IEEE Launches JSTARS, A Journal of Earth Observation Applications

By , posted on November 1st, 2007 in ICEO/GEO/GEOSS

The ‘IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing’ (JSTARS) is a new quarterly publication jointly sponsored by the Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) and the IEEE Committee on Earth Observations (ICEO).

The new Journal reflects the growing interest in application themes in the annual IEEE conferences as well as the increasing involvement of GRSS in the ICEO. A new journal was envisaged as a communication and outreach medium for these applications themes.

The ICEO is a committee of the Technical Activities Board of IEEE (TAB). The ICEO includes the interests of several IEEE committees and councils, and members have taken leadership roles in activities of the Global Earth Observations System of Systems (GEOSS). A new journal has been part of the development plan of ICEO from its inception. A partnership between GRSS and ICEO on developing the new journal has been an obvious opportunity and, from the beginning, both groups have collaborated on the planning for the new cosponsored journal. It will be a venue for peer reviewed papers on a variety of application themes in earth observations and remote sensing of relevance to the membership of both groups.

In addition, GRSS has seen the publication of the Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing increase to 3736 pages and 343 articles in 2006. Many papers are part of special issues that result from GRSS sponsored or cosponsored symposia and workshops and similar initiatives. The increasing demand for special issues (seven printed and planned for 2007) will soon strain the editorial and review process. Some special issue topics, particularly those that fall in the applications area, will now be published by the new JSTARS to ease this load.

We welcome individual articles and proposals for theme issues or special issues on topics relevant to JSTARS.

In developing the scope of the journal the initiatives of the ICEO have been reviewed and a survey of the GRSS membership and interested parties has been conducted. The following defines the range of issues appropriate for JSTARS: “Papers should address current issues and techniques in applied remote and in situ sensing, their integration, and applied modeling and information creation for understanding the Earth. Applications are for the Earth, oceans and atmosphere.

Topics can include observations, derived information such as forecast data, simulated information, data assimilation and Earth information techniques to address science and engineering issues of the Earth system. The technical content of papers must be both new and significant.”

The first volume of JSTARS will appear in 2008. The first issue will be on “Earth Observations and Renewable Wind Energy”. The Guest Editors are Ellsworth LeDrew, Lixin Wu, Mark Ahlstrom, and Thierry Ranchin. The following issues are also planned for 2008:

  1. “Special Issue on Remote Sensing of Human Settlements: Status and Challenges”. The Guest Editors are Paolo Gamba, Florence Tupin and Qihao Weng.
  2. ” Special Issue on Wildland Fires and Biomass Burning”. The Guest Editors are Emilio Chuvieco, Chris Justice, and Ioannis Gitas.

As an awareness promotion, subscription to JSTARS for the first year (2008) as a digital product is free for every member of GRSS and every member of one of the IEEE Societies and Councils of ICEO. Initially, paper submission will be handled through the TGRS Manuscript Central site (http://mc.manuscriptcentral. com/tgrs) while the dedicated JSTARS site is being built. The work flow for submission and review will be the same as that for TGRS and the site is expected to be online shortly.

We welcome individual articles and proposals for theme issues or special issues on topics relevant to JSTARS. Further information and guidance is available by contacting either the Editor-in-Chief or the Deputy Editor-in-Chief. We look forward to collaborating with the membership on an important and exciting new chapter in the evolution of both the GRSS and ICEO.

Editor-in-Chief:
Dr. Ellsworth LeDrew, FIEEE, FCASI
Faculty of Environmental Studies,
University of Waterloo,
Ontario, Canada
ells@watleo.uwaterloo.ca

Deputy Editor-in-Chief:
Dr. Kun-Shan Chen, FIEEE
Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research
National Central University
Chung-Li, Taiwan, Republic of China
dkschen@csrsr.ncu.edu.tw


One Response to “IEEE Launches JSTARS, A Journal of Earth Observation Applications”

  1. Peter C. Chu, July 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    I presented an application paper entitled “Statistical Characteristics of the Global Ocean Surface Circulations from Satellite Altimetry” at the IGARSS08 in Boston two weeks ago. I would like to know if is paper fits the scope of JSTARS. Thanks.

    Best regards,

    Peter

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