Mounted on the satellite are two digital cameras: one 60 cm greyscale sensor and one 2.4m colour sensor. Together, the images obtained from these sensors can be used to plan, monitor, analyse and support a variety of applications, including: managing the effectiveness of irrigation in agriculture; monitoring the impact of mining on the environment; map creation; change detection and analysis; emergency response management services and vegetation health determination.
One of the advantages of DigitalGlobe satellite imagery is that large regions can be captured anywhere on the earth’s surface, which is of particular relevance for remote areas or developing regions with limited resources. DigitalGlobe’s image library also houses the most comprehensive, up-to-date images available in the world. Since 2002, QuickBird has collected imagery covering 340,000,000 square kilometres of land and sea, and collects approximately one million square kilometres of imagery each week.
The latest addition to the growing constellation of DigitalGlobe commercial sensors is the WorldView-1 satellite. Launched in September 2007, this satellite is capable of capturing image data at 50cm resolution – now the highest resolution commercially available.
With increased agility, on-board storage and the ability to recapture the same site on Earth up to every 1.7 days, WorldView-1 can collect up to 750,000 square kilometres (200,000 square miles) of high resolution imagery per day. It can also capture imagery in stereo, obtaining multiple shots of areas, which can be combined into 3D images. WorldView-2, the second satellite in DigitalGlobe’s next-generation imaging system, is expected to launch in late 2008.
Technical Details :
- Designer: Denise Durkin, Wellington, New Zealand
- Printer:Wyatt and Wilson, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Process:Offset Litho
- Stamp Size: 38mm diameter
- Sheet Configuration: 20 stamps per sheet, 2 x panes of 10
- Denominations: 60c, $1.00, $2.00 and $2.50
- Paper: Stamp grade self adhesive paper
- Period of Sale: 27 February 2008 for a period of approx. 2 years.
(Pitcairn post)
