Herzen University Acquired Equipment to Gather Meteorological Satellite Data
Published 08.10.2020
In early September, the astronomical observatory at Herzen University Faculty of Physics launched a new promising project. The University has acquired LoReTT Satellite Monitoring Complex capable of meaningful scientific observation. It receives, demodulates, decodes, records and processes digital information, transmitted from spacecrafts in low Earth orbits via X-band radio channels.
According to Mikhail Puchkov, Vice-Rector for Innovation Activities and Information Technologies at Herzen University, this is a unique project that will allow researchers from our University to gather data on Earth surface, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere from a large group of Russian and international satellites.
“This equipment will be used in class, and the first people to access satellite data will be students from Faculties of Physics and Geography. We’re developing a professional development programme for school teachers and are also planning to make this equipment available for science projects from partner schools. All the data will be open, and we are happy to share it,” promised Mikhail.
Future physicists and geographers will be able to investigate the complex for the first time as part of the project titled Cutting Edge Science and Technology.
Dmitriy Rodionov, director of Herzen University Observatory, comments that this station is lighter and cheaper than many alternatives and supports high resolution data. Moreover, it can be installed anywhere and does not require complex setup procedures before it is operational.
“Remote sensing data is used in a wide array of monitoring tasks. Data from our station can be instrumental in an emergency when managerial decisions have to be made on the fly,” Dmitriy adds.
For instance, this equipment is capable of tracking floods, fires or locating landfills.
LoReTT Satellite Monitoring Complex is the foundation for an interdisciplinary project laboratory. It can be used to provide access to high spatial resolution data in real time or to create an environment to build mobile services and applications. It can be a part of a resource centre or be used in Russian or international hackathon.
Herzen University staff have already received and processed data from American Terra and Aqua, Finnish Suomi NPP and Chinese FengYun satellites. The work is just starting, and new discoveries await!
According to Mikhail Puchkov, Vice-Rector for Innovation Activities and Information Technologies at Herzen University, this is a unique project that will allow researchers from our University to gather data on Earth surface, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere from a large group of Russian and international satellites.
“This equipment will be used in class, and the first people to access satellite data will be students from Faculties of Physics and Geography. We’re developing a professional development programme for school teachers and are also planning to make this equipment available for science projects from partner schools. All the data will be open, and we are happy to share it,” promised Mikhail.
Future physicists and geographers will be able to investigate the complex for the first time as part of the project titled Cutting Edge Science and Technology.
Dmitriy Rodionov, director of Herzen University Observatory, comments that this station is lighter and cheaper than many alternatives and supports high resolution data. Moreover, it can be installed anywhere and does not require complex setup procedures before it is operational.
“Remote sensing data is used in a wide array of monitoring tasks. Data from our station can be instrumental in an emergency when managerial decisions have to be made on the fly,” Dmitriy adds.
For instance, this equipment is capable of tracking floods, fires or locating landfills.
LoReTT Satellite Monitoring Complex is the foundation for an interdisciplinary project laboratory. It can be used to provide access to high spatial resolution data in real time or to create an environment to build mobile services and applications. It can be a part of a resource centre or be used in Russian or international hackathon.
Herzen University staff have already received and processed data from American Terra and Aqua, Finnish Suomi NPP and Chinese FengYun satellites. The work is just starting, and new discoveries await!
