The Asian Regional Remote
Sensing Training Center (ARRSTC) of the Asian Institute of Technology
(AIT) Dr. James A.
Kearns Director of Computing and Remote Sensing and Dr. Kanchit Malaivongs Associate Director of the Regional Computer Center A. Background In 1979, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), signed an agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish a new entity at AIT, namely the Asian Regional Remote Sensing Training Center (ARRSTC) with the financial support of USAID this new Center would begin operation, that is, training students in mid 1981. In 1972, when the U.S.’s NASA launched the first earth resources satellite, now called Landsat 1, a new era of remote sensing of ttghe earth’s resources was initiated. Statellite technology provided a new and very valuable tool for countries of the world to obtain greater information about their natural resources. Although the first satellite was intended to gather information about vegetation and hence agriculture to help alleviate the food problem in many areas of the world, it soon became evident the data it gathered could be used for a whole variety of applications important to man. The data gathered by Landsat 1 was used by many countries, including those in the Asia and Pacific region. The launching of additional Landsats in 1975 and 1978, and the decision on the part of the U.S. to launch more in the 1980’s led to the establishment of national remote sensing programs in many parts of the world. It also resulted in the establishment of regional ground stations in Europe, Australia and Brazil. In order for all countries to benefit from this technology, the U.S. has decided to fund, via USAID, regional centers in less developed parts of the world. Two have already been established in Africa. In March, 1978, the U.S. announced its intent to establish one in Asia USAID selected Thailand because of its central location and the remote sensing activities conducted by the National Research Council (NRC), AIT because it is a regional post graduate school and because of the AIT Regional Computer Center, one with the most advanced computer facilities at any academic institution in the region. B. Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) AIT is a unique academic institution, although located in Thailand, some 42 kilometers north of the center of Bangkok, it is note a Thai institution. In 1967, it received its chartger from the Royal Thai Government, as an autonomous international, post grauatge school of engineering, the sciences and related fields, whose objective was to serve Asia. The Institute is supported by countries, regional organizations, corporations, foundations and privats individuals. Its governing body, the AIT Board of Trustees is international with people from Asia, Australia, Europe and north America as members. The faculty and senior staff of the Institute is also international, about half from Asia and the orhter half from Australia, Eupope and North America. The students, all post graduate students, come from Asia . The enrollment of the Institute is growing. It is the intent of the Institute of limit this growth to a number somewhere between 700 and 800. In 1981, it is expected there will be close to 600 students at AIT, thus the enrollment is approaching the leveling of point. The great majority of students at AIT are pursuing academic programs which lead to the Master of Engineering or Science Degree. A smaller numbers are working towards a Diploma or the Institute’s most advanced program those leading to the Doctorate of Engineering of Science. At present, the Institute has nine degree offering academic divisions namely:
The Institute has always been an extensive user of computers. For this reason in late 1975, the IBM world Trade Americas/Far East Corporation (IBM A/FE), the AIT Foundation (AIT-F) and the United States Agency of International Development (USAID) all joined to assist in establishing a new entity called the AIT Regional Computer Center (AIT-RCC). Financial support provided AIT with a new 3,000 square meter building, the support for personnel, computer installation and maintenance, and the loan of an IBM 370 Model 145 with two megabytes of main storage and peripheral equipment. The extensive and advanced use of this system led to IBM A/FE upgrading the computer system to an IBM 3031, six megabytes main storage processor with additional peripheral equipment. The AIT-RCC not only serves AIT but it has served the public agencies of the region who havew used the facility for computer-related research and training. D. The Program in Computer Application Deevlopment (PCAD) PCAD was first announced in 1976 and was AIT’s first, non-degree, training program. It was announced and has been conducted to help meet the needs of the region to provide computer-related training in a way tailored to the needs of the students. The interest and the attendanced in PACD, computer-related seminars, workshops and conferences in the last four years has been greater than the number of regular students who have attended AIT during the same period. E. The Asian Regional Remote Sensing Training Center (ARRSTC) The ARRSTC will conduct training programs similar in concept, but not in content to PCAD. The students of the ARRSTC will come to AIT and AIT-RCC for training for a period of about four months (an AIT term). Although they will be non-degree students, they will, like PCAD students, have full access to AIT’s facilities. The students who will be trained by the ARRSTC will be selected by their own national remote sensing program or center. The ARRSTC will provide each national center with some guidelines for the selection of its personnel to attend the training program but will not make any decision as to whether to admit nor deny admission based on an individual’s qualifications. Students of the ARRSTC will be on fellowships. The fellowships will cover their AIT tuition and fees, housing, meals, books materials and round trip air fares. Only students with fellowships will be admitted to the ARRSTC training program. The training is open to students nominated by any country in the Asia and Pacific region. USAID has provided fellowship funds for a number of countries in the region (See Attachment # a). It is hoped that other countries or organizations like the United Nations would also provide funds for fellowships to insure participation by all countries in the region who are interested and to insure that the tgraiing facilities are maximially utilized . The USAID fellowships from 1981 through the end of 1985 would provide training for about 250 people. During the same provide training for about 250 people. During the same period another 250 people, for a total of 500, could easily be trained if other fellowships are made available to AIT the maximum that could be trained during this period if the fellowships were available would be a total of 600. Concern has already been expressed by some of the countries in the region on how the selection of candidates will be made. It is probably due to a feeling that some countries might receive preferential treatment or an inordinate share of the training for its personnel. Certainly the availability of fellowships will give certain countries receive fellowships for certain countries in the Asia and Pacific region, personnel from these countries will not receive training at the ARRSTC unless they provide the funds for fellowships for their own people. If the availability of fellowships is not a factor then AIT will follow its usual practice to insure it really is serving the region by not admitting more than 20% of any entering class from a particular country. Since an entering training class could range from 20 to 50, not more than 2 to 10, respectively, would ever be admitted from any particular country to a four month training program. F. The ARRSTC Traing Program – General There are three major aspects to remote sensing training. The first is involved with the general principles, concepts and techniques fo remote sensing and its applications. There may be people who come to AIT who are already well aware of this aspect and what it entails. The second involves visual analysis of remote sensing data, including the techniques, tools, etc. which are used in visual analysis. Many of the national remote sensing centers in Asia have been doing visual analysis for some time. However, there are some places where this has not been done and hence is needed in the training program. The third is computer analysis of remote sensing data. This is the aspect which is developing very quickly and shows the most promise for the future, so it will be an important component of the training program. The ARRSTC training program will have all these aspects mentioned above and will emphasize or deemphasize each of these depending upon the experience and the need of the students. (See attachment # 2) The ARRSTC’s laboratories and class rooms will be housed in the AIT-RCC building. In late 1982, other space and facilities will be available to ARRSTC faculty and students. Equipment, software, materials, etc. will be obtained for both visual and computer analysis training. A listing of the proposed equipment is in Attachment # 3. G. The ARRSTC Training Program – Specific Depending upon fellowships, it is expected that every four months, commencing every January, May, and September, from 20 to 50 trainees will eb enrolled at the ARRSTC for a training program which will be slightly less than four months in duration. When one group completes its training, a new group will enter and commence training. Since AIT operates throughout the year, the facilities will be available for a year around program. H. The ARRSTC Faculty In 1981, there will be six faculty members who will devote full time to the ARRSTC training program. All six will have doctorates with specialties in remote sensing. Five will be Americans seconded at AIT, funded by USAID. The faculty will be increased with qualified Asian faculty members. It is also hoped that other countries in Europe, Asia, and North America would also second faculty and provide support. I. The Royal Thai Government’s Receiving Station Initial training on remote sensing and analysis of remote sensing data does not necessarily require recent Landsat data. However, recent remote sensing data is essential to any research project. The Royal Thai Government will have a Landsat station in operation sometime in 1981 and will be providing Landsdat visual data and data on computer compatible tapes for many of the countries in the region. The Royal Thai Government will also be assisting the ARRSTC with test areas for training purposes, ground truth information, and Landsat photographic enlargements when necessary. J. Summary This paper mentions only the highlights of the training program. In the coming months, when the staff and the essential equipment are at AIT, more specific and detailed information will be distributed in the region to all those who are interested. Attachment 1 – USAID Provided Fellowships Government representatives from the following countries are eligible for USAID fellowships.
* Remote Sensing Principles and Applications - Purpose of remote sensing - History of remote sensing - Principles of electromagnetic interaction with materials - Sensor Principles - Remote sensing systems - Applications of remote sensing - Remote sensing and its future * Basic Radiometry - Spectroscopy, atoms and molecules - Electromagnetic wave flux - Sunlight characteristics - Atmospheric characteristics - Sunlight scattering - Radiometry of water - Spectrometer principles - Ground truth data collection techniques - Utilization of ground truth data *Data Processing for Remote Sensing - Daata conversion processes of remote sensing data - Digital image and Landsat MSS data - Image geometry - Image enhancement - Pattern recognition - Image and graphic editing - Image generation and its application - Image properties - Other techniques - Data processing systems * Mathermatical Data Handling - Fourier transforms and their application - Multivariate analysis - Satatistical analysis and estimation *Geographical Data Handling - Map projection systems - Cartographic and graphic data processing - Map editing and processing basic *Photo Processing, Photo Interpretation Photogrammetry - Characteristics of satellite photos - Fundamentals of photo characteristics - Basic systems for photo processing - Keys for photo interpretation - Photo interpreted information to digital processing - Map conversion processing techniques from photos - Digital photo correction techniques * Application Oriented Training Projects - Agriculture - Forestry - Hydrology and water resources - Land use, urban and regional planning - Geology - Environmental science * Workshop/on-site Training - How to use the facilities - Landsat data processing – case studies - Application oriented case studies - Ground truth data collection - Photo interpretation training There will be certain number of hours allocated for formal lectures, projects, workshops, and on-site training. The number will be worked out to best benefit student participants when the actual training starts. Attachment 3 – Proposed Equipment for the ARRSTC The equipment that will be obtained for ARRSTC can be divided into categories based on their analysis techniques; namely, visual analysis equipment and computer analysis equipment. The following represents some, but not all, of the equipment that will be obtained * Visual Analysis Equipment - Additive Color Viewer - Zoom Transfer Scope - Diazo Printer and Developer - Computing Planimeter - Draftman Tables - Light Tables - Microfiche Reader/Printer - Overhead Projector - 16 mm. Sound Movie Projector - Mirror Stereo Scope - Pocket Stereo Scope - Parallax Bar Height Finder - Stereoscopic Plotter - Map Cabinet - Slide File Cabinet - 35 mm. SLR camera * Computer Analysis Equipment - Additional peripherals for the IBM 3031 to include tapes, disk units, and terminals - Color Digital Image Displays, complete with video projectors, colorgraphic camera system, hard copier, printer/plotter - Black and White Graphic Displays, compete with digital plotter, graphic tablet, and hard copier - Stand alone Image Display System, capable of scanning and digitizing maps, phots, etc. and of plotting in color and black and white - In addition, computer software for computer analysis will be installed. |