Earth Observation, the Environment, Space, and Remote Sensing Law in the Pacific Rim: Yan Ling

June 18, 2010 at 2:05 am | Posted in Blogcast, Space Law | Leave a comment

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

Prof. Yan Ling, Faculty of International Law, China University of Political Science and the Law, started the afternoon presentations with “Remote Sensing Data Distribution and Application to Environmental Planning and Protection in China.” Ling started with an overview of remote sensing activities in China. These activities include earth resources satellites (such as the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellites (CBERS)), meteorological satellites (such as the Fengyun Series), oceanic satellites (such as the Haiyang Series), and environmental satellites (such as the Disaster monitoring Constellation).

She stated that there was no unified policy for the distribution of remote sensing data in China. She noted that there was a policy for CBERS data, which can be found in the Administrative Regulation on CBERS Domestic Data of November 15, 2007. She said this regulation covers acquisition, storage, and distribution. The Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application (CRESDA) is responsible for acquisition, storage, and distribution of CBERS data. Users who want access to this data must register with CRESDA, keep data properly, keep data confidential, and report application results. Distribution of this data to overseas users is by license agreements. She said that China and Brazil can agree to distribute the data cost free to certain users and that it can also be distributed to disaster affected countries.

She said that the was no comprehensive law governing space activities or data distribution. However, China is a party to the Outer Space Treaty which does create certain rights and obligations with which hina must comply. Additionally the Principles on Remote Sensing serve as valuable guidelines for China. She stated that there were administrative regulation on the licensing and registration of space objects, but that these were insufficient to govern data distribution. She suggested that China establish a general policy for dissemination of data which requires government maintenance of a national archive, encourages private sector development of a market for remote sensing data and products; requires government requests for data get priority, addresses security measures including permits for distribution of sensitive data, and requires that data be distributed at a reasonable cost.