Affiliations: Communications Research Laboratory (CRL), Yokosuka Radio Communications Research Center, 3‐4 Hikarino‐Oka, Yokosuka 239‐0847, Japan | Communications Research Laboratory (CRL), Kashima Space Research Center, 893‐1 Hirai, Kashima, Ibaraki 314‐0012, Japan | National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), 2‐4‐1 Hamamatsu‐cho, Tokyo 105‐8060, Japan | Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), 1‐5‐1 Wakihama‐Kaigan‐dori, Hyogo 650‐0000, Japan
Abstract: A disaster monitoring, management and mitigation (DM3) system using satellite communications technologies has been developed through cooperation of the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL), the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC). The DM3 system includes an airborne video and still photo data acquisition, relay from the aircraft via Ka‐band satellite communications, and a model disaster management center which houses a computer data base accessible from the Internet. The DM3 SATCOM system can provide real‐time and bi‐directional communication capabilities for disaster monitoring using various mobile terminals, which can be installed on airplanes, helicopters and land vehicles. Internet delivery of disaster information from a disaster management center to public or professional organizations for disaster mitigation is available, and users can easily search images of particular disaster areas using commercially available Internet browsers. In this paper, we present the disaster monitoring system using a satellite terminal installed on an airplane, which can transmit and receive MPEG‐II moving pictures at data rates up to 8.5 Mbps using via existing Ka‐band (30/20 GHz) satellites. The terminal uses a 35 cm diameter Cassegrain antenna and a 100 W transmitter.
