ORFEO, O ptical and R adar F ederated E arth O bservation, is the dual system of observation of the Earth by satellite made up of an optical component developed by the CNES, Pléiades HR, and a component radar developed by the ASI, Cosmo-Skymed.

The program of accompaniment ORFEO

Parallel to the developments of the systems Pleiads (PHR) and Cosmo-Skymed (CSK) constituting the dual and bilateral system (France - Italy) of observation of Earth ORFEO the Programme of Accompaniment of ORFEO was set up in order to prepare, to accompany and promote the use and the exploitation of the images resulting from these sensors.

The need for installation of a preparatory program is essential fact:

• of the innovation of the capacities and performances of systems ORFEO (optical high-resolution and radar, capacity of access, quality of the data, possibility of joint acquisitions optical and radar),
• of the need induced for new methodological developments: new methods of treatment, or adaptation of existing methods,
• of the need for carrying out these new developments in close connection with the end users: taking into account of the specifications of the users, integrations of the new products in their systems.

This program, initiate and controlled by the CNES, began mid 2003 and will last until 2009. It comprises two shutters, between which it is necessary to maintain a strong interaction:

• a Methodological shutter,

• a shutter Set of themes.

This program of accompaniment is based on simulated data (acquired starting from airborne campaigns) and on images satellite close relations of Pleiads (QuickBird and Ikonos), used in a Community way on a unit of pilot sites. The validation of the products and services defined within the framework of the Sets of themes Groups will be made using these data.

Beyond the initial co-operation with Italy, the Program of Accompaniment recently widened in Belgium, with integration of Belgian experts in different the WP.

Methodological shutter

The Méthodologique shutter aims at the definition and the development of the necessary tools to the operational exploitation of the future sub-metric images, optics and radar (three-dimensional aspects, detection of changes, analyzes of texture, pattern recognition, optical complementarity and radar). It rests primarily on studies of R & D and doctoral research tasks and post doctoral.

The methodological shutter started in May 2003 by a workshop very space high-resolution followed by the Methodological installation of two Work groups , one directed 2D and the other 3D. Each group produced a summary (2D and 3D) recommending directions of studies R & D for the improvement of the exploitation and the interpretation of data HR (7 technical axes).

The objectives of research and R & D are refined during time, according to the results or of the new needs expressed by the users sets of themes. A meeting on June 14th, 2005 made it possible to take stock of the activities since 2003 and to present the work method over the period 2006-2008. The methodological scheme of work is accessible here.

Between 5 and 10 post-doctoral doctorands or researchers are paid each year by Progamme d' Accompagnement ORFEO.

ORFEO Toolbox

In the framework of the methodological Shutter of the Program of accompaniment ORFEO, the CNES decided to develop the " ORFEO Toolbox" (OTB), a whole of algorithmic bricks which will make it possible to capitalize the methodological knowledge and to place itself in a step of incremental development aiming at making profitable to the maximum the results obtained in the methodological studies.

The OTB consists of a whole of building blocks (API of C++ classes) and utilities (independent programs carried out using the API one developed). It appuye on the library of treatment of medical imagery ITK.

The development started at the beginning of December 2005 and version 1.4.0 of the OTB is now available on the site of the ORFEO of CNES.

The files of the newsgroup of the users of the OTB are with the following address:

See too

• Télédétection

• Satellite Spot
• Orfeo is a dramatic opera of Monteverdi published in 1607