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Vietnam Launches First Public Satellite Image Database, 'Data Cube'

The system, a result of a joint effort of the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC) and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), has been in development since 2017.

On March 6th, VNSC and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) hosted a workshop to introduce the Vietnam Data Cube, the country’s first earth observation satellite data sharing system, Thanh Nien reports.

According to Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, General Director of the VNSC, the goal of the project is to provide a free database of satellite images and an array of open-source tools that can utilize existing satellite data for community development and environmental projects.  

Tuan added that satellite imagery and earth observation data in Vietnam is currently only utilized for scientific research, while their broader practical implications remain undeveloped. Furthermore, many satellite images application centers are not very consistent.

With 2,200 satellites orbiting the earth, satellite imagery is a useful tool for observing and monitoring environmental surfaces. However, the large amount of data creates difficulties in terms of data management and analysis.  

The Vietnam Data Cube system seeks to help resolve these problems. Its server boasts a storing capacity of 200 terabytes, along with a new computing system, technologies, and data structures. In the first phase of the project, the Data Cube will use data from three satellite programs including Landsat, Sentinel, and ALOS.

With the help of several international organizations, the VNSC is working on projects to monitor forests, rice, and water quality. 

[Photo via Bao Daklak]


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