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RADARSAT emergency response subscription service
Communications - Product and Services Bulletin
FOR RELEASE:
March 4, 1998
Effective immediately, RADARSAT International (RSI) offers an innovative new service for clients who require dependable delivery of time-sensitive geographic information to manage catastrophic natural disasters and other emergencies. RADARSAT’s ability to acquire imagery regardless of prevailing weather conditions and flexible imaging modes, makes it the sensor of choice for emergency response. The RADARSAT Emergency Response Subscription Service (RERSS) provides flexible, cost-effective image acquisition and near-real time delivery of RADARSAT data and derived products.
This new service is an enhancement to RSI’s existing Urgent programming, Near-Real Time (NRT) reception and processing, and fast delivery service of RADARSAT data. The RERSS provides operational training, development of operational scenarios and response plans, an operational simulation, flexible data volumes and optional value-added services, all at substantial price advantages compared to purchasing the data and services individually.
Minimum Order Size
Clients commit to an annual service fee starting at US $25,000. This annual fee includes on-site training, scenario and response plan development, a simulation, and three RADARSAT scenes (one data block).
Applicable Beam Modes
The RERSS is available for all operational RADARSAT beam modes. The choice of beam mode is a function of the application and the viewing geometry over the client’s area of interest. In order to meet the requested delivery dates, only Path Image processing is available.
Pricing Structure
The RERSS is portrayed in Figure 1. Payment for the subscription service is due upon signing of the annual contract. Additional data blocks (3 scenes) can be purchased at any time and taken delivery of at the client’s request prior to the expiry of the 12-month subscription. The client will be invoiced for the additional data blocks when the data block order is initially placed. Regular RSI payment terms and conditions apply in all cases.
Figure 1: RSI’s flexible RADARSAT Emergency Response Subscription Service (RERSS) is designed to be cost-effective and tailored to meet the client’s needs
The RADARSAT Emergency Response Subscription Service (RERSS) is offered in a three-tiered pricing structure:
i) a subscription service comprising operational training, development of operational scenarios and response plans, an annual simulation and one free data block
ii) options to pre-purchase additional data blocks, consisting of:
- three scenes, any RADARSAT beam mode
- programming lead time of 24 to 48 hours, dependent on the geographic location of the emergency and satellite orbital cycle
- delivery within hours of data reception (actual delivery timelines will be developed and committed to as part of the basic subscription service)
- pre-booking of all available image acquisitions over the client’s area of interest for the next 7 days (note: actual acquisition will only occur upon positive confirmation from an RSI Client Services representative)
iii) custom options addressing such diverse topics as value-added product generation and equipment purchase. These options are available on a quotation basis.
A sample price comparison follows (all prices are in US $):
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
RERSS
REGULAR LIST PRICE
Notes:
1 labour and non-labour prices for a one-week site visit, including training and consultation to develop plans and conduct an operational simulation
2 assumes list prices for RADARSAT Fine beam mode imagery, Urgent programming and Near-Real Time processing and electronic delivery
3 client can purchase an additional data block if subscribing to annual service
The superior service offered by the RERSS is available at a significantly reduced rate, when compared to the regular list price of the equivalent items purchased individually (23% savings in the example above).
Pricing Incentives
The client is able to tailor a cost-effective RADARSAT Emergency Response Subscription Service (RERSS) package from a baseline subscription service, a discounted data purchase plan and a range of value-added service options. Pricing incentives are based on pre-payment for the RERSS and anticipated number of images. If the twelve-month data acquisition window associated with the subscription service is about to expire, the client will be contacted by RSI to arrange delivery of the imagery i.e., the data pre-payment investment will be honoured. The total price for the tailored service is significantly less than if the client were to require the same services and data with RSI’s existing list prices.
Client Deliverables
Imagery delivery takes two forms:
i. a series of smaller files (TIFFs) showing overviews of the full scene and higher resolution sub-images over areas of interest tailored to the client’s needs as identified during the on-site consultative visit
ii. full resolution imagery by courier
Notes:
If the client has a suitable telecommunications infrastructure, RSI can arrange for electronic delivery of full resolution imagery via a DirecPCTM system.
RSI is committed to ensuring that data ordering, processing and delivery mechanisms are optimized to reliably provide time-sensitive, critical information in times of urgent need.
Additional value-added services are available on a contract basis. RSI provides quotations for services such as base mapping, digital elevation model generation, image interpretation for oil spill mapping, spill drift model calculations, damage assessment and the generation of other value-added products and services. Exact services required are determined during the on-site consultation.
Areas of Geographical Coverage
The RERSS is available for areas where RADARSAT’s on-board tape recorder (OBR) is utilized, or within the masks of participating network stations.
Suggested Applications
Damage assessment and remediation applicable to a broad class of natural or man-made disasters including:
- Flooding
- Marine oil spills
- Typhoons and hurricanes
- Landslides and other natural disasters
- National emergencies
- Insurance assessments
- Emergency response planning
- Rescue operations
- Threats to national security/sovereignty
(All prices quoted are US $)
EXAMPLE
An RSI analyst visits the client to consult with him in detail regarding his needs, provide training and develop operational response plans. The on-site visit concludes with participants engaging in a full end-to-end simulation of ordering, taking delivery of imagery, data ingest and interpretation. The client is now fully capable of managing his own RERSS disaster plans. The client is satisfied with the initial block of imagery received ($25,000), and additional imagery is not ordered at this time.
(Subscription Fee $25,000, 3 images included in subscription)
The hurricane is closer than expected and is beginning to cause damage. Two additional blocks of RADARSAT data are ordered ($30,000).
The hurricane hits the island causing significant damage. The client orders two additional image acquisitions (no charge). The pre-and post-hurricane data is used to identify and map damage to the environment, homes and businesses caused by flooding and wind. Emergency response measures are implemented based on the RERSS provided information.
(Cumulative Cost $55,000, 5 images remaining)
(Cumulative Cost $55,000, 3 images remaining)
(Cumulative Cost $55,000, 0 images remaining)
The client renews his RERSS contract and orders three data blocks, for a total of four blocks.
(Cumulative Cost $45,000, 9 images remaining)
A summary of the activities, imagery ordered, and various costs is included in Table 1.
Table 1: Summary of Activities, Imagery Ordered and Costs associated with the RERSS (prices are in US $).
MONTH
ACTIVITY
COST
BALANCE OF IMAGES
For more information or quotes on the RADARSAT Emergency Response Subscription Service, please contact your RSI Sales Director, Client Services representative or local distributor.
