WASTAC

WASTAC is a consortium of state and federal departments and universities whose main objectives are to maintain a reliable, comprehensive and accessible archive of NOAA-AVHRR MODIS and SeaWiFS satellite data. They also run seminars_and_workshops to broaden public awareness of the available data sets and applications. Annual reports are available and a complete history of WASTAC has been compiled.

Organisations involved:

• Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology
• Landgate's - Satellite Remote Sensing Services
• Curtin University of Technology's - Remote Sensing and Satellite Research Group
• CSIRO Space Sciences and Technology
• Murdoch University
• Geoscience Australia

Original WASTAC L-band receiving dish at Curtin University of Technology, Bentley.

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Facilities:
There is one receiver: an L and X-band receiver at Murdoch University, Murdoch. A microwave link exists between the various WASTAC members. The table below contains a link to the current schedule of images for the receiving station.

Site	Bands	Satellites Received
Murdoch University	X & L	Terra, Aqua, FY3-B, Metop-2, NPP, NOAA 15, 18 & 19

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Archive:
The NOAA-AVHRR raw data (dating back to 1981) is stored on 8mm and 4mm cartridge tapes. Subsampled colour and grey scale pictures (digital) are produced at the Satellite Remote Sensing Services branch of Landgate. The NOAA-AVHRR digital quicklook archive, MODIS digital quicklook archive and the SeaWiFS digital quicklook archive are readily accessible. For further information regarding purchase of NOAA-AVHRR and MODIS data, please contact WASTAC

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Future of WASTAC:
In 2016, WASTAC commissioned an independent study to develop options for the long-term siting of ground station facilities so that WASTAC is able to continue to meet user needs as part of a national ground station network, and as a basis for future investment.

The report examined the policy drivers supporting improvements to a national strategic earth observation supply chain network and the development of siting options for the expansion of ground station reception facilities in Western Australia. Three sites warranted detailed examination. The recommended site preferences are: (1) Bureau of Meteorology facility at Learmonth Airport and (1) Yarragadee Geodetic Observatory for equal site preference, followed by the CSIRO Australian Academic and Research Network fibre repeater at Mullewa.

A copy of the report can be found here: Siting Study 2016

For more information contact:
WASTAC
Satellite Remote Sensing Services, Landgate
Tel. +(61) 8 9387 0330