Mapping the Tohoku 2011 Event with a Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation – a Reference Case for Emerging Early Warning System Dissemination Services

摘要

During the last decade, constellations consisting of multiple identicalremote sensing satellites have been launched. Constellations allow forfaster imaging of an area of interest, and higher revisit rates incomparison to single remote sensing satellites (Hoja et. al. 2010). Thisallows quick reaction to natural disasters like Tsunami events,providing remote sensing data for crisis mapping. To exploit thiscapability in the case of Tsunami events, Tsunami Early WarningSystems must provide automated early warning dissemination servicescatering to the needs of satellite constellation operators. Thesignificance and feasibility of this approach is demonstrated bysuccessful rapid image acquisition for the Tohoku 2011 Tsunami eventby the RapidEye satellite constellation.