Evaluation of CBERS Image Data: Geometric and Radiometric Aspects

In Australia, Landsat imagery is currently used in a number of regional and national monitoring projects. However, the future of Landsat imagery is not assured. Both Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 are estimated to run out of fuel around 2010. With the looming gap in Landsat data continuity it is timely to consider the issues involved in using data from other sensors to continue these monitoring programs. In the context of the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) Land Cover Change Program (LCCP) (http://www.climatechange.gov.au/ncas), this paper describes the issues on CBERS geometric and radiometric aspects, and quantifies the effects of using CBERS images to produce forest cover maps. Other alternatives to Landsat data that are being considered by AGO are SPOT 4 and Landsat 7 SLC-off images (Furby and Wu 2006a) and the Indian Remote Sensing satellites (IRS) (Furbyand Wu 2006b).