IMAGING

Ultra-high-speed remote sensing image laser transmission test

A commercial Chinese satellite company has conducted an ultra-high-speed, highresolution satellite-ground remote sensing image laser transmission test using an independently developed, vehicle-mounted laser communication ground station and the laser terminal aboard one of its Jilin-1 satellites. The 100-Gbps (gigabits per second) image transmission test was a success, said Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. To complete the test, a research team from the company comprehensively updated the vehiclemounted ground station and overcame a series of technical difficulties. They also established a coherent, ultra-long distance, high sensitivity laser communication link between Earth and space.

Ultra-high-resolution remote sensing satellites can generate data volumes several times greater than other remote sensing satellites, with image data generation rates reaching tens of gigabits per second, according to the company. https://english. www.gov.cn

China launches Earth observation satellite for Pakistan

China recentl launched the first satellite of a remote sensing constellation for Pakistan. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed launch success, announcing the previously undisclosed payloads as being for Pakistan and Chinese commercial companies. The China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), under CASC, arranged the combination of the international and domestic payloads. CGWIC signed a multi-launch service contract with Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) for launch of a remote sensing satellite constellation in 2022. PRSC-EO1 is the first of a series of three optical remote sensing satellites for Pakistan, which will join the country’s existing remote sensing satellites, PRSS-1 and PakTES- 1A, in orbit. https://spacenews.com

LiDAR put in use to map

Asia’s largest slum redevelopment project In a first for any slum rehabilitation project in India, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) has embraced cutting-edge technologies to survey and document Asia’s largest slum in Mumbai, India. Drones and remote sensing technology Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) are being used to map the 620 acres densely populated Dharavi slums. This is to ensure accuracy, transparency, and efficiency in a redevelopment project of this scale and complexity. Traditionally, surveys for Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects relied on conventional methods such as total station surveys and manual collection of physical documents. However, the DRP has implemented modern tools such as drones, LiDAR technology, and mobile applications to collect and evaluate data digitally.

These tools are being used to create a ’digital twin’ of Dharavi – a virtual replica that facilitates better data analysis and decision-making, a Dharavi Redevelopment Project-Slum Rehabilitation Authority (DRP-SRA) official said. LiDAR is an active remote sensing technology which plays a pivotal role in this project. Known for its ability to rapidly capture geospatial data, LiDAR uses laser light to measure distances and create highly accurate 3D representations of terrain, buildings, and objects. A portable LiDAR system, such as a backpack-mounted scanner, is being used to navigate the narrow and congested lanes of Dharavi. Drone technology supplements this by capturing aerial images of the area, providing an overhead perspective that aids in mapping and planning. On the ground, survey teams use mobile applications for door-to-door data collection.

These apps ensure that information is gathered at the actual location of each slum dweller, with all data stored and evaluated digitally. This not only improves accuracy but also reduces the scope for errors or data loss. The digital model will allow authorities to evaluate data more effectively, especially when determining the eligibility of residents for rehabilitation at the end of the survey.