README

Installation | The TerraLook Project | License | Known Issues

Version 1.1: April, 2008

INSTALLATION

This application is designed to run on Windows systems, and has been tested on Windows XP and Windows 2000. A 300 Mhz Pentium or faster system is recommended with at least 512MB of memory, though it will run on slower systems (just…slower).

To install, run the executable file (see below) and follow the instructions. Any previous installation MUST be uninstalled first.

The program can be completely uninstalled using Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs.

Double-click on the installer you downloaded and it will take you through the set-up process

WHERE TO GET IMAGES

Currently, there are two websites where appropriate images can be obtained.

http://terralook.cr.usgs.gov  explains how to create new collections.  These collections allow the user to select scenes from the massive USGS EROS data archive.

http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/terralook provides an archive of many existing collections.  These are generally divided up into countries, with full country coverage.

GETTING STARTED

The Help menu item in the program contains a QuickStart Section.

THE TerraLook PROJECT

TerraLook provides access to satellite images for users that lack prior experience with remote sensing or Geographic Information System (GIS) technology.  It does this by combining collections of images on user-defined themes with a set of simple visualization and analysis tools, allowing the user to explore the data and employ it for useful purposes.  The images include recent high-resolution ones plus those from several historical periods going back to the early '70s to support change analysis.  Simplicity is an overarching principle.  TerraLook was designed to overcome the obstacles that limit access to data by user communities that lack sophisticated tools and skills.

TerraLook is of use to a wide variety of disciplines including conservation, development planning, education, urban studies, disaster planning and response, and others.  It is of particular use in developing countries that may have less capacity to purchase or work with remote sensing data.

Need.  Remote sensing is underutilized in many disciplines, particularly in developing countries.  Providing a simple collection of satellite images, accessible by clicking on a map, and manipulated with simple tools friendly to non-experts, will help make the benefits of remote sensing available to a much wider audience.

Training.  TerraLook is particularly useful for training because of its accessibility and simplicity.  Because each collection can cover areas of interest to all participants, each trainee can find the particular area where they work.  This sparks interest, and may be the first time for many of them to see and explore such an image.  And they can then take the disk with them so they have it available in their office, providing an easy path to begin using remote sensing data in their routine activities.

Broader Applications.  Such a disk also provides a starting point for further work in the area of developing simple, intuitive techniques and tools that can make remote sensing more accessible.  These techniques and tools would be of use to all user communities lacking easy access to the technology and data. 

This release of the TerraLook Viewer/Toolkit supports:

Note that work on Version 2.0 is underway and will provide a greatly improved look and feel, a result of an updated GUI library.