GISdevelopment.net ---> AARS ---> ACRS 1980 ---> National Report Remote Sensing Activities in Singapore Y. J. Chong, A. C. Yeo, T. Y. Liang National University of Singapore, Singapore This paper will be primarily concerned with the application fo satellite remote sensing in Singapore. It will not deal with aerial photography, which incidentlally has been in use in Singapore from as far back as 1945 right up to the present time for various purpose. It will also not deal with the use of data from meteorological satellites for weather forecasting. Satellite remote sensing in Singapore is in some ways different from other countries. This is because: the country is small all areas in the country are easily accessible ground and aerial surveys have previously been carried out. Remote Sensing does not rank high in government priorities. It is carried out mainly at the National University of Singapore. Initially financial support came from only the University but now fincacial support also comes from the Ministry of Science and Technology. Remote Sensing is not used to acquire new information about the country not previously know, for as already indicated earlier many ground and aerial surveys have previously been carried out. Instead it is used to update information on the actual surface cover at a particular time. Updating the information is necessary since a great deal of extensive developments are continuously taking place. Satellite remote sensing provides a sypnotic view of the country and can indicate the effects that these developments have on the environment. Landsat multispectral scanner data on computer compatible tapes are used. Our efforts have been concerned with the development of computer software packages that would enable processing of the Landsat MSS data to be performed from a user terminal utilizing the standard input/output peripherals of a general purpose computer. Studies are made both over the land and over the sea. The data is not being used as a substitute for aerial photography but rather as a source of data with which innovative analytical techniques can be developed to provide surface classification in a way most suited to the needs of the ultimate user of the data. Classification is made of surface cover using a four dimensional vector clustering technique. Details concerning this will be presented in a technical paper during session E. In the clear shallow waters, studies are made also of the depth of water using both the simple single channel technique as well as more elaborate multi-channel ratio techniques. Plans are also underway to use data from the Coastal Zone color Scanner of Nimbus 7. In the longer term we hope too to use data from Japan’s remote sensing satellites. One of our main difficulties has been the insufficiency in Landsat coverage of the area owing to limitations imposed by the tape-recorder on board the satellite. We look forward eagerly to the operation of Thailand’s Landsat ground receiving station as this would cover our are It would certainly contribute greatly to the progress of remote sensing activities in Singapore.