1. Introduction to Landsat and
Google Earth Engine
Veerachai Tanpipat, D.Eng. (วีรชัย ตันพิพัฒน์)
iamtanpipat@hotmail.com
http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/?p=6580
3. Contents
• What is Remote Sensing?
• Introduction to Landsat
• Landsat data level, accessibility, and
applications;
• Introduction to Google Earth Engine and
examples
• Air pollution, aerosol, smoke, haze monitoring
and study by EOS (follow ARSET’s materials)
• Conclusions
4. What is Remote Sensing?
• It is a data collection method from a distance by
detecting both the Sun’s energy that is reflected from
Earth’s surface and Earth emitted energy with unique
spectral signature.
• There are 2 systems; passive and active.
Source: http://grindgis.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/active-and-passive.png
5. • There are 2 types of sensor push broom, along
track, whisk broom scanners.
• The longest Earth Observation Satellite program in
the world is Landsat (44 years and progressing).
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/EO1/eo1_2.php
9. Remotely Sensed Imagery Resolution
1. Spectral: Electromagnetic spectrum selected;
how many specific wavelengths are recorded?
2. Spatial: Pixel size; how big real world details can
be seen?
3. Temporal: Revisiting time, how often the
measurement can repeat the target?
4. Radiometric: How well it can discriminate small
energy difference which results in how clear
phenomenon can be detected; how many
intensity differences can be seen?
Source: https://earthdata.nasa.gov/user-resources/webinars-and-tutorials
15. Source:
https://www2.usgs.gov/blogs/features/files/20
15/01/Landsat_timeline.jpg
Dr. William T. Pecora, Pioneer of
Earth Science from Space, the father
of Landsat Program, Director of the
USGS from 1965 to 1971 under
Stewart Udall, United States
Secretary of the Interior for
Presidents Kennedy and Johnson
Source:
https://www2.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story
/william-t-pecora-pioneer-of-earth-science-from-space/
Introduction to Landsat
24. A deep blue visible channel (band 1) specifically designed for
water resources and coastal zone investigation (sediment
movement), and a new infrared channel (band 9) for the
detection of cirrus (high thin) clouds.
Source: http://landsat.usgs.gov//ldcm_vs_previous.php
Which applications each band designed for?
25. • 1964- Dr. William Pecora proposed to US Congress
• 1969- US Congress approved funding
• 1972-ERTS-1 (Earth Resources Technology Satellite,
later renamed Landsat 1
• 1984 Landsat 5 has launched - 2013 Landsat 5
discontinued
• 2000 EO-1 (Earth Observing One) launched with ALI
(Advance Land Imager)
• 2005-LDCM (Landsat Data Continuity Mission) began
• 2013-LDCM was launched on February 11, 2013, later
renamed Landsat 8
• 2015-Landsat 9 in a roll to be launched TIR-2019 & OLI
2-2023
Introduction to Landsat
28. Data Correction Level:
Source: http://landsat.usgs.gov//Landsat_Processing_Details.phpSource: http://arset.gsfc.nasa.gov
29. Data Correction Level:
Source: http://landsat.usgs.gov//Landsat_Processing_Details.phpSource: http://arset.gsfc.nasa.gov
30. Data Correction Level:
Standard Terrain Correction (Level 1T) - provides systematic
radiometric and geometric accuracy by incorporating ground
control points while employing a Digital Elevation Model
(DEM) for topographic accuracy. Geometric accuracy of the
L1T corrected product should be within 30 meters (1 pixel) for
low-relief areas at sea level.
Systematic Correction (Level 1G) - provides systematic
radiometric and geometric accuracy, which is derived from
data collected by the sensor and spacecraft. Geometric
accuracy of the systematically corrected product should be
within 250 meters (1 sigma) for low-relief areas at sea level.
Source: http://landsat.usgs.gov//Landsat_Processing_Details.php
31. Source:
http://landsat.usgs.gov/Landsat_Project_Statistics.php
Barbara Ryan GEO Secretariat
Director the leader to propose
the idea, then since late 2008,
when Landsat data were made
available to all users free of
charge (600 – 1,000 or more in case of
Thailand USD per scene)
Source:
http://landsat.usgs.gov/documents/
USGS_Landsat_Imagery_Release.pdf
49. Main U.S. Government Program, Landsat Imageries
Applications Use in 2015:
Source: https://www2.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/business-experts-see-landsat-
as-stunning-return-on-public-investment/
51. • Aerosol, dust, smoke and haze monitoring by Landsat,
actually we can see it in the valley such as Huanpan,
Laos PDR
• Landsat 8’s Band 1 (0.4333-0.453 µm) is useful for
imaging shallow water, sediment, and also useful in
estimating the concentration and tracking fine particles
of aerosols such as smoke and haze in the atmosphere
(http://landsat.usgs.gov//L8_band_1.php).
• But not many researches using Landsat to really study
aerosol probably because temporal resolution, so it
might be a good topic to do some interesting research
as its spatial resolution.
52. Source: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84218&src=fb
Landsat 8, however, has a new
“coastal blue band” designed to
parse out subtle differences in the
color of water—minor changes in
color intensity that can indicate
what is mixed in that water.
Taking Landsat 8 to the Beach,
Lake Ontario near Rochester, New
York; August 22, 2014
53. Source: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84218&src=fb
Taking Landsat 8 to the Beach, Lake Ontario near Rochester, New York;
August 22, 2014
Over the past year, members of Schott’s research group have paddled
or motored out into the lake to sample the waters on the same days
that Landsat 8 has passed overhead (which happens once every 16
days). The team then compares the chemistry and visual quality of
those water samples with what the satellite sees. The researchers are
using these comparisons to create data tables and computer programs
that will eventually turn remote satellite images into timely
information for local managers of water quality.
55. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBIA0lqfcN4
Land Use and Land Cover Change
The main benefit that Landsat can provide is the time
series of the changing Earth’s surfaces!!!! (Land Cover)
according to human activities (Land Use).
• Land Cover: Forest, Desert, etc.
• Land Use: Agriculture, Mining, Irrigation system, etc.
• Land Use and Land Cover Change: Forest >>>>>
Agriculture, Urban, Suburban, etc.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPRGfyd93fo
57. Google Earth Engine
• What is it?
• Why Google build it?
• What can it do?
• Examples?
Useful links for further reading and studying:
1. https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/landsat
2. http://www.igettremotesensing.org
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDxd6uo0gw8
4. http://www.ceos-cove.org/
58. Why is Google working on Earth Engine?
• Started in 2009 right after Landsat imageries are free
to the public. Google is trying to mirror USGS archive
only with L1T with over 3 millions scenes and of course
MODIS and will add VIIRS.
• Google's mission is to organize the world's information
(Big Data Concept; too much for a single server) and
make it universally accessible and useful.
• Earth Engine organizes geospatial information and
makes it available for analysis.
• Google strives to make the world a better place
through the use of technology.
Source: https://earthengine.google.com
59. What is Earth Engine?
Earth Engine is a platform for petabyte-scale scientific analysis and visualization of
geospatial datasets, both for public benefit and for business and government users.
Source: https://earthengine.google.com/
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-
3369491/Google-s-plan-world-Search-engine-build-half-
billion-dollar-data-center-US.html
60. What is Earth Engine?
• Access to over 40 years of satellite imageries (with
daily updates). Petabytes of publicly available
geospatial data.
• Scientific algorithms to analyze those data (as well
as your own data). Comprehensive toolset to
analyze data. Scientific algorithms ready for use &
the building blocks to create your own with ability
to reproduce/share routines
• Google’s computer clusters to analyze the data at
planetary scale for free.
• A web-based tool for interactive data exploration.
• An API for building your own specialized websites.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDxd6uo0gw8 Intro to EE & Friends By David Thau
62. What can Google Earth Engine do?
• Earth Engine’s technical infrastructure powers
humanitarian, scientific, and environmental initiatives.
• GEE uses Python and Javascript as 2 base languages for
Web Application Program Interface (API) where it allow
users to write their own codes on top of it
• The data available in GEE can be looked up at GEE Data
Catalog (https://earthengine.google.com/datasets/)
• Processing raster satellite imageries time series in a
very quick time manner where users do not need to
physically download huge data in their machine.
Source: https://earthengine.google.com
63. How to get it started?
• Gmail account
• Google drive
• https://signup.earthengine.google.com/#/
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• earthengine.google.org
• User-friendly access to data & some tools
Earth Engine Playground – Web portal to the
application program interface (API)
• ee-api.appspot.com
• Access to advanced analysis tools
• Create complex custom analyses using JavaScript
• Powerful but requires some programming
knowledge or willingness to learn
Source: https://earthengine.google.com
64. Script manager &
API Documentation Code Editor
Information
Panel
Map output
Panelhttps://code.earthengine.google.com/#
Earth Engine Playground – Web portal to the application
program interface (API)
65. Earth Engine Playground – Web portal to the application
program interface (API)
With specific boundary of study area
66. Useful Links:
Where to look at the what imageries GEE have
• Call Earth Engine Bucket--
https://console.cloud.google.com/storage/browser/eart
hengine-public/?pli=1
• https://earthengine.google.org/#index
• https://ee-api.appspot.com/datasets
• https://console.developers.google.com/storage/earthen
gine-public/
Access documentations (ready to use codes)
• https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/
Participate and get help from the forum
• https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#
!forum/google-earth-engine-developers
67. Matt Hansen, Global
Forest Change,
Powered by GEE
Source:
http://earthenginepartners.appspot.c
om/science-2013-global-forest
68. “This is the first map of forest change that is globally
consistent and locally relevant. What would have
taken a single computer 15 years to perform was
completed in a matter of days using Google Earth
Engine computing.” Prof. Dr. Matt Hansen, U. of Maryland
Source: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6160/850
69. Source: http://mol.org/
Map Of Life
The Map of Life team has developed an interactive map for
conservators to view and analyze habitat ranges and to assess the
security of individual species.
71. The Deforestation Alert
System (SAD) is
operating in the GEE
platform (Monthly
Deforestation Report;
http://imazon.org.br/).
Report
results at
Global Forest
Watch;
http://www.
globalforest
watch.org/
72. Source: USAID-LEAF
GEE Landsat Time Series-Forest Cover Change to
Carbon Emission
1. Overview of Image Time Series Compositing Process
2. GEE Madang, PNG 2000-2013 Available Imagery
3. LEAF Composites Missing Scene Integration and L8
Integration
4. Detection of Deforestation and Degradation by
CLASlite Using Landsat Google Earth Engine
Composites
5. CLASlite’s Outputs from 4 USAID LEAF Landscapes
6. Madang emissions based on Hansen AD
7. GEE example code by Ian Houseman, RSAC-USFS
73. “Landsat looked; the scientists
saw. Lives will be saved” by Joel
N. Shurkin, July 23, 2012
Source: Landsat Looks and Sees, Forty Years of Observations Reveal a
Changing Planet and Society; Landsat 1, July 23, 1972
(http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/LandsatLooks/)
Source: Landsat 8, Feb. 11, 2013,
https://www2.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/free-data-
proves-its-worth-for-observing-earth/
“From Still-Lifes to Motion
Pictures” by Holli Riebeek
Visuals by Joshua Stevens March
26, 2015
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/LandsatBigData/
74. Landsat and Beyond: Sustaining and Enhancing the
Nation's Land Imaging Program, 2013
Source: National Academy of Sciences, http://www.nap.edu
75. Source: Introduction to ARSET and Aerosols Observations from Satellites - Air Quality, Pawan
Gupta, October 2015, http://arset.gsfc.nasa.gov
Experimental: (CLOUDSAT)
The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and
Infrared Pathfinder Satellite
Observation (CALIPSO)
76. Source: Introduction to ARSET and Aerosols Observations from Satellites - Air Quality, Pawan
Gupta, October 2015, http://arset.gsfc.nasa.gov
CALIPSO w70 x h30 m
77. Source: Satellites Remote Sensing of Air Quality – An Overview, Pawan Gupta, September
2015, http://arset.gsfc.nasa.gov
78. Source: Introduction to ARSET and Aerosols Observations from Satellites - Air Quality, Pawan
Gupta, October 2015, http://arset.gsfc.nasa.gov
79. The Power of Remote Sensing?
• To Witness
• To Prove
• To Relate
• To Reveal
• To Celebrate
By National Geographic Photographer James Balog
(2013, http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/ng-live/balog-prove-lecture-
nglive?cs=related&source=relatedvideo)
• To Understand
• To Adapt
• To Survive
80. Conclusions
• Landsat is the longest satellite program with
continuous data of over 40 years and will be
extended.
• Landsat is free and can be used to study Global’s
phenomena
• GEE enables us to utilize free remote sensing data
into higher potential with less resources.
• We have to handle “Big data” in order to make
more sense out of what we already have.
• Thoroughly love and understand what you are
doing will enable your to enjoy your life!!!!
