System, method, and apparatus for satellite remote sensing

A satellite imaging system comprising:

• at least one satellite for capturing images from outer space, the satellite capturing images comprising a plurality of raw data pixels;
• and
• a processor for aggregating values of said raw data pixels into combined pixel values to form an image.

A method for producing an image comprising:

• receiving a first image of an area of the earth's surface, said first image comprised of a two-dimensional array of pixels and having a first resolution in which pixel is representative of a first defined portion of said area of the earth's surface, each pixel having a value;
• processing said first image to produce a second image of at least a portion of said area that has a second resolution that is lower than said first resolution that pixel in said second image is representative of a second defined portion of said are of the earth's surface that is greater than said first defined portion.

A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to create a satellite image, by:

• aggregating a first plurality of raw data pixel values captured from outer space to create a first combined pixel value;
• and
• aggregating a second plurality of raw data pixel values captured from outer space to create a second combined pixel value.

A computer readable medium containing a data structure for representing a satellite image captured in outer space comprising:

• a raw data table containing an entry for each of a plurality of raw data pixel values captured from outer space;
• and
• a combined data table containing an entry for each of a plurality of combined pixel values, wherein each of the combined pixel values was calculated by aggregating a subset of the plurality of the raw data pixel values of the raw data table.

A computer data signal embodied in a transmission medium comprising a plurality of combined pixel values that were calculated by aggregating a plurality of raw data pixel values captured in outer space.

A satellite image comprising a plurality of pixels captured from outer space through a red edge band spectral filter.

A method for determining the health of a crop comprising:

• comparing a first data set and a second data set, said first data set being derived from a first image taken from a first satellite of an area of the Earth's surface through a first red band spectral filter at a first time, said second data set being derived from a second image taken from a second satellite of said area through a second red band spectral filter at a second time distinct from said first time;
• comparing a third data set and a fourth data set, said third data set being derived from a third image taken from said first satellite of said area through a first red edge band spectral filter at said first time, said fourth data set being derived from a fourth image taken from said second satellite of said area through a second red edge band spectral filter at said second time;
• determining a change in chlorophyll presence in said area from said first time to said second time.

A satellite comprising:

• a remote sensor having a red spectral band filter and a red edge band spectral filter, said remote sensing device being adapted to capture a first image through said red band spectral filter and a second image through said red edge band spectral filter;
• a processor adapted to convert said first image into a first data set and said second image into a second data set.

A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer to determine a change in chlorophyll level, by:

• comparing a first data set and a second data set, said first data set and said second data set being derived from a first image and a second image respectively, said first and second images being taken from outer space of an area of the Earth's surface through a first red band spectral filter at a first time and a second time, respectively;
• comparing a third data set and a fourth data set, said third data set and said fourth data set being derived from said first image and said second image respectively;
• determining a change in chlorophyll presence in said area from said first time to said second time.

A computer signal embodied in a transmission medium comprising a change in chlorophyll presence calculated by:

• comparing a first data set and a second data set, said first data set and said second data set being derived from a first image and a second image respectively, said first and second images being taken from outer space of an area of the Earth's surface through a first red band spectral filter at a first time and a second time, respectively;
• comparing a third data set and a fourth data set, said third data set and said fourth data set being derived from said first image and said second image respectively;
• determining a change in chlorophyll presence in said area from said first time to said second time.