News

Image Africa and GeoEye are delighted to annouce the successful launch of GeoEye-1, the most sophisticated satellite sensor ever used in commercial remote sensing, yesterday, 6th Sept 2008, from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California.

GeoEye's ground station in Norway relayed the signal from GeoEye-1 confirming that the satellite successfully separated from the second stage of the launch vehicle and began automatically initializing its onboard systems. Bill Schuster, GeoEye chief operating officer, said, "Based upon the data we saw, the satellite is performing properly and ready to begin the next phase towards meeting its mission requirements." GeoEye-1 will now undergo a calibration and check-out period before imagery products will be available for sale. 

Imagery from GeoEye-1 is expected to be available to our customers some time later this autumn. 

Image Africa and GeoEye await the forthcoming launch of GeoEye-1, the most sophisticated satellite sensor ever used in commercial remote sensing. GeoEye-1 will provide the highest resolution imagery; collecting simultaneously at 0.41 metres in panchromatic (B&W) mode and 1.65 metres in multispectral mode. GeoEye-1 will also provide a revisit time of less than three days, stereo imagery and the ability to collect over 350,000 square kilometres of pan-sharpened multispectral satellite imagery every day.

The imagery will be acquired at a nominal swath width of 15.2 km. The sensor is pointable to give viewing in any direction and a revisit time as short as 2.1 days. Expected metric accuracies are given as between 2 and 3 metres without ground control.

Once launch, testing and calibration are complete, orders for image data from this new sensor are expected to be very heavy. Please register your interest as soon as possible to avoid delay.

The Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) is a network of four satellites designed to provide detailed images of any part of the world in times of need. The data is used to produce maps and information to assist relief efforts and ultimately to save lives.

The first 4 satellites have been built in the UK by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). They are owned by the UK (UK-DMC), Algeria (AlSAT-1), Nigeria (NigeriaSat-1) and China (Beijing-1). The UK satellite is supported by the British National Space Centre (BNSC). The Spanish Deimos-1 satellite is nearing completion and is due for launch in 2008.

The satellites have been placed in a constellation that allows daily imaging of any given point on the globe. For most of the time the satellites are deployed by their owner nations to monitor such things as land use, water supply or agriculture. However, the DMC operates within the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters. So, when disaster strikes, the charter can be activated by the UN or national agencies to pull together information from a whole range of satellites.

Mission facts:

The satellites have a relatively limited lifespan and SSTL is currently working on the next generation of DMC spacecraft. 

Work is also underway on UK-DMC2, also for launch in 2008, and NigeriaSat-2 with a further Nigerian satellite to be built as part of a training programme for the West African country’s future space scientists and engineers. The Nigerian satellites are scheduled for launch in 2009.

Each of the new DMC satellites will have improved cameras, enhanced memory capacity and better communications. Rather than simply taking ‘snapshots’ of the ground, they will also be able to take continuous images over thousands of kilometres. The new technology should enable images and maps to be delivered more rapidly to rescue workers on the ground.

Nairobi, Kenya: Image Africa is proud to announce the strategic alliance with Ramani Communications Ltd, and in forming this alliance, also announces its relocation to new premises at P.O. Box 15353, Langata, Nairobi, Kenya. Image Africa and Ramani have been working together closely for the last few years but this alliance provides the opportunity for a more formulated and integrated approach to the provision of badly needed geospatial services in Kenya and across eastern Africa. 

Ramani Communications Ltd is an independent company operating in Kenya and the countries of eastern Africa. Established in 1999, Ramani has seen steady growth in its service provision. It has two offices in Kenya, head office at Wilson airport and the subsidiary office at Karen. Ramani’s involvement in all aspects of spatial solutions has enabled it to capture a wide client base.  

There are three main elements to the activities of Ramani and these are Survey, Geo-informatics, and Production. The services offered are as follows:

• Geo-information planning and geo-data consultations
• Geographic Information Systems
• Geographic database development
• Application development and Allied services
• Land surveying (cadastral surveying, engineering surveying, topographical surveying)
• Aerial photography  

The course begins in January 2006, and is being organised by the UN-affiliated African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English (ARCSSTE-E) in collaboration with the Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

Further information can be obtained from Dr. O.O. Jegede Director of the centre (e-mail arcsstee@oauife.edu.ng ) on the attached pdf and the application form can be downloaded from the website: www.oauife.edu.ng/research/arcsstee )

February 2005: Image Africa Ltd becomes reseller for RSI products in East Africa

February 2005, London. An agreement between Image Africa Limited and Research Systems Incorporated has just been signed which makes Image Africa Ltd the official resellers for RSI's image processing products, such as ENVI (& IDL), in the English speaking countries of eastern Africa. 

RSI (Research Systems, Inc.) has a 27-year history as the leading developer of data visualization and analysis software solutions for technical professionals. RSI’s flagship product, IDL (Interactive Data Language), is recognized as a core technology for data visualization with over 150,000 users worldwide. RSI will be a leader in packaged and custom software solutions that create exceptional value for medical, government, Research & Development and academic customers. More information is available at www.rsinc.com 

Further details will shortly be available.

January 2005: Image Africa Ltd become appointed resellers for Idrisi Kilimanjaro, in Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya: Image Africa is delighted to announce its appointment as official regional resellers for Idrisi software suite. An agreement between Image Africa Limited and Clark Labs, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA has recently been signed, making Image Africa Ltd the official appointed reseller of the Idrisi Kilimanjaro and eventually Idrisi Andes products.

Image Africa is dedicated to the delivery of appropriate products and services and, as an independent company, is committed to the provision of impartial advice. "Geospatial technologies are vital to the growth and development of Kenya's economy. The greatest damage can be done through the selling ideas and products which are wholly inappropriate to the tasks and requirements of an individual or organisation; we have no intention of making such mistakes." Image Africa's expert staff will work closely with clients to ensure that the right products are delivered and that technology transfer is seamless.

Clark Labs is dedicated to the research and development of geospatial technologies for effective and responsible decision making for environmental management, sustainable resource development and equitable resource allocation.

Clark Labs is best known for its flagship product, the IDRISI GIS and Image Processing software.  Since 1987, IDRISI has been used by professionals in a wide range of industries in more than 175 countries worldwide. Environmental managers and researchers benefit from the unsurpassed range of geospatial tools—over 200 modules for the analysis and display of digital spatial information.

Based within the world-renowned Graduate School of Geography at Clark University, Clark Labs is known for pioneering advancements in areas such as decision support, uncertainty management, classifier development, change and time series analysis, and dynamic modeling.  Partnering with such organizations as USDA, the United Nations and Conservation International, Clark Labs leverages its academic base to develop innovative and customized research tools, provide software solutions to organizations in need and apply geospatial expertise to a range of real-world problems.

Clark Labs was founded in 1987 by Geography Professor, Ron Eastman, as the IDRISI Project. Today, the organization is one of four centres within the University's George Perkins Marsh Institute at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA and enjoys close ties with the Graduate School of Geography and the International Development Program. Activities are broadly grouped into three areas: software development, distribution and support; research; educational programs. Tools such as GIS should be available to all who need them, not just those with significant financial resources. Clark Labs' status as a research-driven not-for-profit organization allows them to fulfil that commitment. Powerful, technologically advanced products are provided, which fulfil the needs of the most sophisticated professionals at pricing that make them attainable for all user levels. 

More information and press release can be found at www.clarklabs.org 

November 2004: NASA satellite data to aid global conservation

18th November 2004: NASA and IUCN - The World Conservation Union, the world's largest environmental knowledge network, signed a joint declaration today in Bangkok, Thailand, to use NASA satellite data to help in worldwide conservation efforts.
The purpose of the joint declaration is to improve IUCN access to NASA data, technology, images and remote sensing products. IUCN members and commissions will incorporate the data to help improve the quality and effectiveness of environmental decision-making and to improve conservation outcomes.

"This opportunity for NASA to help advance conservation efforts globally reinforces our vision to use our unique vantage from space to improve life here on Earth," said NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Science Ghassem Asrar. "Modern environmental and conservation decision- support systems need access to good information. Increasingly, these systems are using geospatial technologies to provide decision-makers with a range of possible options and, in the future, could be used to predict possible outcomes," he said.

IUCN is a unique union of more than 1,000 worldwide member organizations. Its mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

"The potential for the beneficial use of this information in the area of the environment and conservation is enormous," said IUCN Director General Achim Steiner. "Yet until now, it has remained largely untapped, particularly in the developing world," he added.
Advances in technology have made NASA's remote sensing data and images accessible and affordable worldwide by most organizations. IUCN has unparalleled access to a rich source of conservation information and knowledge. Its global membership ranges from small community-based nongovernmental organizations to large scientific institutions, government agencies and states, in both the developed and developing world. This declaration is a critical first step in joining NASA's world-class expertise, data and information resources with IUCN's environment and conservation expertise, and its unique global knowledge network.

November 2004: Kenya ESRI supported User Group's First Annual Conference

17-18th November, 2004 at the AVU Hall, Kenyatta University 

Registration: 1500 KSch (KUG members)   2500 KSch (non members)

Pre conference GIS demonstrations: 16th November

Field excursion: 19th November

Competition: Geo-challenge for students from institutes of higher learning

Enquiries to KUG Secretariat   kug@esriea.co.ke  

September, 2004: UK firm establishes its African headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya  

Image Africa Ltd, a UK founded satellite imaging company, has set up its head office in Nairobi, Kenya and has been welcomed as a new investor in Kenya. Kenyan business is familiar with imaging technology through aerial surveying and has welcomed the introduction of the new technology.  

At a recent business event in Nairobi, the Minister for Planning and National Development Minister, Professor Anyang' Nyong'o, said that "Image Africa's activities will help provide information for potential and current investors…" in Kenya. Image Africa has facilities and staff to carry out satellite imaging mapping services, utilising all commercially available satellite datasets and helping Kenya organisations to map large areas efficiently and cost effectively. Regional Director in Kenya, Paul Thomson, stressed that "Image Africa aims to provide spatial and image information vital for infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, environmental monitoring, impact assessment, and exploration in Kenya and east Africa".

Image Africa Ltd joins many other firms, which have originated in the UK and now operate in Kenya.

The Eastern Africa Association held its 40th Annual General Meeting, at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, at the end of May 2004. Image Africa hosted a cocktail party on the Wednesday evening, which was attended by Planning and National Development Minister Professor Anyang' Nyong'o. 

Here Prof Nyong'o chats with Directors Alan Hudson and Paul Thomson (left) and listens as Paul explains how satellite remote sensing provides unprecedented information for mapping and planning. "Image Africa's activities will help provide information for potential and current investors" said Prof Nyong'o.

During his speech, Paul Thomson explained that "Image Africa aims to provide spatial information vital for agriculture, forestry, environmental monitoring and impact assessment, and geological mapping and exploration in Kenya and east Africa". Image Africa is setting up an operation in Nairobi and the office will also serve as the company's regional headquarters.  

January, 2004: Image Africa Ltd joins the Eastern Africa Association  

The EAA is a useful gateway for companies wanting to conduct successful business in Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

Membership now embraces 170 companies from a number of countries - representing banking, insurance, manufacturing, trading, mining and agriculture, transport and shipping, publishing, the petroleum industry and the professions. Members include large multi-nationals and very small companies from the UK, Europe, the USA, South Africa and India. 

The Association exists to facilitate participation in the economic development of Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean region by overseas companies and individuals to the mutual benefit of the countries concerned and its own members. To this end the EAA acts as a channel of communication between overseas business and governments, interpreting to its members the policies and objectives of governments and in turn explaining to governments the views and needs of overseas investors, prospective investors and foreign business generally.

The next EAA meeting will be held in Nairobi from the 26th to 28th May. Image Africa will be exhibiting during the meeting and hosting a reception on the evening of the 26th.

For more information on the EAA see: http://www.eaa-lon.co.uk/ 

March, 2004: Spot Image has extended its product range

SPOT Scene Colour images at 2.5 m and 5 m resolution are now available at levels 1A et 2A; SPOT DEMs can now be priced by the square km; and 'old' archive imagery has been extended to 2001. These data are available as Raw data, SPOT Scenes and SPOTViews (i.e. GIS-ready for map production). 

These data are particularly suitable for photo-interpretation in all application fields, as well as for creating or updating maps. As an optional extra, the original data 2.5 m or 5 m B&W and 10 m colour can now be purchased at the lowest possible cost.

March 2004: AARSE Conference - the largest gathering of remote sensing & GIS users in Africa

5th African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE), 18-21 October 2004, Nairobi, Kenya

GEOINFORMATION SCIENCES IN SUPPORT OF AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT: The AARSE conference is a premier forum in Africa which brings together scientists, practitioners, educators, developers and vendors and policy and decision makers to discuss advancements (Latest developments), applications, capacity building and promotion of geo-information technologies in sustainable development of Africa. It is a forum in which participants learn and exchange ideas on the latest advancements in the technologies and their applications in different fields. Strategies for promotion and use of the technologies in Africa are also discussed. 

To know more about the conference, go to: http://www.itc.nl/~aarse/aace/index.htm 

For information concerning AARSE go to: http://www.itc.nl/~aarse/ 

More information: Dr W.K. Ottichilo, Conference Director, RCMRD, P.O. BOX 18118, 0500, Nairobi, Kenya 

E-Mail: mailto:rcmrd@rcmrd.org or mailto:ottichilo@rcmrd.org

March, 2004: DigitalGlobe Unveils Plans for Next-Generation Spacecraft Constellation

WorldView - High-Flying Imaging System Offers Unprecedented Resolution

LONGMONT, CO - DigitalGlobe® today unveiled details of the company’s next-generation imaging satellite, WorldView. The new satellite, set to launch no later than 2006, will be the world’s highest resolution commercial imaging satellite with better agility, accuracy and collection capacity than any other known commercial system. The WorldView imaging system will allow DigitalGlobe to substantially expand its imagery product offerings to both commercial and government customers worldwide.

Once launched, WorldView will be the world’s only half-metre resolution commercial imaging satellite, capable of collecting images with 50-centimetre panchromatic resolution and 2.0-metre multispectral resolution. Added spectral diversity will provide the ability to perform precise change detection and mapping. WorldView will incorporate the industry standard four multispectral bands (red, blue, green, near-infrared) and will also include four new bands (coastal, yellow, red edge, and near-infrared 2).

When combined with DigitalGlobe’s existing QuickBird satellite, the company’s imaging constellation will be capable of collecting more than 4.5 times the imagery of any current commercial imaging system. By late 2006, WorldView alone will be capable of collecting up to 500,000 square kilometres (200,000 sq. mi.) per day of half-meter imagery. The satellite will also be equipped with state-of-the-art geo-location accuracy capability and will exhibit stunning agility with rapid targeting and efficient in-track stereo collection.

WorldView's higher orbit of nearly 800 kilometres will allow the satellite to revisit collection areas more frequently, letting customers repeat their image acquisitions about once a day. Other impressive capabilities of the WorldView system include more efficient image processing systems and multi-satellite collection planning, shorter tasking timelines, and an expanded network of remote ground terminals.

“WorldView will help DigitalGlobe respond to our customers’ clearly articulated need for an expanded source of geospatial information products,” said Herb Satterlee, chairman and CEO of DigitalGlobe. “We thank our talented and capable team of GIS and aerospace partners for making the WorldView system a reality,” he added.

September 2003: A new presence in an old continent. 

ImageAfrica becomes regional distributor of Ikonos data for Space Imaging Inc., in east & central Africa. 

ImageAfrica is delighted to announce that it has been appointed official distributor for Space Imaging Inc., Denver, USA, of multiple satellite datasets in central and eastern Africa.

ImageAfrica has secured an agreement with Space Imaging Inc., for data distribution of multiple satellite datasets in Uganda and Africa. Satellite imagery is just one aspect – the interpretation skills are at the heart of the service provided. ImageAfrica offers a range of services in the following application areas, including environmental monitoring and impact assessment, geological mapping and exploration, land reclamation and pollution monitoring, water resources and urban planning.

IA’s in-country presence will help it to form close working relationships with locally based clients. It will also enable IA personnel to engage in a process of “skills transfer”, which it is keen to achieve, by training local staff. ImageAfrica’s location and expertise represent a prime opportunity for Space Imaging and the earth observation industry in this continent.  

September 2003: Launched – the world’s first disaster monitoring service in space.  

NigeriaSat-1, a Nigerian satellite blasted into orbit Saturday aboard a Russian rocket, propelling one of the poorest nations on earth into space for the first time. The Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) is a novel international co-operation in space, led by SSTL (Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd) bringing together organisations from seven countries: Algeria, China, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. The DMC Consortium is forming the first-ever microsatellite constellation bringing remarkable Earth observation capabilities both nationally to the individual satellite owners, and internationally to benefit world-wide humanitarian aid efforts.

SSTL developed the NigeriaSat-1 enhanced microsatellite during a know-how and technology transfer program for the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) of Nigeria. NigeriaSat-1 is the first step in FMST’s plan to develop Nigeria’s national space infrastructure. The NigeriaSat-1 programme included the satellite, a mission control station in Abuja, Nigeria and hands-on training at Surrey for a team of Nigerian engineers. During the project, Nigeria formed a National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), which now manages the NigeriaSat-1 program.

NigeriaSat-1 carries an optical imaging payload developed by SSTL to provide 32-m ground resolution with an exceptionally wide swath width of over 640 km. The payload uses green, red and near infrared bands equivalent to Landsat TM+ bands 2, 3 and 4. Images are stored in a 1-gigabyte solid-state data recorder and returned via an 8-Mbps S-band downlink. NigeriaSat-1 can image scenes as large as 640 x 560 km, providing unparalleled wide-area, medium-resolution data. The data will be used within Nigeria to monitor pollution, land use and other medium-scale phenomena.