GeoNorth (www.geonorth.com), an Information Technology solutions provider headquartered in Anchorage, has just been awarded a new contract by the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for satellite imagery collections over the Philippines Islands. Through a publically competitive process, and in support of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NOAA has awarded GeoNorth a contract to provide remote sensing images to quantify the number and density of payaos in the Philippines.
The Philippines is one of the top fish producing countries in the world. Considering provisional catches of skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna in recent years, and the commercial sector (vessels greater than 3 tons in weight), comprising approximately 70% of that total, the Philippines likely has the largest number of anchored payaos (Fish Aggregating Devices, or FAD's), deployed in the world. However, there has been concern regarding the sustainability of payao fish catches, potential for growth overfishing, high juvenile tune exploitation, and predation and adverse ecological effects for other species of concern such as fisheries interaction with sharks and sea turtles. With all members of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission being required to submit a FAD management plan (Conservation and Management Measure), NOAA looks to GeoNorth to now provide remote sensed images to estimate the number and density of FAD's in the Philippines in the area of approximately 2,500 square kilometers.
GeoNorth has tasking capabilities for the Airbus Defense and Space satellite constellations of SPOT 5 & 6, Pleiades 1A & 1B, and the SAR satellites TerreSAR-X and TanDEM-X. Given the unique requirements set forth by NOAA for this particular application, GeoNorth will deploy the capabilities of the Pleiades constellation, providing the ability to acquire 50cm high resolution multispectral imagery. As Pleiades 1A & 1B operate as a true constellation, GeoNorth felt this to be the most effective sensor for rapidly acquiring imagery in the client's specified Area of Interest, or AOI. GeoNorth owns and operates its own optical and radar satellite Direct Receiving Station (DRS) located in Fairbanks, Alaska, giving the firm the ability to task these satellites, collect the imagery, and downlink the acquisitions directly to their company-owned facility for processing, distribution, and archival.
"GeoNorth has had the opportunity to work with NOAA on several projects in the past, and we are as pleased to be able to perform for them on this one", says Bob Johnson, GeoNorth's Director of Sales and Marketing. "We consider this project to be beneficial on several fronts. First, we've been allowed to continue performing at a high level with an agency we have a great deal of respect for. In addition, this also allows GeoNorth to continue to prove ourselves as a solid, reliable partner when it comes to satellite imagery capture and processing. Our capabilities as a Multiple Satellite downlink facility are unmatched, and we are confident in our ability to perform at such a level as to both meet and exceed NOAA's expectations. We appreciate the vote of confidence given to us by NOAA, and look forward to servicing their imagery needs".
GeoNorth, LLC, is an Alaska Native Corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of The Tatitlek Corporation located at 561 E 36th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska. The firm specializes in such Information Technology solutions such as Optical and Radar Satellite Imagery Capture, Imagery Downlinks to a Company-owned Direct Receiving Station (DRS), Imagery Processing, Distribution, and Archives, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), Expanded Geospatial Solutions, Database Management, Web Design and Development, Mobile Applications, and Graphic Design Services. Since 1994 the firm has serviced federal, state, and local government agencies, utilities, oil and gas firms, natural resources companies, and private and Native corporations throughout the United States and abroad. The company also has office locations in the Pacific Northwest and on the East Coast, and operates remotely out of additional locations in Idaho, Montana, Florida, and Washington, DC.
GeoNorth press release