Usability of COPERNICUS Data in Remote Sensing Application

Copernicus is a European Union Programme that was designed to provide service in delivering free and openly accessible data about Earth surface through satellite and in-situ observations. Copernicus provides images of a set of the Sentinel families and contributing missions. Copernicus also collects and provides information from the ground (in-situ data). Copernicus services are available worldwide today. Although the images of the satellite system are characterized by rough resolution (which limits the application of more precise analysis), they can be a good source of information and data that may provide a better observation of certain objects or phenomena of interest on the scene to experts and help them in decision making. This paper presents the analysis of the possibility to use satellite images of Sentinel system. The results of Sentinel system image analysis have been compared with the analysis results and processing of Landsat satellite images (that are also public and free). The information and data obtained as the results of interpretation and processing of Sentinel and Landsat satellite systems images can be used by experts in various fields of human activity as a support in making decision. The fields of human activity covered by the research presented in this paper are the following: forestry and agronomy ; humanitarian demining ; monitoring of natural and man-made disasters (floods, fires, environmental pollution). The results obtained by means of interpretation and processing of Sentinel and Landsat satellite images have been analysed and interpreted. The interpretation of the results has been made visually, statistically and then presented by means of confusion matrix. Some channels (images) of the Sentinel 2 satellite system have better surface resolution than all multispectral channels of the Landsat satellite system. However, the channels of Landsat satellite system have better surface resolution than some channels of the Sentinel 2 satellite system. In both cases, it is the surface resolution of 10 m and higher. Hence, it will not be possible to identify certain objects and phenomena of interest on the scene, but only to detect them with a certain level of confidence. Due to the mentioned fact, the processing has also been made that included the channels of both systems. The bands have been also mutually sharpened. Further research is planned to be carried out within the scope of future concrete project tasks in order to define the procedures more thoroughly that are intended for solving specific problems based on the conclusion obtained from performed research.