أهمية تقنيات الاستشعار عن بعد للوطن العربي....The importance of remote sensing techniques for the Arab nation

The importance of remote sensing techniques for the Arab nation

The Arab world of the oldest inhabited areas in the world, and natural resources, the many complexities, need to develop and monitor through the application of remote sensing techniques, through which multiple objectives will be achieved: as knowledge and determining the area and the status of agricultural land including forests available, pastures and mineral resources and petroleum and other economic activities.

It can be said: all remote sensing techniques are now available for civilian use of the work of detailed maps and inventory of natural resources, and follow what is happening in the environment changes. This application is a wealth of the Arab countries because these countries do not have access to the intention was made, but if they can limit their natural resources, and harnessed to serve the children.

First: The satellite images of the implementation of development schemes

If the image that we obtain numerically by remote sensing, and then treat them and rectify a preliminary engineering of Wallonia, in the final address, and then interpret and infer its components, the mapping, or planned to be on the basis of this picture, and depending on the LCB, is it the final product and document minute to implement the project required and planned, whether in the field of exploration for natural resources, or classification of land, or uses, or pollution, or regional planning, civil, or otherwise.

It is difficult to limit the uses of remote sensing, and every day scientists discover new uses for it. And the remote sensing beyond Earth-imaging, though of course this was a key component of this technique, however, remote sensing uses all wavelengths of the spectrum for the production of images and information can not be produced using the imaging spectrum alone.

Second: The appropriateness of the Arab world for remote sensing applications

Highlight the most images captured by satellites, and the dimensions of up to thousands of kilometers, and in most months of the year and days, the overall picture of the Arab world to the western parts of the brilliant and gloriously free of the clouds, which makes the region ideal for the work of various remote sensing instruments.

Therefore, the first experience of Space Imaging, for the U.S. space vehicles in the sixties of the twentieth century AD, United States Space Shuttle and the Russian space stations, satellites, French, European and other Arab territories exposed photograph, especially deserts and a large proportion of the total area.

On the other hand, there are some areas, such as south-eastern part of Western Sahara, it is difficult to access completely by conventional means, for the lack of roads, wells and means of maintaining life in it, while this particular part has been possible to achieve the impressive results of remote sensing.

III: Planning for Development

For the Arab nation can be planning for the development, through the use of remote sensing technology to gather information on natural resources. The technology of the most successful scientific methods in conducting environmental studies on the regional and local levels with high accuracy, and high speed, and comparatively low cost.

And verify the results of this technology useful for the preservation of the environment and conserve natural resources, especially when you need to cover large areas continuously or periodically to monitor certain environmental phenomena, or to obtain information on some natural resources and follow-up with changing environmental conditions.

For example, a remote sensing warm areas of the sea and the ocean, which represents a favorable environment for fish spawning in a different color, and can thus locate the fish, the information can not be extracted, of course, photography is normal.

Can this technology mapping of resources, or pollution, or vegetation component of cells, single-cell growth in different stages, and so on, which far exceeds the potential of regular photography.

Fourth: The use of information and regularity of the journal

Achieve remote sensing of periodic and regular information, Vaalghemr industrial passes on the same area at periodic intervals fixed, and therefore can measure the changes that occur in the phenomenon to be measured. Maps can be produced brokered computers, the information obtained by the satellite sent directly to ground stations, where the address is extracted from a variety of maps, there is a phenomena to be highlighted.

Taking possible to get pictures of each location and angle in any Arab country, it will facilitate the detection of groundwater, which represents a strategic problem for the Arab countries, as well as research on natural resources, mineral, hydrocarbon, or even antique, not to mention the topics of agricultural land use, to the classification of the soil, or the study of vegetation.

Fifth: the discovery of an ancient river

I discovered an ancient dry rivers under the territory of Egypt, Sudan and Libya, which indicates the potential to be a part of the water of the river still exists in the form of underground water. This discovery has led to interest in the exploitation of groundwater resources in the area called "Mount Owaynat" in Egypt.

VI: Benefiting from the seas and oceans

Since most of the Arab countries overlooking the sea or ocean, the use of remote sensing applications in the study of the seas and oceans is crucial, agreed to by all interested in the disclosure of the potential of its natural wealth.

The current demand on the seas and oceans as sources of food protein is increasing rapidly, and demand will expand in the future in other areas, as sources of non-conventional renewable energy, both to benefit from movements of the tides, or currents of water, or variations of varying degrees of heat.

Has also started operations benefit from as well as a source of mineral wealth, including the extraction of manganese from the bottoms of the deep ocean, or to draw some trace elements, with its focus directly from some of the water of the sea.

VII: the need to increase fish stocks

Statistics indicate that the Arab world will need to increase its food resources, as a result of the anticipated increase in population, to double the size of what is currently caught fish several times. This needs to conduct comprehensive studies on all bodies of water, covering the Arab world, and work to increase spawning and raising the efficiency of fishing, especially in the high seas and oceans.

It also requires a carefully monitored and repeated groups of fish to study their movements or seasonal migrations, dates, and their different characteristics, and its relationship to environmental conditions and climate around them.

This includes identifying the following:

1. Fish breeding sites, expansion and moves.

2. Density of different types of fish breeding areas.

3. Water depths where there are concentrations of fish.

4. Waterways between the free concentrations of fish.

5. Different types of fish that coexist in each assembly area.

6. Natural characteristics of the water body where you are these fish populations, such as temperature and salinity.

7. Elements of weather conditions that affect fish populations, such as temperature, wind direction and speed, and the amount of clouds, rain, snow and others.

8. Environmental factors that affect the lives of fish, aquatic plants, such as loose material and water, pollution of the seas and oceans.

9. Quantity and distribution of chlorophyll.

VIII: monitoring the movement of fish

It should be noted here that remote sensing techniques are now being used to monitor ocean currents warm and cold, and thus the movement of fish, in what could be directed fishing fleets in the right direction.

Studies are used satellites to monitor the oceans in forecasting the movement of large cohorts of fish, fish and assembly areas, which is very important economically to those States that part of its economy depends on fishing.

Most of the current problems facing those responsible for the increase of food resources from the seas and oceans are mainly due to the lack of such data and information needed to predict areas of fish populations and migration so that it can then to focus on raising the efficiency of fishing and providing the necessary equipment in the appropriate places, and fishing in the best conditions air to achieve the greatest return possible.

IX: other areas to benefit from the seas and oceans

There are many other areas that are looking forward to the researchers in various scientific fields to make the most of the water of the seas and oceans, which is required to conduct a comprehensive survey of the vast areas of water, and compilation of all information and data on the physical, and biological dynamics of the waters of seas and oceans.

This regard, the modern technological methods of remote sensing, both satellite or aerial surveillance, it can provide a great deal of important information, pinpoint accuracy, and speed, and the costs relatively low, with the need to consolidate some field work to make detailed measurements and studies in specific topical areas that you need the results of regional surveys of the means of remote sensing.

X.: Detection of archaeological sites in the Arab World

Can take advantage of remote sensing techniques in the detection of archaeological sites in the Arab world. The drilling an exploratory mission on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of Oman, believed to be what remains of the city's legendary "Ubar" UBAR, mentioned in the Koran as "Iram of the Pillars." The archaeologists have discovered this historical site, depending on meteorological and space. On the ground there was no trace of their existence.

In this region of the world, where all traces of the past, have been buried under thick layers of sand dunes, and with the help of remote sensing and imaging devices mounted on balloons or space stations, the researchers found themselves in the armed, through a new detection and effective.

In this site, where ground observations do not indicate any indicator, showed a document given by the radar, or images from space, clearly the existence of the ruins of a bygone civilization. Thanks first to discover the city of "Ubar" to the radar SIR used for the first time in 1981.

XI: detection areas in the Sahara

In 1981, the U.S. space shuttle "Challenger" Challenger reveal areas that flew above, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, from Egypt, Chad, and Sudan, Libya, using radar uses a wavelength of 22.5 cm. This is the part of the Sahara is the most arid regions of the world at all, in some reviving rain had not been recorded only once in 40 years.

Was surprising how many scientists and specialists in this area when it offered them large maps recorded by the radar. They noted with great surprise that the effects of the presence of a large river, was larger than the current size of the Nile River, and was connected to a dense network of tributaries and lakes, before the waters dry up.

The composition of the negative images such as this possible, since shortwave Alsntimitrip issued by the satellite, and penetrate the soil completely free of water to a depth of several meters, even clash with hard-rocks beneath the soil, which reflects these waves. While the photographs taken from the plane does not reveal anything.

After the researchers to provide this information, rushed to the site, and began prospecting, thus recreating the scene between the age of forty thousand, one hundred thousand years. The Sahara was then dense scrubby grass rain water. Excavations have shown about what was in the past the banks of the river, and traces of the ruins of houses indicate human activity, such as axes and arrowheads.

XII: land mapping

After analyzing a lot of images and data sent by satellite "Landsat". Possible to obtain the color maps of the land surface areas in both Egypt and Algeria, and possible mapping of the soil surface, indicating the characteristics and qualities of this surface.

The full maps of land can not be obtained directly from remote sensing data only, because these data reflect only the surface, but underneath the surface is unknown to the majority of the means of remote sensing. But with the exception of the positive sensing data using radar.

1. Examples of maps of land

One example of mapping the land surface, are maps that have been using the method of scanning multi-spectral Multi Spectral Scanning: MSS southwestern Sinai. And possible discrimination in which four types of surfaces:

A. Surface is covered with veneer plaster or gypsum, in which the crust covering 60 per cent or more of the total surface.

B. Surfaces covered with moderately crust, and cover the crust 0-60 per cent of the total surface.

C. Sandy surfaces, and do not cover the crust and the gravel and rocks more than 20 per cent of the total surface.

D. Surfaces covered with gravel and rocks, which covers the gravel and rocks more than 40 per cent of the total surface.

Has been divided into each of these types of surfaces to a number of sub-types, based on the color of the soil, and strength, and the proportion of salts and carbonate and gypsum in it.

The second example of the maps of the surface soil in the Arab world, is the study of maps of Western Sahara in Algeria. These maps have been adopted on the data provided by the second-generation U.S. military satellites, "the scanner destruction" Thematic Mapper: TM.

2. Future design of various types of maps in the Arab World

Can set up many of the key regional maps of the territory of the Arab world, using advanced techniques of remote sensing images by e-satellites. This could be the preparation of these maps with different scales, in order to service several diverse Show, including:

A. Geological mapping of the geological formations and units and ages.

B. Surface drainage maps of the valleys and streams flood, sewage, water filled and dry.

C. General maps, land-use, and distribution of soil units on the one hand Salehitha for agriculture.

D. Maps of potential mineral resources and building materials.

E. Maps of groundwater.

XIII: Detection of natural resources

Carried out by the Egyptian Center for Remote Sensing of many of the geological and mining projects using remote sensing technology to survey natural resources. Geological maps were prepared for all the Egyptian territories, with different scales.

Examples of projects, natural resources survey conducted by the Egyptian Center for Remote Sensing Studies of the likelihood of the presence of groundwater in the area of the IIS, as well as study expectations and an iron ore in the area north-east of Bahariya Oasis.

XIV: Geological Studies in the Suez Canal Zone

These studies were introduced about ten kilometers on either side of the Suez Canal from Port Said to Suez, using aerial reconnaissance aircraft, equipped with modern equipment for remote sensing, which included aerial photography, multi-spectral camera, aerial photography and thermal infrared scanners and aerial radiation.

These studies have led to the preparation of updated maps and accurate Aljiuljip configurations and surface drains in the area. Was also prepared maps to link explanatory properties crustal geological composition to a depth of 100 m below the surface of the channel.

Studies were carried out geological sites tunnels, built in the proposed areas of coast and Defreswar Kantara. Also conducted detailed studies to determine groundwater, affecting the location of these tunnels.

XV: A Study of the Basin Toshka

Toshka basin area covers about 80 square kilometers in the southwestern part of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Have been several studies by means of remote sensing from satellites and aerial surveillance, in the light of the use of Toshka basin to accommodate the flood of the Nile water, which fills the High Dam Lake.

Have used satellite images of the satellite "Landsat" in the preparation of maps of geologic formations, streams and drainage for the entire region. Also possible to identify the form of the High Dam Lake on different dates, and study the changes in the lake and its ramifications since 1972.

Also used aerial photographs of aircraft in the survey, more detailed, which focused on the basin Toshka itself.

Has also been evaluating the position of the groundwater in the region, which consists of two reservoirs, separated by a layer of mud. This study concluded that the storage of flood waters in the basin Toshka will lead to change the image of water for the region, due to leakage of water into rock neighboring Western Sahara.

XVI: detection areas in the Arabian Peninsula

In 1984 returned the experience over the Arabian Peninsula using improved radar, the radar traces very accurate paths for convoys across hundreds of kilometers in the desert of the Arabian Peninsula. Over the ages, beauty that took the same paths, making the sand is made up smoother than the surrounding material. The radar echoes are affected by this difference, demonstrating the paths convoys lines beginning.

The researchers observed that many of them crossed at one point. And quickly moved to the location on the ground, but they did not see what is striking, but at a depth of several meters below the surface of the sand, was stationed store to house the ruins of the convoys. Also found in the ruins of another nearby site indicated the existence of agglomeration is important.

XVII: the erosion of deltas

Of the important applications for the use of remote sensing, which can benefit the Arab world, studies erosion of river deltas and coastal erosion, and the intervention of the whole under the interaction between the sea and land. It is well known that a number of deltas are being eroded and losing its characteristics, the result of aggression by sea, including the Nile Delta in Egypt, which lost a renewal, a silt, which was wrought by flooding of the Nile in the Ethiopian highlands, which stopped after the High Dam project.

Eighteenth: the possibility for Arab countries on the remote sensing images

The big problem facing developing countries and the Arab countries is how to obtain remote sensing images, easily, and at affordable prices, so that they can benefit from them. Today, there are industry professional in providing satellite broadcasting service on a commercial basis.

In the United States and Britain plans of private companies to launch satellites allowed for commercial distribution of transmission by customer's requirements. The French company SPOT and U.S. EOSAT offer a wide range of production is useful in geographical areas and agricultural, and pollution control, and reduction of armaments, and monitoring of military exercises.

Nineteenth: the controversy over the possibility of selling pictures

Systems of remote sensing systems that provoked the most controversy between supporters of the commercial operation of the investment and promote development and reject fear of their use for military purposes. This was reflected in the dispute so dramatically on these systems, even began to question the future and the possibility of continuation.

Perhaps the technological development to increase the capacity of the most important motives for the ban, which was adopted by the United States, while on the other side, the global competition, the expected economic results, and the emergence of trends for other national programs, important reason for supporting the liberalization of these systems of constraints, a large extent, allowed to develop and exploit them commercially. Are still conflicting views reflected in the capacity in this area, where many of the variables entered the political, economic, technical, provoked controversy again.

With the beginning of the satellite program, "Landsat" in the seventies of the twentieth century AD, considered the U.S. government encouragement for development, and support material and technology through the development programs. The view of companies and industrial enterprises in this activity in the future an enormous investment and a significant commercial market.

1. Fear of the exploitation of satellite imagery for military purposes

However, the government was at the same time very fear of exploitation of these capabilities for military purposes, specifically to the poll, especially since the launch of commercial marketing may be in favor of military forces is not in the United States, thus imposing restrictions in two directions: first, to identify the potential of sensors carried by satellites in within 100 meters, thus reducing the effectiveness of the use of military reconnaissance, and the other to control the marketing of images.

The U.S. government and entrusted this task to the U.S. space agency NASA and the National Department of Meteorology and ocean NDAA. This situation lasted for more than ten years, and even the satellite "Landsat -4" and run it.

Have occurred during this period several changes, but could not separate conflicts, has developed technology and methods of image and data processing, is increased the efficiency of remote sensing systems, which support the U.S. refusal to edit these systems.

2. The emergence of European competition

On the other side appeared the new European competition in the global market through a system of "spot", which provided better able than the American system, and on a commercial basis, and it was difficult, even on American power control, the next pressure American companies to edit this industrial sector, which has reached the stage of imminent collapse economically.

3. The growing market for remote sensing images

This is not the problem companies sensor systems and satellites and space is a problem but only industrial sector and research brings a huge staff in the areas of sensors, computers and programs to address and improve the images.

The perception of the magnitude and importance of this market, it is estimated that the specialized studies investment prospects of the United States only in remote sensing technologies have found a big number, is undoubtedly the motive for indulgence in the marketing, the study has estimated the current global market for remote sensing of around five to six billion dollars annually.

In the view of some duty independent research to commercial satellites should be a means to build confidence among States, and remove the causes of tension, and monitor compliance with arms control agreements. But the ads published by the Marketing Agencies Information for this satellite to confirm that the military value of these satellites, especially when it provides information to pilots to enable them to locate targets to be destroyed, and may be the goal of this emphasis is to bring more customers to buy information.

4. Access to photographs of "Landsat"

Since in 1985 became operations "Landsat" to the business operations conducted on an economic basis. Become data "Landsat" and manifestations commercialized EOSAT company brokered a joint venture between the company "General Electric" and the "Hughes" Hughes satellite. Can now obtain information "Landsat," in the form of digital images, can be viewed and dealt with personal computers mediation programs.

It should be noted that the moon "Landsat - 7", without the additional military, built and launched cost about $ 400 million, other than running costs. With these high costs, required by the sensor systems, it is imperative that marketing information business, the possibility of continuing to operate and develop, otherwise he will be supported by governments in large amounts, and perhaps for this reason help to put pressure on governments to reduce marketing constraints.

5. Access to images "SPOT"

The main competition for the U.S. comes from the European Program "Spot", which its analytical capacity of up to 10 m or 20 m, and is marketed commercially by the European firm, which seeks to meet the needs of the global market, as well as planning to launch a new generation, with better potential, its ability to reach 5 p.m. only.

France has decided that the management program of "spot" on a commercial basis completely, without support at all, where maps are sold to specialized companies, then distributed to customers in need of treatment to different applications as companies from the oil bodies or urban planning.

6. How to buy a satellite data "Spot"

Buying data Moon "Spot" for a data region, requires the knowledge of "the global reference image" Universal System Reference and for identifying sites of images in the index. This system consists of two numbers: The first number indicates the path Path, and the second number indicates the position of the picture during the track, and know the row number Row.

When buying satellite data can be obtained form their own information, which describes the path and row numbers and history, and other information. The marketing policy for the sale of the French satellite data based on the possibility of buying parts of the image, each of which about 512 × 512 basis points, and these parts are called "special products" Special Products.

And data reside Moon "Spot" at several levels, in terms of quality, is the second best level data these data types, where they have the engineering fixes Geometric Corrections. In addition, the gains calculated from the photos of this level is characterized by its thoroughness. Known as the French company assigned to sell products on behalf of the satellite SPOT IMAGE.

7. Access to images of other satellites

In the global market as well as the Russian SPIN-2, which seeks to spread trade in the world, through the joint companies with U.S., Germany, and its products are available in three forms:

A. Digital images with high resolution illustrations of $ 2 meters.

B. Digital images with accurate illustrations of 10 meters.

C. Digital images of the degree of dispersal of 10 meters and the overlap Overlap allows Alastroeskubip vision.

However, scientific and technological development of rapid global, it is not unlikely that the intervention in this area several countries in the near future, as there are a number of countries have positive plans, such as Japan, China, Brazil, Israel, South Africa.