Consultancy & Applications

The Consultancy service of GST can provide a wide range of strategic and technical consultancy services to mainly public sector clients as well as private sector in the UAE, Middle East and other parts of the world.

One of the main areas of expertise of the Consultancy service is the handling of geographic information and resources extracted form remotely sensed data and other source of information within the context of GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

We are concerned with ensuring that our clients are correctly advised in terms of an appropriate geoinformation strategy, the adoption of appropriate technology, the datasets to be acquired and maintained.

The following applications represent what GST is capable to achieve with high quality of service.

Agriculture & Soil
Environment
Land use land cover mapping
Utilities
Coastal Monitoring & Management
Geological Exploration
Cartography
Risk Management
Defense & Security
Structure Metric Technology
Geophysics

Agriculture & Soil

Agriculture resources are among the most important renewable, dynamic natural resources. Agriculture survey aims to gather information and associated statistics on crops, rangeland, livestock and other related agricultural resources. This information of data is most importance for the implementation of effective management decisions at local and national levels. In fact, agricultural survey is a backbone of planning and allocation of the limited resources to different sectors of the economy. Satellite data provides the actual synoptic view of large are at a time, which is not possible from conventional survey methods.

Remote Sensing techniques have a unique capability of recording data in visible as well as invisible (i.e. ultraviolet, reflected infrared, thermal infrared and microwave etc.) part of electromagnetic spectrum. Therefore certain phenomenon, which cannot be seen by human eye, can be observed through remote sensing techniques. Agricultural resources can be obtained by measuring spectral, spatial and temporal variations of electromagnetic radiation emanating from points of interest and then analyzing these measurements to relate them to specific classes of agricultural phenomena purpose. Satellite images are used as mapping tools to classify crops, examine their health and viability, and monitor farming practices. Agricultural applications of remote sensing include the following:

• Crop type classification
• Crop condition assessment
• Crop yield estimation
• Land Cover Land use change detection
• Soil type  and characteristics survey
• Mapping of soil management practices
• Compliance monitoring (farming practices)
• Range condition analyses
• Vegetation/Biomass index
• Plant diseases and insect infestation
•  Natural vegetation inventories
• Soil moisture content
• Study of arable and non-arable land
• Assessment of plant growth
• Water management & Surface water inventories

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Environment

Earth Observation data offer powerful solutions for environmental monitoring. Products that can be used in this segment are mainly related to land cover/use, water management and impact assessment. The scale requirements are consistent with medium resolution satellites, with typical values are in the range 1:25.000 - 1:250.000.

We have a wealth of experience providing comprehensive, quantitative environmental baseline monitoring and mapping services to companies who require proprietary, cost effective reports with short lead times. Using medium and high resolution satellite imagery we can perform wide area coverage studies at up to 1:10,000 scale, to extract information on:

• Landuse/cover
• Infrastructure
• Identification of contamination sites
• Hydrological / Watershed map
• Wildlife Habitat Maps
• Land Unit Maps
• Soil Contamination Map
• Wetland Analyses
• Quarries, Waste Identification and land fill sites selection and identification
• Land degradation/Desertification analysis and mapping
• Air quality Assessment & Monitoring
• Surface water and Groundwater quality Mapping
• Biodiversity studies of both offshore and onshore
• Fish Potential Mapping
• Mapping of Sediment quality
• Oil spill detection studies
• Marine pollution detection

The continuity of receiving satellite data in our house also allows us to routinely monitor sites for change detection and to assess the level of current activity on the ground.

Similar techniques can be used for monitoring both buried and overland pipelines, ensuring that any leakage is identified quickly even in remote terrains.

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Land use land cover mapping

Land is the most important natural resource which embodies soil, water and associated flora and fauna involving the total ecosystem.

Comprehensive information on the spatial distribution of land use/land cover categories and the pattern of their change is a prerequisite for planning, utilization and management of the land resources of the country.

Land use / land cover inventories are assuming increasing importance in various resources sectors like agricultural planning, settlement and cadastral surveys, environmental studies and operational planning based on agro climatic zones. The land use planning may be concerned with putting environmental resources to new kinds of productive use. The function of land use planning is to guide decision on land use in such a way that the resources of the environment are put to the most beneficial use for society, whilst at the same time conserving those resources for future.

The information requirement for land use planning comprises reliable, up-to-date and comprehensive data on physical, ecological and socio-economic resources. It is well established that remote sensing has the potential to make the most significant contribution in the area of land use data collection.

The Land use Land Cover maps should provide benefits related to urban and regional planning applications and are expected to be used in the following:

• Resource mapping and analysis
• Urban planning, sprawls and change detection
• Building of eco-friendly urban environment
• Infrastructure studies and development
• Site selection
• Building Materials
• Monitoring of soil and land resources

Satellite data are very important for land cover and land use mapping and monitoring, this monitoring includes:

• Multi-spectral information availability
• Large-scale overview
• Ready availability of multi-temporal information

GST has the capability to perform repeated inventories of land use and land cover from space, to evaluate the consequences of observed and predicted changes and its impact on the environment, then to improve the understanding of human interaction with the environment, and thus provide a scientific foundation for sustainability, vulnerability and resilience of land systems and their use.

The general scope of land use land cover mapping is as follows:

1. Acquire the most recent, multi-season and appropriate satellite images
2. Gather existing maps, documents, and data related to land use themes.
3. Carry out the classification and analysis of the satellite images
4. Execute the field survey to collect the necessary data and samples.
5. Identify and delineate the various features from field.
6. Build up the thematic geo-database as specified above.
7. Design and implement the land use land cover maps on level1, level2, and level3 for scale up to 1:10,000
8. Prepare manuals and reports detailing the methodology followed, satellite images, existing maps, documents and data used, field survey reports giving coordinates of the sample points, and design of the geo-database.

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Utilities

GST products can be embedded in GIS systems used for planning and monitoring of pipelines, roads, technological networks and plants. The most requested products are therefore cartography, specific thematic and morphological maps, DEMs.

When dealing with the monitoring of large areas, satellite data are always a cost-effective solution. Different scales are required for planning and monitoring, and, at the moment, satellite data fits better the requirements of the planning phase, where medium-scale knowledge of the territory is needed. In the monitoring phase, the satellite contribution is important for change detection.

High resolution data of IRS-1D PAN offers important applications for the Utilities sector.Our main product for utilities services are:

• DEMs
• Cartography
• Road and Infrastructure Maps
• Corridor thematic maps (land use, risk etc.)
• Geo-Morphological Maps
• Change Detection Maps

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Coastal Monitoring & Management

• Coastal Erosion Maps
• Ship Routing Maps
• Fish Finding Maps
• Sediment Transportation Analyses
• Acquaculture Maps
• Ocean currents and front maps
• Sea Surface Temperature Maps
• Ocean Wave Height and Direction Maps
• Nearshore habitat mapping (coral reefs, mangroves etc)
• Bathymetric Maps (shallow water)
• Near real time phytoplankton bloom monitoring
• Oill spill detection and monitoring

The opportunities for GST data to undertake environmental baseline surveys of marine and coastal zones is very large because in these areas are located some very valuable economic activities as, for instance, fishing and shipping. Dedicated marine monitoring satellites, beginning with the first Seasat launched in 1978, can collect many types of data and products about the oceans and many additional characteristics can be estimated from the analyses of these data. SAR data plays a very important role in this segment.

The satellite imagery obtained by GST is used as an operational decision support aid on-board sub-marines, coast guard vessels, drilling rigs, fishing fleets and environmental agencies. Besides ship routing and detection there is a potentially significant strong economic dynamic (coastal erosion, pollution, bathymetry for pipelines etc.). Its development depends on the fit of product availability with the main requirements, such as high revisit time for continuous monitoring and near real time data distribution.

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Geological Exploration

Geology and related oil, mineral and gas exploration activities make up an application segment that takes full advantage of satellite capabilities. The large-scale satellite view allows the generation of Rock Unit Maps and Tectonic Structure Maps; interferometry allows the generation of DEMs and the monitoring of mining subsidence, while radar data are a powerful tool for off-shore oil seep detection and monitoring. Alternative methodologies, such as the use of existing published maps, ground survey mapping or aerial photography, when available, need be used only when very local and detailed information is required.

The market is mature, and satellite data are now commonly used for geological studies and on-shore/off-shore exploration. Key users of GST Exploration service include oil companies, mineral companies, government organisations, engineering companies and environmental agencies and geological services. GST data is also much requested for research projects in environmental protection and sea monitoring.

We have a large team of professional remote sensing, mineral and petroleum geologists and geo-scientists, working on a wide range of onshore and offshore projects for both the petroleum and minerals industries. Our areas of expertise include:

• Geological interpretation and mapping
• Mine planning and development
• Surface assessment and digital elevation maps
• Managing and monitoring natural resources
• Onshore structural and fracture mapping from regional to prospect scale
• Mineral exploration mapping using spaceborne, airborne and field data
• Environmental due diligence studies
• Ground water resource mapping
• Landscape hazard mapping
• Pipeline planning and monitoring
• Image processing and base map generation for geological application
• 3D visualization
• Consultancy and Training
• Rock Unit Maps
• Tectonic Structure Maps
• Mining Pollution Analyses

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Cartography

Earth Observation data make an excellent basis for medium to large scale cartography. Consequently, this segment makes extensive use of satellite data, especially in those situations where the requirements for accuracy can be met, and alternative data sources are too expensive or even unavailable.

Satellite data, with different processing levels, are used for the generation of cartography and digital elevation models. Typical map scales are in the range 1:50.000 - 1:250.000. The market potential is high, because there are large areas of the earth that remain unmapped at both medium and large scales, and other parts that, even if already mapped, require regular updating. IRS-1D PAN data (5m resolution) can offer solutions for topographic scales up to 1:50,000. GST offer the following Cartographic products

• Cartographic maps
• Road and infrastructure maps
• Space Maps
• DEMs

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Risk Management

Satellite data are commonly used for the management of risk situations (particularly for better revisit times). Risk management is one of the fields where GST may play a primary role. Three different risk situations may be considered:

• Pre-crisis,
• During crisis
• Post-crisis.

Products needed in the first situation are mainly related to the collection of land cover, geological and hydrological information, while near-real time mapping and tracking of events is required in crisis and post crisis situations.

As examples, SAR Image data, with the active radar capable of penetrating clouds and acquiring images regardless of lighting conditions, is ideally placed to provide images during the events; SAR image data is almost the only, and easily the most cost-effective, method available for taking a snapshot of the event areas in all weathers.

Oil slicks have a dampening effect on surface waves and this can be detected in good viewing conditions by the SAR instrument in near-real time. GST can offer the following risk management services:

• Algae Maps
• Landslide & Ground Movement Maps
• Fire Damage Maps
• Oil Spill Maps
• Discharge Maps
• Storm Damage Maps
• Seismic Damage

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Defense & Security

For the defense and security sector GST high resolution data is a key information source. The main applications are the generation of maps, target monitoring and detection, and digital elevation model generation. Data fusion techniques that combine data from different sources are also used. The scale of data is variable, and goes from 1:100.000 down to very detailed scales. Military organizations are fully conscious of satellite capabilities, allowing a discrete monitoring of every part of the earth with frequent revisit and different levels of detail.  GST can offer the following product for this sector:

• Space Maps
• DEMs
• Cartographic maps
• Slope Maps
• Visibility Maps
• Land Cover Maps
• Road and infrastructure maps
• Data fusion

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Structure Metric Technology

GST has its own proven Structure metric and Prong Technologies for underground resources exploration; oil, gas, water, minerals and others. This technology uses the satellite imagery, special algorithms based on mathematical models explaining the relationship of the interior of the globe with the surface, and other minor parameters. This technology is very cost-effective, fast in term of time and very friendly to the environment as it doesn’t need any seismic investigations.

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Geophysics

GST geophysics Services include:

• Resistivity  survey for Groundwater Resources
• Assessment and Aquifer Characterization
• Airborne Magnetic Survey for Bed rock Mapping
• Vertical Electrical Soundings
• Interpretation of Seismic data for Oil and Gas Exploration
• Establishment of Seismic Station to Monitor the shock waves in the Earth Crust
• Establishment of High frequency digital GPS Station to monitor the Earth Crust Movements

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