Updated:
07 December 2007
What does the Australian Centre for Remote Sensing Do?
The Australian Centre for Remote Sensing (ACRES) is Australia´s major public satellite remote sensing organisation. ACRES is a centre within the Geospatial and Earth Monitoring Division of Geoscience Australia (GA), which itself falls within the Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. ACRES was first established as the Australian Landsat Station, and has been operating continuously since 1979.
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ACRES Vision
ACRES vision is for the Australian Community to enjoy continually improved outcomes from earth observation science and technology.
ACRES Mission
To provide earth observation data, information and knowledge for the Australian Community in support of national priorities. In pursuing this mission we will:
- Develop working relationships across Australian Government Agencies to ensure that ACRES activities are aligned with national priorities.
- Maintain close contact with the spatial information industry in Australia, including a network of remote sensing data distributors.
- Provide advice to government regarding Australia’s requirements and options for, and use of, remote sensing earth observation data.
- Build relationships with international satellite operators and enter into agreements for data supply.
- Maintain a core of excellence in relevant remote sensing techniques and science.
- Maintain first-class satellite data reception and processing capabilities.
- Maintain an accessible long-term archive of satellite data, including Landsat and MODIS imagery.
- Develop and deliver near-real-time remote sensing applications including "Sentinel".
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Operational details
Remote Sensing Science & Strategy
This group actively pursues science and research & development (R&D) capabilities to achieve ACRES vision and mission. Current R&D activities can be grouped into:
- R&D activities in support of ACRES operations, such as:
- Testing and validation of data processing systems.
- Improving geolocation accuracy of products.
- Automating orthorectification of satellite imagery, etc.
- Development and promotion of remote sensing applications
- Support operational and research projects within and outside of GA.
- Provide expertise in the following applications:
- Coastal and Offshore:
- Oil slick and oil seep study using SAR.
- Bathymetry and water quality using optical sensor data (Landsat).
- Terrain Mapping:
- Generation and application of digital elevation models.
- Change detection maps for topographic map revision.
- Terrain roughness factors for risk research and mineral index maps.
- Sentinel national bushfire monitoring:
- Daily hotspots using MODIS and NOAA and validation.
- Manage ACRES involvement in the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRC-SI)
- Development of MODIS science products and applications in support of climate change research.
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Remote Sensing Information Services
This activity of ACRES ensures that products and services are relevant to client needs, easily accessible and promoted. In achieving these goals a range of activities are performed, including:
- Handling general enquiries and customer liaison.
- Management of a distribution network comprising private and public sector organizations.
- Building constructive needs-based relationships with other government agencies.
- Scheduling acquisitions of satellite data.
- Regular archiving and cataloguing of newly acquired data, and maintenance of existing archived data.
- Processing raw satellite data into a broad range of product options, according to customer preferences.
- Defining and maintaining product specifications.
- Ensuring distribution mechanisms are appropriate to maximise access.
- Communicating ACRES products, services and activities to government, industry and the general public.
- Establishing and maintaining agreements with satellite operators.
- Developing new products and services from ideas into tangible outputs.
- Facilitating the National Remote Sensing Technical Reference Group.
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Remote Sensing Infrastructure & Engineering
This group is responsible for the following activities:
- Operation of ground stations and archive facilities
- Ensures that the infrastructure and systems necessary for the reception, archiving and processing of remotely sensed data are maintained and developed.
- Maintenance
- Preventive maintenance and repair of the antennae and reception systems to ensure continued reliable operation.
- Maintenance and upgrades to the image processing software systems.
- System development
- Development of systems for:
- Antenna scheduling.
- Antenna control systems.
- ACRES Digital Catalogue.
- Product ordering.
- Archive management.
- Sentinel hotspot (fire) detection.
- Data delivery.
- Scheduling, reception and processing of ALOS data.
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What Satellites does ACRES support?
ACRES routinely receives data from:
- LANDSAT 5 (Thematic Mapper). ACRES recommenced routine reception on 1 July 2003.
- LANDSAT 7 (Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus - ETM+). Mission commenced 6 July 1999.
- RADARSAT 1 (Synthetic Aperture Radar - SAR).
- ERS 2 (Synthetic Aperture Radar - SAR).
- TERRA MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer). Mission commenced June 2000.
- AQUA MODIS. Routine acquisition commenced 16 August 2002.
- EO-1 (various sensors, acquisition of recorded data only on request from NASA). Mission commenced November 2000.
- NOAA 17 and 18 (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer - AVHRR). Commenced reception October 2002.
- ALOS (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) routine data acquisition was commenced by ACRES during April 2006.
- See ACRES Satellite Facts Page for information on the satellite orbit characteristics.
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Products and Services
Here you will find various Satellite products and services including:
- Satellite and Sensor characteristics
- Products Sample data
- Satellite Data processing levels
- Satellite Data price lists
- Free online Satellite data
- Services and Distributors data
- Sales Policy and Copyright information
