ASTER User's Guide - Aster - NASA

ASTER Users Handbook
ASTER provides data at 3 different spatial resolutions (pixel sizes). The resolutions are 15 m, 30
m and 90 m for the visible-near-infrared, shortwave infrared and thermal infrared respectively.
For more information check the ASTER web page (http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/).
Is there an index map of all the ASTER images that are available?
There are some on-line tools that you can use to find the breadth of ASTER coverage.
The ASTER DAR (Data Acquisition Request) Tool at http://e0ins02u.ecs.nasa.gov:10400/
allows one to run a search for an area of interest to see if images have been collected. There is a
map that will show the footprints of each image and the outline of the area of interest. The DAR
Tool also shows the time frame in which scenes are scheduled to be acquired. Please read the
Getting Started and Limitations Documents before launching the tool.
Another tool you can use is available from the ASTER GDS (Ground Data System) site at
http://imsweb.aster.ersdac.or.jp/ims/cgi-bin/dprSearchMapByMenu.pl
Here, you will also need to enter your area of interest (or do a global search) to find images that
have been acquired. There is a map that shows coverage, and there also are browse images.
The most conclusive results can be derived by searching the EOS Data Gateway (EDG) at
http://edcimswww.cr.usgs.gov/pub/imswelcome/
You can search for all the archived and available images from the EROS Data Center’s LP-
DAAC archives. There is no end-to-end coverage map but the EDG will return a footprint of
your search results. Individual browse images are available for most of the acquired scenes.
Individual footprints of selected granules are also returned upon querying. Please read the
tutorial for more information (http://edcdaac.usgs.gov/tutorial/)
13.2 ASTER Instrument
Where do I find information about the ASTER instrument characteristics, e.g. the signal to
noise?
The ASTER instrument characteristics including the signal to noise are given on the ASTER
webpage under instrument.
13.3 ASTER Level-1 Data
What is an ASTER Level-1A dataset?
An ASTER Level-1A dataset contains reconstructed, unprocessed instrument digital data derived
from the telemetry streams of the 3 telescopes: Visible Near Infrared (VNIR), Shortwave
Infrared (SWIR), & Thermal Infrared (TIR). Data derived from each of these telescopes or
sensors are at three different ground resolutions: VNIR at 15 m, SWIR at 30 m, and TIR at 90 m.
These depacketized, demultiplexed, and realigned instrument image data have their geometric
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