Remote Sensing Group (Akiyama, Kojima)

To analyze and assess the interactions between each ecosystem function and the conditions of the surrounding ecosystems as well as the land usage on a broader time-space scale, and to understand the current conditions precisely, high precision remote sensing observation by satellite and airplane plays a crucial role. Current remote sensing techniques are capable of making wide area observations and is able to achieve high spatial resolution, even to several square meters. This enables precise understanding of the structure and distribution of the various ecosystems that constitute a river basin. In addition, hyper spectrum image analysis can be used to monitor photosynthesis activity and stress reactions of plants, and the chemical compositions and material dynamics of the atmosphere/soilsphere/hydrosphere. Airborne sensors will be used to make observations that cannot currently be made by sattelite. By closely linking remote sensing research to ecological observations that are obtained by ecological research, we aim to realize wide-scale, high-precision assessment of the ecosystem, which has not been achieved by previous research.