VIIRS Boat Detection (VBD) Research Overview
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) program, a joint effort between NASA and NOAA, focuses on weather prediction and boat detection using low light imaging data collected at night. The VIIRS system provides global coverage with sensitive instruments and efficient data flow processes for boat detection. Algorithms process the vast data volume reducing it significantly and producing nightly global boat detection products with a short temporal latency. The program ensures continuity beyond 2030 with planned instruments.
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VIIRS Boat Detection (VBD) Current status and research areas Christopher D. Elvidge, Kimberly Baugh, Feng-Chi Hsu, Tilottama Ghosh, Mikhail Zhizhin Earth Observation Group Payne Institute for Public Policy Colorado School of Mine celvidge@mines.edu December 5, 2019 1
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) primary mission is weather prediction. With 14 orbits per day VIIRS collects a complete set of day and night images every 24 hours.
Low light imaging data are collected at night to enable detection of moonlit clouds. Electric lighting is also detected. Manila, March 23, 2016
Offshore lights are frequently boats. Mindoro Strait March 23, 2016. Mindoro Island Boats Busuanga Island Flare Boats Boats
Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Joint program between NASA and NOAA. First VIIRS (SNPP) launched in 2011 usable data 2012 to present. Second VIIRS (NOAA-20) launched 2017 usable data 2018 to present. Three more instruments planned to ensure continuity past 2030. Polar orbit 100 minutes, 3000 km swath, 14 orbits per day, 22 spectral channels, near 1 km pixels. Global coverage always turned on. Source data are available on an open access basis. 5
VIIRS Boat Detection Data Flow VIIRS in 101 minute long orbit Download once per orbit at Svalbard ground station Via undersea data cables Data arrive at Mines about 2 hours from the collection NOAA s National Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF), Suitland, Maryland NOAA National Weather Service VIIRS boat detection data
Algorithms run on images, output points, vast data volume reduction VIIRS day/night band (DNB) nighttime image data Boat detection data (points) 300 GB 3-5 MB
Nightly global boat detection product with ~four hour temporal latency Detections are sorted into classes using quality flag (QF) values. The placemarks are sized small, medium and large based on the observed radiance.
Last nights data December 5, 2019 Day / night band data granule 3000 km wide Korea China 570 km high Boats Japan Detections Green = strong Cyan = weak 9
Last nights data December 5, 2019 Yellow Sea Korea Jeju Detections Green = strong Cyan = weak 10
Last nights data December 5, 2019 Source image VBD kmz Detections Sailing boat = strong Target = weak 11
Summary The VIIRS has a remarkable capability to detect lights on boats. Many fishing boats in Asia and other areas carry 100,000 watts of unshielded lighting. The detection limit is in the range of 1000 watts. The detection is blocked by heavy cloud cover, but many vessels are bright enough to be detected under optically thin clouds. The Earth Observation Group developed algorithms and processing chain to make a near real time VIIRS boat detection (VBD) product. VBD is one of the few global, near real time sources of vessel detections. VBD data are disjoint with AIS and VMS. Very little overlap between the transponder tracks and light detections. EOG is seeking to expand the utilization of VBD data.
VBD publications Elvidge, Christopher, Mikhail Zhizhin, Kimberly Baugh, and Feng-Chi Hsu. "Automatic boat identification system for VIIRS low light imaging data." Remote Sensing 7, no. 3 (2015): 3020-3036. Elvidge, Christopher D., Tilottama Ghosh, Kimberly Baugh, Mikhail Zhizhin, Feng-Chi Hsu, Nilo Selim Katada, Wilmon Penalosa, and Bui Quang Hung. "Rating the effectiveness of fishery closures with Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite boat detection data." Frontiers in Marine Science 5 (2018): 132. Feng-Chi, Hsu, Christopher D. Elvidge and others Cross- matching VIIRS Boat Detections with Vessel Monitoring System Tracks in Indonesia in review. 13
