing and GIS using hand made PCs at the lowest cost. During the system development, we are also creating the Digital Field Science. The Digital Field Science Center has the same concept of Digital Earth and the tool for understanding for real Field Science Center. 2. Developed Analytical System

For studies and educations at the laboratory, we developed the system of remote sensing and GIS. Our system consists of hand made PCs, one digitizer, one color laser printer and one scanner, and outline is listed Fig. 1. The PCs are assembled by us for the optimal performance and the lowest cost. A gigabit LAN connects each PC, and one PC used for file server for store common data such as maps, remote sensing images, and GIS data. File server has RAID system for safety storage from HD trouble. Main-use software is ArcGIS and ERDAS/Imagine and we use them jointly with floating licenses. Multi-Spec, eCognition, PG-Streamer of remote sensing software were already installed on some PCs and we hope some more software such as ENVI and ER-Mapper will be installed.

Our System has seven desktop PCs and two laptop PCs that connected Gigabit LAN using Hub in our room and 100-mega bps LAN to outside. Each desktop PC has 1.8 – 2.8 GHz CPU, 1 – 2 GB random access memory, high performance graphic board, and 100-200 GB hard disk. Our laboratory has two staffs, two students, and some visitor scientists and/or students. Four desktop PCs were almost personal use; and these PCs can use Erdas/Imagine and ARC/GIS by floating license system. One desktop PC is a data server using RAID system and two desktop PCs for the use of more difficult analysis of remote sensing and GIS with high level performance and special analysis software, and manages the floating license.

In our laboratory, we are studying remote sensing and GIS using system, and we made some reports already as [2], [3], and [4].

3. Creation of the Digital Field Science Center

The Digital Field Science Center, which we are building by using this system. ARC/GIS of GIS software, and

Erdas/Imagine, and the software were used on the PCs. We found a paper map of vegetation and forest management map which was created at the Field Science Center about

40 years ago, and the map was scanned for making raster file. The map was shown at Fig. 2 and the map does not have geographical information and we can understand only shape of fields.

Using 1/25,000 of digital topographical maps of geographical survey Institute in Japan, we found several corresponding points that meant same points of the two maps. We could success to add geographical information, and the raster map of Field Science Center was listed on the 1/25,000 of digital topographical map (Fig. 3).

We already had several satellite images of LANDSAT/TM and Terra/ASTER data at this area; the satellite data were by made geometric correction and attached geographical information. We could list the raster map of Field Science Center listed on the Landsat/TM images. Using the Landsat/TM data of 21 May 1987, we could compare the map and satellite data (Fig. 4).

We started the training of integrated field survey from mountain area to ocean area for the master course students of our Graduate School using GPS, and then the position of the survey point was recorded. We can see the survey points on the Landsat/TM image as Fig.5.

Fig. 1 Hard wares for analysis system of remote sensing and GIS

Personal utilization

Group utilization

Tel & Fax

Fig. 2 The paper map of Field Science Center

Fig. 3 The map of Field Science Center on the digital map of 1/25,000 of Geographical Survey Institute in Japan

Fig. 4 The map of Field Science Center on Landsat/TM images

4. Discussions

We can analyze optical data using the system, but we cannot treat SAR data. We hope we will get some budget and will prepare the software of SAR analysis. We also want to start the near real time and mass data treatments, in the near future more high performance system will be necessary. References [1] Genya SAITO: Laboratory Introduction; Remote Sensing Lab, Field Science Center, Graduate School of Agriculture

Science, Tohoku University, J. of the Remote Sensing Society of Japan. Vol. 25 No. 3 pp. 310 - 812 (2005) [2] Shiho YAMAMOTO, Genya SAITO, Yoshihisa SUYAMA and Kenji SEIWA (2004): A Study of The Distribution

of Beech Forests Northern Japan Using Aerial Photos and Satellite Images, Proceedings of The 25th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, 1, 680-685

[3] Kazumasa OSAWA, Makoto HANAYAMA, Genya SAITO, Yukio KOSUGI, Naoko KOSAKA, Kuniaki UTO, Shoichi HOSHINO, Akinori IMAGAWA, Kunio ODA:Topographical analyses of Salt-damage on Rice by the Typhoon 15 in 2004 Using SPOT/HRV and DEM data, Proceedings of The 26th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing (2005)

[4] Genya SAITO, Makoto HANAYAMA, Kazumasa OSAWA, Akinori IMAGAWA, Kunio ODA, Mayumi SATO, Toshihiro URAYAMA, Yukio KOSUGI, Naoko KOSAKA: Development of Agricultural GIS on Shonai Area in Northeast Japan Using Satellite Data, Proceedings of The 26th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing (2005)

Fig. 5 Ground survey points on the Landsat/TM Image