We perform a number of various industrial works, as well as R&D works, with the operational use of remote sensing data, which are the basic material for site monitoring and spatial analysis.

We use very often the results of R&D works in cyclical activities. In many situations, once developed, the algorithm can then be used in a semi-automatic or automatic analysis of a selected phenomenon, in subsequent moments of time. The results of our work are widely implemented in various branches of the economy.

Each time during tests and measurement campaigns, huge data sets are collected for advanced analyses. In order to process them effectively and efficiently, we have created a specialized technical infrastructure that supports all activities related to the handling of data obtained using various tools.

We have a unique in the country Operations Center for Earth Observation Missions (Centrum Operacyjne Misji Obserwacyjnych Ziemi, COMOZ), which has the task to acquire, archive, process, visualize and share various types of data. The structure of the Operations Center has been designed in such a way that data processing and visualization is possible in near real time.

We acquire photos using various types of cameras, in particular using the Quercus multi-sensor platform built at the Institute, which simultaneously records electromagnetic radiation in six narrow spectral ranges from 450 to 1000 nm. Based on aerial photos, we prepare maps and 3D models that are the basis for further urban and planning works and modern management of urban space 3D models are most often used in Spatial Information Systems (SIS) to create advanced hybrid visualizations. The solutions developed so far are financed, among others, by by the European Commission (EC) and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (Narodowy Fundusz Ochrony Środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej, NFOŚiGW) support the work of foresters and farmers. In addition, we widely promote the use of aerial and satellite data in public administration units. We conduct training cycles in the field of geodata acquisition and processing and creating layers supplying Spatial Information Systems (SIS).

Acquisition and processing of aerial and satellite photos – scope of services

• creating greenery indicators and vegetation research, including analyzes of the condition of plants and multi-criteria assessment of plant communities;
• analyzes for the needs of modern agriculture and forestry, including:
  • crops forecasts,
  • creating fertilization plans,
  • assessment of the amount of biomass;
• water testing;
• application of remote sensing in soil science;
• pollution effects monitoring;
• monitoring of aircraft, rocket (planned) and satellite photo-missions;
• data processing on a cluster with high computing power;
• data visualization and spatial analysis;
• analysis of the indicated area due to the given criteria, analysis of the optimal location of the investment;
• integration and development of large data sets, with particular emphasis on aerial and satellite photos;
• land cover classification, creation of object detection and identification algorithms;
• natural resources management, analysis of the location of new investments, supporting enterprise management;
• geomarketing – the use of various data and information for promotional purposes that are precisely located in the adopted reference system;
• creating orthophotomaps, height layers (DMT and NMPT) and vector maps.

As part of the work in the field of remote sensing with UAVs, we use:

• different types of the aircraft (testing of subsystems and data acquisition);
• specialized cameras and measuring apparatus (including an anemometer);
• precise RTK GPS receivers (field measurements and navigation);
• photogrammetric station (processing of metric and non-metric photos);
• cloud architecture (data processing and visualization).

Acquisition and processing of the aerial and satellite photos – specification of data possible to obtain:

• number of spectral ranges: up to 12;
• optical bands:
  • visible range,
  • NIR,
  • SWIR,
  • LWIR;
• orthophotomap accuracy: total error < 10 cm (RTK/PPK);
• resolution (GSD) of the multispectral orthophotomap: < 1 cm;
• maximum time of one (1) flight: up to 1 hour;
• mapping area during one (1) flight: up to 5 km²;
• length of linear infrastructure possible to be mapped during one (1) flight: up to 20 km.

Among the significant, large projects based on aerial and satellite data, there is
FITOEXPORT – a project implemented in years 2019-2021, one of the basic goals of which, defined for the Institute, is the promotion of modern remote sensing methods and support for the activities of the State Inspectorate in the field crops inspection.