- Efforts to achieve NEC's environmental business vision
- A world first: New technology to eliminate the need for standby power in ICT equipment
- Plastic Made from Straw and Nut Shells
- Obayashi Corporation
- A bioplastic with a biomass ratio of more than 75%
- Optimizing Power and Space with ECO CENTER
- Observing Greenhouse Gases Around the Earth from Space
- Monitoring the forests from space
- High-Performance Workplaces
- e-Learning
Interview - "Daichi" Keeping an Eye on the Amazon Rainforest
Daichi Watching the Amazon 24/7 in All Kinds of Weather
Q:
What are the advantages of using the Daichi?
Dr. Mesquita:
The Advanced Land Observing Satellite, dubbed Daichi (meaning "Earth" in Japanese), is equipped with a sensor that can penetrate thick cloud cover to capture clear images of the Earth. This is why we asked JAXA to provide us with Daichi data. Although we are still in the testing phase, we have achieved good results over the last three months.
Daichi enables us to look at the entire Amazon even when the weather is cloudy or during the rainy season. This means that we can observe the rainforest more frequently, detect illegal logging activities and minimize the damage. Since Daichi's image data also provides solid evidence of when and where changes occur, it can be used by the federal police to substantiate illegal logging charges.
This project is considered very important since it provides government agencies with new data that could never be obtained before and enhances forest monitoring systems.
Q:
What are your plans for the future?
Dr. Mesquita:
We need not only data and systems but also personnel training in order to get better results. For instance, we have to process monochrome Daichi image data by adding color tones in order to enhance visual interpretation of rainforest conditions. We also need to train people to be able to assess and analyze the image data. We are now developing programs to train personnel as well as distribute data that will help related organizations with their work.
As a first step we are asking the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to implement a training project in addition to the enormous cooperation between JAXA and IBAMA. Brazil will send people to Japan for JICA training.
We will also work on getting more up-to-date data on the Amazon basin area and establishing procedures for providing such data to various organizations in a more timely manner.
