Spot and environmental studies: An advanced system to collect up to date geographic information∗

Abstract

SPOT 1, the first Earth observation satellite of the SPOT programme, has been in orbit for more than 3 years and has currently gathered one million images of the Earth. SPOT is a technologically advanced system to gather geographic updated information and to monitor Earth surface phenomena. SPOT presents some unique features: 10m and 20m ground resolution, repeat imaging capability and stereoscopy associated with more conventional advantages of space remote sensing such as synoptic and global coverage. It is therefore an efficient tool to study and monitor a variety of environmental phenomena.The paper describes results and achievements in a number of applications related to the environment: -Land use, land cover and urban planning -Forest damage by pollutants -Erosion, land degradation, natural disaster assessment (land slides, cyclone, earthquake, flooding) -Coastal studies (water discharge, water circulation, sediment transport) -Environment vulnerability mapping and oil pollution contingency plan -Civil engineering and impact studies on the environment -Hydrology, water resources management, site protection for ground water -Inventory of dumping sitesAn accurate mapping of results is obtained with SPOT high precision imagery and data extracted from analysis are easily introduced into Geographic Information Systems or any digital georeferenced data bank to be merged with other sources of information.