RapidEye has announced that a second full coverage of Lithuania has been delivered and accepted by the Institute of Aerial Geodesy (AGI) in Kaunas, Lithuania. This fulfills two-thirds of a multi-year, full coverage contract that was negotiated last year. “Since Lithuania is above 54 degrees north and experiences quite wet summers, it's a cloudy region,” said RapidEye's Market Manager, Clemens Stromeyer. “This is a situation where our system really shines. It can repeatedly return to an area, which allows for a combination of images to be used for generating full country coverages with very little or no cloud cover during the vegetation season. This is of great benefit to our customers.”
The Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture plans to use RapidEye's satellite images for monitoring agricultural land use and particularly for detection of abandoned agricultural land. “Pan-sharpening of RapidEye's multi-spectral five meter satellite imagery in combination with half meter aerial photography will enable detection of even smallest land cover changes,” said Gintaras Rumšas, Technical Director of AGI. “This will be an important source of information for institutions responsible for implementation of strict EU requirements related to agricultural subsidies. Lithuanian authorities will implement targeted policy measures towards reduction of abandoned lands by flexible tax-compensation policy, so it is crucial to obtain regular updates on land use changes across the whole country.”
Environmental monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency and maintenance of nature protection areas network will be yet another priority area for the use of high resolution satellite imagery. AGI currently takes part in a ICT-PSP project “HLanData”, which – among other activities — is focusing on the development of practical solutions for implementation of an integrated land monitoring system in a trans-boundary pilot area of Latvia and Lithuania. The third and final coverage of Lithuania to complete the contract is scheduled for delivery to AGI by this time next year.
