Islamsat: A Technologically Advanced System For Efficient Charting Of Natural Resources

Abstract

The landmasses encompassing the Muslim World have vast resources contained in every conceivable type of terrain, from forested mountains toplains and deserts. These landmasses enclose such valuable resources as fertilesoil and minerals and oil. Islamic countries also encompass numerous water bodies of lakes and rivers. However, except in a few cases, most of these resources have not been efficiently utilized.The scarcity or lack of basic data have hampered the effective utilization of these resources. First and foremost, accurate topographic maps and detailed photographs are required to survey, assess and develop these resources. Conventional methods ofphoto acquisition and map making are no longer viable because ofthe time and expense they require to do the job.In the meantime, space-age techniques offer new ways to reduce the time,cost and expertise that are required for the efficient charting of natural resources.It is here proposed that Islamic countries join together to initiate a plan to launch a resourcesurvey satellite withinfive years. The satellite here namedIslamsat is to obtain high resolution, stereo, mapping quality photographsfrom space. The most suitable photographic systems for such a satellite are:(I) a high resolution panoramic camera; (2) a topographic quality mapping camera; and (3) a six-lens multispectral camera. Such a complement of photographic systems can either be mounted on the Space Shuttle cargo bay or launched by the Shuttle as afree-flying satellite, withfilm return capability.The use of such technologically advanced methods and techniques assures the acquisition of the necessary data for development of the resources of Islamic countries in a timely and cost-effective manner.