SPOT 1, launched in 1986 by the French Government agency, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, carries two High Resolution Visible (HRV) sensors. Two SPOT satellites (SPOT 2 & 3) currently orbit the earth 180 degrees apart with SPOT 2 being the nominally operational satellite but data from SPOT 3 can be acquired on request. Each HRV has a ground swath 60 kilometres wide, and can operate independently either in panchromatic (PA) or multispectral (XS) mode. SPOT 3 carries the only operational onboard tape recorders which store imagery when the sensors are operating outside the reception area of a ground station, allowing worldwide coverage by SPOT. Every 26 days, SPOT's orbit can provide total coverage of the Earth's surface, in a vertical viewing mode. Additionally, SPOT has the ability to image up to an angle of 27 degrees east or west of vertical. This can allow revisits of the same site in Australia in as little as three days, and also allows for stereo images to be acquired for use in determining the height of ground features. The archive of ACRES products includes SPOT data from 1989 onwards. The HRV multispectral (XS) sensor operates in three bands in the visible and near infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum with a resolution of 20m. ACRES SPOT archive contains selected imagery from the following SPOT satellites: - SPOT 1 commenced 1 January 1990, ceased January 1991. - SPOT 2 commenced 1 January 1991, continuing. - SPOT 3 selected from 25 September 1993.

The Landsat series of satellites commenced acquiring remotely sensed data with the launch of Landsat 1 in 1972. The Landsat satellites travel at an altitude of 705 kilometres and provide coverage of the entire globe every 16 days. The Multispectral Scanner (MSS) sensor has been the primary Earth-observing instrument. MSS images in four spectral bands (called Bands 4-7 on LS1,2&3 and 1-4 on LS 4&5) covering the visible and near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The MSS ground swath is 185 kilometres wide, with a nominal 80 metre pixel resolution. The archive of ACRES MSS data dates from 1979 onwards. ACRES MSS archive contains data from the following Landsat satellites: Landsat 2 commenced November 1979, ceased Feb 1982 Landsat 3 commenced November 1979 ceased August 1982 Landsat 4 commenced August 1982, ceased May 1984 Landsat 5 commenced 9 April 1984, ceased November 1997 - Band 4 (original band 7) data poor quality from 29 April 1994 - Band 4 (original band 7)switched off permanently 20 August 1995 Note that MSS data from Landsat 3 & 4 is of poor quality and requirements for this data need to be discussed with ACRES prior to purchase.

The Landsat series of satellites commenced acquiring remotely sensed data with the launch of Landsat 1 in 1972. The Landsat satellites travel at an altitude of 705 kilometres and provide coverage of the entire globe every 16 days. Landsat 5, launched in 1984, carries the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor in addition to the Multispectral Scanner (MSS). The Thematic Mapper is a higher resolution sensor. It provides imagery in seven spectral bands (called Bands 1-7), covering the visible and near, middle and thermal infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. TM has a 30-metre pixel resolution for all bands except Band 6 which has a 120-metre resolution. Its ground swath is 185 kilometres. A full scene is 185 kilometres by 172 kilometres. The archive of ACRES products includes TM data from September 1987 to December 1999 and July 2003 onwards.

The Landsat series of satellites commenced acquiring remotely sensed data with the launch of Landsat 1 in 1972. Landsat satellites travel at an altitude of 705 kilometres and provide coverage of the entire globe every 16 days. Landsat 7, launched on 15 April 1999, carries the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+). As the name suggests, the ETM+ sensor is similar to the TM sensor but has some added features. It provides imagery in the same seven spectral bands as the TM sensor with 30 metre resolution, but has an added panchromatic band with 15 metre pixel resolution. ETM+ also has an enhanced thermal band with a 60 metre resolution. Its ground swath is 185 kilometres. A full scene is approximately 184 kilometres by 172 kilometres. The archive of ACRES products includes ETM+ data from 6 July 1999 onwards.

The JERS-1 satellite was developed by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). JERS-1 was launched in February 1992 and operated until 11 October 1998. The satellite traveled at an altitude of 568 kilometres and provided coverage of the entire globe every 44 days. The L-band, Synthetic Appeture Radar (SAR) sensor was the primary Earth-observing instrument. The SAR is an active microwave sensor capable of imaging earth resource targets regardless of time of day, cloud, haze or smoke cover of an area. The instrument is classified "active" as it emits the energy necessary to image the earth's surface. In contrast, "passive" or "optical" sensors rely on the sun's reflected energy to image the earth. The SAR ground swath is 75 kilometres wide, with a nominal 18 metre pixel resolution. The sensor has HH polarisation. ACRES JERS SAR acquisition commenced in September 1993 and ended in October 1998.

Two ERS satellites have been developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). ERS-1 was launched on 17 July 1991 and ERS-2 on 20 April 1995. Both ERS satellites travel at an altitude of 785 kilometres and provide coverage of the entire globe every 35 days. The C-band, Synthetic Appeture Radar (SAR) sensor has been the primary Earth-observing instrument. The SAR is an active microwave sensor capable of imaging earth resource targets regardless of time of day, cloud, haze or smoke cover of an area. The instrument is classified "active" as it emits the energy necessary to image the earth's surface. In contrast, "passive" or "optical" sensors rely on the sun's reflected energy to image the earth. The SAR ground swath is 102.5 kilometres wide, with a nominal 30 metre pixel resolution. The sensor has VV polarisation. ACRES ERS-1 archive includes data acquired from September 1991 to March 2000, while ACRES ERS-2 acquisitions started in November 1995 and continues to present.

Supplied by the Australian Hydrographic Service for LOSAMBA. Use is restricted. Contact Grant Boyes for details.

Includes copy of AGSO Record 1997/20

Report on the collaborative project with the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)

Data for the collaborative project with the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR)