The Public Private Partnership For TerraSAR-X – An Opportunity To Meet Security, Environmental And Scientific Needs

Paper number

IAC-07-E3.3.04

Author

Ms. Agnes Mellot, DLR (Washington Office), France

Year

2007

Abstract

Beginning with the joint space experiment Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Astrium GmbH, Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists and engineers worked together to create a three dimensional map of the world. Today’s TerrasarX satellite application’s development open greater opportunities for a combination of commercial and scientific use of space based radar. 

A new model of data policy created in joint interaction between the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) and the U.S. Department of State was defined to allow the commercial and scientific use of high resolution radar data. A data policy law was introduced in Germany for data distribution by identifying the customer, the targeted area and defining the appropriate resolution for geoinformational systems (GIS) products. 
The data policy was a necessary initial step to foster the Public Private Partnership concept created for TerraSAR-X applications in the field of cartography and planning, agriculture and forestry, environment, risk management and security, geology, mining and exploration.
The air traffic management applications and the airport planning control and surveillance will increase the public safety and gain in efficiency by using the radar cartography technology.
The use of radar satellite imagery is the opportunity to demonstrate the capability for a reliable strategic tool for decision makers in the field of land-use classification, forest mapping and disaster management using three dimensional elevation models.
The insurance and reinsurance business has a considerable financial impact. Therefore, the radar topography and cartography technology will enable quotation, estimation of possible compensation, the control and verification of reports elaborated with other source of information, limiting source of conflict by providing unique high resolution pictures.
The remote sensing data are also very useful for environmental control, global climate change analysis, forecasting and control in combination with natural hazards monitoring.
From 2009 on this radar technology will be available with the second identical satellite TandemX   which will fly in formation for Interferometry and stereo pictures.
The combination of commercial capabilities such as high resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery and scientific applications open numerous opportunities for society benefits.   

Abstract document

IAC-07-E3.3.04.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-E3.3.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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