Harbour pattern of life analysis with time series of medium resolution satellite images

Medium optical resolution satellite imagery time series (SITS) are coming wider available with the free access to actual and archived Landsat and Sentinel imagery. Based on these observations relatively high frequency time series can be composed for the monitoring of processes and activities on earth. In the near future the density of these time series will extend with the launch of large satellite constellations, like from Planet, Blacksky and UrtheCast. A methodology was developed and demonstrated to use a time series of DMC images from the Rotterdam harbour area to determine the temporal characteristics and anomalies for ship activity in harbour sections with different type of goods. To this end a prototype image processing workflow was realised and integrated into and Erdas Imagine environment. Based on the results obtained activities on further operationalisation and extension to other types of features will be undertaken.