Global Observation Forest Cover (GOFC) / Global Observation Land Dynamic (GOLD)

Introduction and Background

GOFC is an ambitious, multifaceted international strategy to bring the earth's forests under continuous observation. It is a vision where data sharing, information and knowledge is disseminated, thus leading to an informed action that benefits not only the researchers but other users such as the fire managers, the interested general public, government agencies, policy makers or international strategies that can overcome disasters. It is a coordinated program of activities that ensures the earth observation and other data are used effectively for the global monitoring of terrestrial resources and the enhance the studies of global change and sustainable development. The participation of regional networks throughout the world that implements operational and coordinated projects is the main aim of GOFC. GOFC also acts as a facilitator that encourages bilateral relationships between the international organization of space agencies (data providers), processors (value added brokers) and end users, where long term measurements could be secured. It is a long term process of building and bridging an improved match between accurate and enhanced data products and user needs.

                The SEARRIN network is also actively involved with the main three themes of GOFC:

                        1. Forest Cover Characteristics and Changes of SEA GOFC, LUCC and EOC

                        2. Forest Fire Monitoring and Mapping 

                        3. Biophysical Parameters

Overview of GOFC - Forest Cover Characteristic and Changes

Overview of GOFC - Fire (by Chris Justice, GOFC Fire Implementation Co-Chair) 

Theme II : Regional Network GOFC - Fire SEA

The vegetation fires that occurred in Indonesia during the 1997-98 ENSO event caught the world's attention because of its impact on health, air quality, transboundary smoke across the southern South East Asian nations. Thus there is need for the monitoring of fire events across this region which should be easily accessible to the public, fire managers, researchers and the various government agencies of each nation. Amongst the criteria needed are near-real time information on the hot spot locations, smoke plumes and the areal burnt scars. Currently, there are several satellites that can provide these information, with several limitations. Table 1 and 2 shows some of the spatial resolutions, frequencies and types of data monitored, ie. whether they are active fires or burnt areas.

Table 1    Products of  Fire Monitoring and Mapping by GOFC/GOLD

Source : Ahern et. al, 1999

Table 2. The status of current operational satellite fires monitoring 

Source: Levine et. al, 1999

The current available suites of satellites exhibit different resolutions and frequencies of availability of images per day/s. Active fires need a higher frequency of retrieval of data compared to the burned area estimations. Near-real time monitoring, is particularly useful for fire or plantation managers or rescue teams. Currently, only the GOES 8 and 10 geo-stationary satellites have the capability of monitoring the active fires and plumes for the Northern and Southern American regions. The future launch of the MTSAT would benefit the South East Asian region where near real-time monitoring of the active fires at a higher frequency of retrieval of images could be achieved.

Regional User Requirements SEA Regional Requirements

Below are some of the current fire products that are available on the net:

Table 3 Useful fire product websites

 Planned systems: 2nd MODIS (active fire, burned areas, aerosols), MERITS, VCL, EOI, MSG, and MTSAT

GOFC - GOLD Brochure

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