Coastal Services Center

Summary

The SPOT 5 satellite, launched in May 2002, has been providing multispectral (MS) and panchromatic (PAN) imagery since mid-July of 2003. The SPOT system (Systeme Pour l'Observation de la Terre) began providing geographic data in 1986 with the launch of SPOT 1 and was enhanced by SPOT 2 in 1990 and two other sensors in 1993 and 1998. The SPOT satellite system currently includes three active satellites (2, 4, and 5) and numerous receiving and data-processing facilities. SPOT Image is the commercial operator of the system. The satellites were developed by the French Space Agency (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) in partnership with several European governmental organizations and public and private entities.

Different Data Products

Point to the names below to view the different data products.

Applied Uses

Examples of how SPOT data are being used:

Land and Environmental Resources Mapping Coastal managers in Maryland are benefiting from the creation of Maryland's Environmental Resources and Land Information Network (MERLIN) and its use of SPOT imagery for base maps and wetland guidance maps.

Other Potential Uses:

• Topographic Mapping
• Cadastral Mapping
• Forecasting Crop Yields
• Characterizing Urban Growth
• Identification and Monitoring of Disaster-Prone Areas
• Emergency Response Planning
• Monitoring Land Cover Change

Specifications

The SPOT 4 payload includes the following instruments:

• Two High Resolution Visible and Infrared (HRVIR) imaging instruments, which produce data at three different resolution levels using the same 60-kilometer swath. These instruments have stereoviewing capability.
• The VEGETATION 1 (VEG1) instrument, which has a ground swath of 2,250 kilometers. VEG1 uses the same spectral bands as the HRVIR instruments (B2, B3, and mid-IR) plus an additional band for oceanographic applications, B0 (0.43-0.47 µm).

The SPOT 5 payload includes the following instruments:

• Two High Resolution Geometric (HRG) cameras, which produce data at three different resolution levels using the same 60-kilometer swath.
• A High Resolution Stereoscopic (HRS) instrument, which is capable of generating simultaneous stereopairs of images. This instrument is particularly useful for creating digital elevation models.
• The VEGETATION 2 (VEG2) instrument, which has a ground swath of 2,250 kilometers and covers almost all of the Earth's land surface each day. This instrument enables long-term monitoring of terrestrial vegetation, as well as gathering specific information for managing agricultural operations.

Spatial resolution

Spectral resolution

Data Ordering Details

Data Acquisition	SPOT Image receives, processes, and distributes SPOT data commercially. Data can be ordered through on-line catalogues or by contacting one of the SPOT Image offices. Data from all SPOT sensors are available on-line. Data can be delivered in CD, DVD, or DAT format at additional cost to the client. more info
Timing	On average, data are available within three to five business days.
Cost	The level of processing (e.g., orthocorrection) and size of the scene are the primary factors affecting final cost. A base-price list and Web-based inquiry form are available to help users estimate total cost or to solicit quotes for specific needs. See the SPOT Image Web site for details.
Data Formats/Software Needed	Digital Image Map (DIMAP) is the new SPOT product data format introduced in mid-2002 for the launch of the new SPOT 5 satellite. DIMAP includes a GeoTIFF image file and XML metadata file. DIMAP data can be read by standard image-viewing programs (such as Adobe® Photoshop® , Windows® Imaging, etc.), Web browsers, and many geographic information system (GIS) software applications. more info
Projections	In the U.S., the standard delivery projection is Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) North American Datum (NAD) 83. Other projections/datums are available upon request.
Licensing	The French Space Agency (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) is the sole holder of the copyright on SPOT data. Unauthorized reproduction and representation is prohibited under French copyright legislation and applicable international conventions. Flexible licensing options enable customers to share data within their own organization, with multiple organizations, or with the general public via the Internet. See the SPOT Image Web site for details and price structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Data Acquisition

Who produces the data?
SPOT Image is the commercial operator of the SPOT system and is responsible for marketing and distributing the data and products derived from satellite imagery.

Data Formats/Software Needed

What types of software are needed?
SPOT 5 imagery is distributed in DIMAP format which consists of an XML metadata file and a GeoTIFF. Any software capable of processing 8-bit or 11-bit GeoTIFF data can view the imagery. Examples include the following:

• Adobe^® PhotoShop^®
• Paint Shop Pro^®

Editing and image processing and analysis will require specialized software, including these examples:

• ESRI products (ArcView^®, ArcInfo^®, ArcGIS^®, etc.)
• ERDAS Imagine (OrthoBASE^® adds more capability when working with SPOT data in Imagine, but is not required)
• RSI ENVI^®
• SOCET SET^®

Is there freeware available for viewing the data?
SPOT 5 imagery is distributed using DIMAP, a public-domain data format. DIMAP data can be read by standard image-viewing programs (such as Adobe Photoshop^®, Windows Imaging^®, etc.), Web browsers, and many GIS software applications.

How large are SPOT 5 data files?
File sizes for SPOT 5 imagery vary based on the product and the level of processing. Standard full SPOT scenes measure 60 x 60 kilometers in both panchromatic and multispectral modes.

General Questions

How do clouds affect the data?
As with other sensors, cloud cover obscures the resulting imagery and adds time and complexity to the interpretation process. The cloud-free warranty option available with higher priority satellite-programming requests guarantees imagery that is free of cloud, haze, mist, fog, and sandstorms.

What level of technical expertise is needed to use imagery?
A general understanding of the software is needed to view the imagery. Image processing and analyses of SPOT 5 imagery data may require a trained technician.

Can the SPOT 5 satellite be pointed at a target area?
SPOT Image's programming team handles some 2,500 programming requests a year, offering a custom support service that takes into account application needs, satellite programming parameters, the physical features of the customer's area of interest, level of service, availability of satellite capacity, weather conditions, and the technical capabilities of each SPOT satellite.

How are the 2.5-meter images acquired?
Imagery at a resolution of 2.5 meters in the panchromatic band is obtained using a sampling concept unique to SPOT 5, called Supermode. This concept processes two 5-meter panchromatic images acquired simultaneously to generate a single image at a resolution of 2.5 meters.

What are the different processing levels that can be requested?

• Level 1A - Detector normalization is performed in each spectral band for radiometric corrections. This is the least processed form of data with no geometric corrections applied. When viewed, the image is a square. The scene is oriented along the satellite's orbital path, not in a map projection.
• Level 1B - Radiometric and minimal geometric processing is performed to correct distortion from the Earth's rotation and the panoramic effects associated with oblique viewing angles. When viewed, the image is a parallelogram. The scene is oriented along the satellite's orbital path, not in a map projection.
• Level 2A - Detector normalization is performed in each spectral band for radiometric corrections. The scene is a map projection, geocoded using satellite ephemeris data, and without auxiliary ground control points. The terrain distortion is not corrected.
• Level 2B – Geocoded product using ground control points. Product is in a map projection.
• Level 3A – Orthorectified product using ground control points and digital elevation model. The product is in a map projection.

Are image-derived products available?
Image-derived digital maps showing up to 18 levels of land-use classifications are available. SPOT image experts take an image and manually classify surface features into categories such as industrial, residential, dense urban, transportation, water, and open. You determine the level of detail and the type of classes you need.

For more Information