Prof Zheng Lizhong1 & Dr David L B Jupp2
1 Deputy Director-General NRSCC SSTCC
2 Science Leader, CSIRO EOC & Head of CSIRO-OSSA
This document represents the views
of the experts of the Sino-Australia Joint Science and Technology
Committee (JSTC) project group in the area of Environmental monitoring
using remote sensing techniques and reports on the progress of
the projects to the 3rd JSTC, and establishes an agreement to
proceed on the Project areas listed.
In April 1995, In order to start the
2nd round of the Sino-Australia cooperative project Monitoring
Environment Using Remote Sensing Technique, according to the decisions
of the 2nd JSTC, an Australian remote sensing technology delegation
lead by Dr. B.J. Embleton, Head of CSIRO-OSSA, visited China.
After a series of discussions and scientific investigations, Dr.
B. J. Embleton and Prof Zheng Lizhong, the Deputy Director-General
of National Remote Sensing Centre of China, signed the bilateral
agreement on Monitoring the Environment Using Remote Sensing Techniques.
This was pursued in four areas: Monitoring Soil Moisture and Drought
Using Remote Sensing, Soil Erosion Mapping Using Remote Sensing,
Mapping Water Quality Using Remote Sensing, Crop Yield Estimation
Using Remote Sensing. At the joint meeting, cooperative exchanges
and research programs were agreed to be carried out.
In November 1995, Prof Zheng Lizhong,
the Deputy Director-General of National Remote Sensing Center
of China, headed a Chinese Remote Sensing Science & Technology
delegation to visit Australia. Through these means of attending
academic conferences; holding bilateral talks; visiting research
units and bilateral exchanges with scientists etc., in four fields
above mentioned, the initial academic exchanges were carried out,
and at the same time, the concrete cooperative interchange plans
were worked out.
The project Monitoring Soil Moisture
and Drought Using Remote Sensing has achieved considerable success.
This cooperative project is a continuation of the project Monitoring
Soil Moisture and Drought Using Remote Sensing Technique of the
1st JSTC. In the cooperative research of the 1st JSTC project
being carried (between 1995-1997), the Sino-Australia scientists
performed experiments using models for monitoring soil moisture
and drought using remote sensing technique which were developed
by bilateral scientists in each counties experimental areas, and
then, the advanced models were refined to be applied in experimental
areas and the outstanding research results have been achieved.
This project was then supported by the
2nd JSTC, its objective to be brought into the new cooperative
round is that based on the bilateral achieved results, the models
will be implemented and seek applications, and then, the system
of monitoring soil moisture and drought using remote sensing technique
will be established in both counties and will be used to monitor
the large area. After the three years' hard work between1995-1997,
the bilateral scientists have significantly accomplished these
ambitious and conscientiously anticipated project objectives.
As this area involves public benefit-being aimed to improve the
output of whole regions of the countries farm areas-the applications
transfer have been to government agencies.
According to the project's objective,
the scientists of Institute of remote sensing application, CAS,
undertaking this project as being Chinese side, and the scientists
of CSIRO, undertaking this project as being Australia side, worked
out the plans to be carried out, discussed the division of work,
interchange visit and academic exchange, participated the research
work together, the achieved results following :
1. On the basis of energy balance theory,
developed an infra-red remote sensing data model, and established
the NDTI and CWSI to monitor soil moisture and drought.
2. Provided the method of area NDVI and
monthly vegetation index and the method of soil moisture estimating
using radar technique has been studied.
3. Sino-Australia both sides established
the system of monitoring soil moisture and drought, these two
systems are the integrated systems of RS; GIS and meteorological
data analysis. This system includes background database; monitoring
model; meteorological data analysis; NOAA AVHRR image processing;
NDTI/CWSI mapping and results outputting etc.
4. Drought was monitored with the developed
model and established system in China and Australia. China selected
the Huang Huai Hai (or North China) plain as the monitored area,
Australia selected the Murray-Darling river basin as the monitored
area, drought history and current state was monitored using NOAA
AVHRR data; CWSI and NDTI models and good results were achieved.
5. The project has significantly approached
the anticipated objectives, and the project summary final report
has finished, the two sides has written two main Technical Reports
together, and are currently publishing three or four papers from
the Technical Reports.
Besides the Project of Monitoring Soil
Moisture and Drought using Remote Sensing Technology, Crop Yield
Estimation Using Remote Sensing Technology has also attracted
a lot of interest among Chinese and Australian experts who have
developed a substantial cooperation.
Chinese scientists have more than 10
years of research experience in large area crop monitoring by
remote sensing. Relatively high yield estimation precision has
been achieved. Nevertheless, some research areas in yield prediction,
such as new type sensor and in-depth application of GIS, still
need to be studied further. Australian scientists have done a
lot of experiments in crop yield estimation by meteorological
satellite and Landsat satellite data as well. They have also explored
the use of radar remote sensing and GIS to prompt precision and
expand estimation area. Therefore, the bilateral cooperation is
mutually complementary. According to the time of fund allocation,
the technical system and route defined by two sides will be realised
in 1999. It can be applied in two different kinds of agricultural
regions respecting to rough and intensive cultivation. So, it
has value for technology transfer.
Considering the project objectives, Chinese
scientists from the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications,
CAS and Australian scientists from the Department of Geography,
the University of New South Wales have conducted two periods of
academic exchange during 1995 and 1996. The formal cooperation
began in April 1997. The accomplishment of two times of workshop
and field survey is as follow:
(1) Review and estimation are made to
currently bilateral remote sensing methods of wheat yield prediction
in order to lay the groundwork of defining technical route.
(2) An integrated research scheme is
proposed to define the aim and contents, choose the common study
areas, as well as determine division of labour of two sides and
research time table during 1997 and 1999.
(3) Bilateral units in charge invite
respectively the experts from Department of Agriculture of New
South Wales State, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Natural
Resources Survey Committee of CAS as well as National Meteorological
Satellite Center of China. It plays an positive role in promoting
understanding and improving research for the scientists of two
countries.
In the aspect of Research of Soil Erosion
Using Remote Sensing Technique, academic exchange, which promote
bilateral understanding, has been made between Australian Nuclear
Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and Department of
Water Conservancy of China as well as Chengdu Institute of Mountainous
Region of CAS. An fruitful exchange has been developed in the
research of application of caesium 137 isotope technology in soil
erosion study. This project is now completed.
As for Research of Inland Water Quality
Using Remote Sensing Technique, the units in charge are CSIRO
Earth Observation Centre and Remote Sensing Center of Chinese
Department of Water Conservancy. They share identical understanding
in high spectral remote sensing research and applications and
sought to extend and develop the cooperation by including visits
and exchanges as a pilot study in coastal and ocean water quality.
As a result of the studies made, a re-assignment of priorities
has taken place to the ocean and coastal resources and the emergence
of the Ocean Colour Validation project listed below for the new
round of the JSTC. The development of priorities and activities
was achieved by visits to Australia by Mr Tang Junwu of the Institute
of Ocean Technology (IOT) to review ocean and coastal optical
water quality research in Australia and a visit to the IOT by
Dr David Jupp to introduce Australian work in Optical Water Quality
and coastal and marine optical techniques. Mr Tang's report was
tabled at the 3rd JSTC Meeting. The Australian side interaction
was coordinated through a newly formed Australian Ocean Colour
Working Group which has allowed the Australian side to include
a wide range of institutes.
In summary, three years of collaboration
and exchange have been highly effective. We are inspired by the
achievement of the scientists of the two sides. To the next stage
of cooperation, bilateral remote sensing organisations and experts
have made suggestions as follow:
The experts group has met and considered
reports from the 2nd round of the JSTC and new project proposals
from both countries. The SSTC discussions for the new round were
lead on the China side by Prof Zheng Lizhong, the Deputy Director
General of National Remote Sensing Center of China and the Australia
side by Dr David L B Jupp of CSIRO Earth Observation Centre. The
Projects discussed in the current JSTC Meeting have been grouped
into three areas of application: Sustainable Agriculture, Ocean
& Coastal Remote Sensing and Land Use & Land Cover Change.
Sustainable agriculture is vital to the
food security and income protection of both countries. In both
countries water is limited resource and yield must be achieved
in a sustainable but maximal way. The efficient and maximal use
of water resources in production of crop yield is a key issue
for both countries.
Sub-Project 1: Crop
Yield Estimation Using Remote Sensing Technique between UNSW in
Australia and NRSCC in China, which just complete the first year's
cooperation and exchange content, still need two years to continue.
We recommend it be listed into the forward projects of this JSTC
and get support from two governments as before.
Sub-Project 2:
Monitoring Soil Moisture and Drought Using Remote Sensing Technique
between CSIRO Division of Water Resources and Institute of Remote
Sensing Applications CAS has executed for six years and obtained
very good results. The proposed evaluation of the methods using
the accumulated data resources of the projects is recommended
to occur as a continuing Program.
Sub-Project 3:
Workshop on Remote Sensing for Sustainable Crop Yield and Water
Use Between Australia CSIRO, China NRSCC and CAS. At the conclusion
of the evaluation we plan to hold a workshop in Australia to conclude
its fruits. Because this project area is still an important study
area relative to the agricultural development for China and Australia,
we suggest to go on listing it (Sub-Project 2) and the Workshop
to the projects of the 3rd JSTC to continually get progress.
A topic of special concern to both countries
is surveying ocean environment and resources by remote sensing
technology. The interests are based on the importance of its resources
development and environment protection. In China the 863 Program
is evidence of the importance and in Australia and China ocean
resources are vital sources of income and food. We can develop
a broad cooperation in this area. Projects listed are:
Sub-Project 1: Ocean Colour & Fisheries.
We have defined a project on ocean colour and fisheries by remote
sensing groups of institutes in China and Australia. In China,
the Institutes involved are the NRSCC as lead agency, the Institute
of Ocean Technology, the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology
and the Shanghai Institute of Fisheries. In Australia, members
of the Australian Ocean Colour Working Group (AOCWG) especially
CSIRO Marine Laboratories, AIMS and Curtin University are identified.
This project can be listed into the projects of current JSTC due
to its level of bilateral development in the Optical Water Quality
work of the last JSTC.
Sub-Project2:RemoteSensing Technology
Development for Ocean Monitoring This is listed as a major developing
project area which will seek through meetings and a workshop/study
visits in China and in Australia respectively on Ocean Instrument
Measurement Technology to be established in the future. Visits
by a selected group of experts from a range of institutes in the
two countries will occur with existing funds leading to future
projects and interaction. The detailed arrangement of this mutual
exchange is that, for discussions and workshop/study visit, Chinese
group will visit Australia in Australian Autumn of 1998 and an
Australian group visit China in the Chinese Autumn. Discussions
will be based on suggestions made to the current JSTC and include
instrumentation development, information systems and altimeter
data analysis and assimilation.
As China and Australia are both big countries,
it is significantly important to do contrast research of large
scale environment change between two countries by dynamic mapping
using remote sensing technology.
Sub-Project 1: Environmental monitoring
using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to estimate forest and woodland
biomass. This project has identified partners in China (Chinese
Academy of Forest Sciences) and Australia (UNSW) and it is recommended
that it seek to develop a work plan and sources of funds as part
of this round of the JSTC.
Sub-Project2: Study on Land Cover Change using Remote Sensing Technology. This study has been proposed to coincide with transects which focus on the IGBP/HDP (Human Dimension Program). It may involve Australian groups from Griffith University (Prof Larry Crissman) and China CAS but will need further Australian collaborators to be complete. It is highly recommended to be developed and seek funds for future consideration by the JSTC.
In summary we recommend that ongoing
and accepted projects with sufficient funding in China and Australia
to proceed (but with further enabling and infrastructure funding
in Australia to be sought) are Sustainable Agriculture Sub-Projects
1, 2 and 3.
Australia Contact: Prof Tony K Milne
Director Office of Postgraduate Studies
Phone: +61 2 385 2731
Fax: +61 2 385 3733
Email: t.milne@unsw.edu.au
China Contact:
Prof Liu Jiyuan
Deputy Director
Institute of Remote Sensing Application/CAS
Phone: +86 10-6491 9961
Fax: +86 10-6491 5035
Email: liujy@irsa.irsa.ac.cn
Australia Contact: Mr Tim McVicar
CSIRO Land & Water
Phone: +61 2 6246 5741
Fax: +61 2 6246 5800
Email: tim.mcvicar@cbr.clw,csiro.au
China Contact:
Prof Tian Guoliang
Deputy Director
Institute of Remote Sensing Application/CAS
Phone: +86 10-6491 4838
Fax: +86 10-6491 5035
Email: tiangl@irsa.irsa.ac.cn
Australia Contact: Dr David L B Jupp
Science Leader CSIRO Earth Observation Centre
Head of COSSA
Phone: +61 2 6216 7203
Fax: +61 2 6216 7222
Email: david.jupp@eoc.csiro.au
China Contact:
Prof Zheng Lizhong
Deputy Director General
National Remote Sensing Centre of China
SSTCC
Phone: +86 10-6851 2081
Fax: +86 10-6851 4097
Email: Zhenglz@cs.sstc.go.cn
Australia Contact: Dr Vincent Lyne
CSIRO Marine Laboratories
Phone: +61 3 6232 5333
Fax: +61 3 6232 5000
Email: vincent.lyne@marine.csiro.au
China Contact:
Prof. Shi Ping
Deputy Director Institute of South China Sea, CAS
Phone: +86-20-84451227
Fax: +86-20-84451672
Email: itnhlib@scut.edu.cn
Australia Contact: Dr Vincent Lyne
CSIRO Marine Laboratories
Phone: +61 3 6232 5333
Fax: +61 3 6232 5000
Email: vincent.lyne@marine.csiro.au
China Contact:
Prof. Wu Guoxiang
Division Director
National Remote Sensing Centre of China
SSTCC
Phone: +86 10-68512081
Fax: +86 10-68514097
Email: Wugx@cs.sstc.go.cn
A recommended Project which has existing
funding in China and some existing funding in Australia but needs
further development and Australian funding is:
Australia Contact: Prof Tony K Milne
Director
Office of Postgraduate Studies
Phone: +61 2 385 2731
Fax: +61 2 385 3733
Email: t.milne@unsw.edu.au
China Contact: Prof
Liu Jiyuan
Deputy Director
Institute of Remote Sensing Application/CAS
Phone: +86 10-6491 9961
Fax: +86 10-6491 5035
Email: liujy@irsa.irsa.ac.cn
The following Project is currently fully
supported in China but needs to find some more collaborators and
some funds in Australia:
Australia Contact: Dr. Lawrence W. Crissman
Associate Professor Director
ACASIAN
Phone: +61 7 3875 5137
Fax: +61 7 3875 7956
E-mail: Crissman@ASIAN.gu.edu.au
L.Crissman@ais.gu.edu.au
China Contact: Prof Liu Jiyuan
Deputy Director
Institute of Remote Sensing Application/CAS
Phone: +86 10-6491 9961
Fax: +86 10-6491 5035
Email: liujy@irsa.irsa.ac.cn
We suggest to list this contents to the projects of present JSTC.
It will push our bilateral collaboration unceasingly.
We believe that we can surely achieve
more brilliant fruits for our remote sensing cooperation, by the
support of two governments, the understanding of this meeting,
and the efforts of our scientists.
The original was signed on the 16th of
October 1997, Beijing, China on behalf of the experts group on
Environmental Monitoring using Remote Sensing by:
Prof Zheng Lizhong
Deputy Director-General
NRSCC SSTCC
David L B Jupp
Science Leader, CSIRO EOC
Head of CSIRO OSSA