X-Band Satellite Data Groundstation Installation

The School of Marine Sciences (SMS) at the University of Maine, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary, multi-departmental remote sensing group (Forestry (FTY), Spatial Information Sciences and Engineering (SIE) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)) is acquiring an X-Band Groundstation for real-time reception of the latest generation of earth observation satellite data. This will enable us to directly downlink, process, use and serve bio-geophysical data from NASA MODIS, Indian OceanSat and future broadband remote sensing satellites for our merged research, teaching, training, operational ocean observation and outreach/service activities. These data provide multi-spectral visible and infrared measurements of the ocean, coastal zones, forests and atmosphere. The groundstation system includes a 2.4m tracking dish housed in a radome, a tracking / reception subsystem and a data processing / management subsystem. In collaboration with Rutgers University (the closest existing system), we plan to deliver an operational 24/7 satellite data service for northeast US ocean observation, merging research with operational requirements.

Significant enhancements to our research capability afforded by this infrastructure result from 1) access to the data and resulting products in near-real time allowing us to support research cruises and address new, operational questions, coupling our research interests with those of coastal management, 2) access to OceanSat data, with significantly increased (3-4 X) spatial resolution, critical for terrestrial and coastal marine applications, 3) an increase in spectral resolution (and derived information products) afforded by MODIS (36 channels, compared to 8 on SeaWiFS) improving quantification and separation of optical regimes in the ocean (e.g. phytoplankton, suspended sediment) and 4) multiple retrievals each day (coupled with our existing L-Band capability, up to 4 multi-spectral and 8 IR scenes per day) allowing unprecedented temporal resolution (critical in dynamic coastal regions), cross-calibration, new data-merged products and improved avoidance of transient cloud patterns. The proposed infrastructure will maintain our existing real-time support of fieldwork as L-Band satellite missions are phased out. Extensive existing research funding within each PI?s department allow the groundstation and resulting data to play an immediate role in expanding our research / teaching capabilities.

Current research and teaching ties within the proposing group, coupled with existing remote sensing infrastructure at U.Maine, provide the foundation within which this instrumentation will impact a wide regional community. SMS, FTY and SIE are a NASA Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Applications. SMS and ECE currently collaborate on the development and application of neural-net based multi-spectral ocean algorithms. Students routinely cross departmental lines for thesis supervision and remote sensing courses. The equipment/data proposed here will be integrated into training and employment opportunities on campus, undergraduate and graduate research as well as formal courses. An initial list of additional faculty and researchers across 4 departments, totaling over 70 people, have immediate interest in the data provided by the infrastructure. In addition, the infrastructure will serve a truly regional need. Among immediate users with whom existing collaborations exist for operational data use/sharing are: GoMOOS, a separately funded, real-time ocean observing system for the Gulf of Maine (Thomas co-PI), Maine Department of Marine Resources, Bigelow Laboratory, Rutgers University and U. Mass. Dartmouth. Data and information products will be made available for both science and educational use through our web site (www.seasurface.umaine.edu) and through the comprehensive existing outreach infrastructure of GoMOOS (www.gomoos.org).