Rapid locating of fire points from Formosat-2 high spatial resolution imagery: example of the 2007 California wildfire
Cheng-Chien Liu A C , An-Ming Wu B , Sheng-Yun Yen B and Chiung-Huei Huang BA Department of Earth Sciences, Institute of Satellite Informatics and Earth Environment, Earth Dynamic System Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan (Republic of China).
B National Space Organization, 8F, 9 Prosperity 1st Road, Science Based Industrial Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan (Republic of China).
C Corresponding author. Email: ccliu88@mail.ncku.edu.tw
International Journal of Wildland Fire 18(4) 415-422 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF08026
Submitted: 13 February 2008 Accepted: 16 December 2008 Published: 29 June 2009
Abstract
We report the rapid response of Formosat-2 to locate the fire points in the 2007 California wildfire. After examining the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) image taken and released on 23 October 2007, we used the agility of Formosat-2 to take high spatial resolution images of the wildfire front on its next overpass of the newly burned area. By calculating the local spatial statistics of the near-infrared band, fire points with a scale of a few metres can be accurately identified on the 2-m pan-sharpened Formosat-2 image. The present work suggests that the synergistic operation of MODIS and Formosat-2 would enable the rapid locating of fire points during wildfires.
Additional keywords: hot-spots, MODIS, natural hazards, remote sensing.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the National Science Council of the Republic of China, Taiwan, through grants NSC-95-2625-Z-006-004-MY3 and NSC-97-2611-M-006-002, as well as the Landmark Project through grant B-023. We thank all colleagues at National Space Organization and National Cheng-Kung University for their efforts in collecting and processing the FORMOSAT-2 imagery. We thank all colleagues at National Space Organization and National Cheng-Kung University for their efforts in collecting and processing the FORMOSAT-2 imagery. We would also like to thank NASA’s Natural Hazards website at the Earth Observatory directory (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/, accessed 28 May 2009) for sharing Formosat-2 images during the California wildfire.
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