Background

The Japanese government has put forth its "Space Industry Vision 2030" in hopes of expanding applicability beyond the space equipment industry to other relevant industries as well, with the aim of fast-paced doubling of the overall space industry's size by 2030. These endeavors have given rise to Japan's first satellite data platform, Tellus, which was developed for industrial applications. The platform is designed to facilitate easy use of satellite data—which, traditionally, has been largely inaccessible to most—by private-sector companies, universities, research institutions and other organizations, and even individuals. Tellus supports the creation of a wide variety of different business types in multiple fields that make use of more free and open space-based data.

The Tellus Satellite Challenge is a data analysis contest, designed to achieve understandable visual representations of satellite data usage examples, discover exceptional human resources in the area of analysis, promote greater awareness and understanding regarding satellite data types and formats, and achieve other such ends with the goal of promoting widespread utilization of the Tellus platform. The theme of the first contest is detection of landslides using synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) data.

Recent years have seen increasing natural-disaster risk in Japan, meaning it has become extremely important to rapidly identify landslides caused by earthquakes in order to facilitate rescue operations. Toward these ends, observation satellites are being used for monitoring during periods of emergency, and even though specialists with highly developed skills are employed to analyze collected observation data and identify landslides, this process has proven to be very difficult. That is why we are challenging contestants to develop algorithms that will enable higher-precision identification of landslide-affected areas using satellite image data.

The data to be used for the contest is observation data, provided by JAXA, from Advanced Land Observing Satellite 2 (ALOS-2), also known as Daichi-2, taken with onboard PALSAR-2 radar equipment both before and after the main shock and most of the large aftershocks of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. The PALSAR-2 acquires information, using SAR sensors, by emitting radio waves and receiving them again after they reflect off the earth's surface. SAR technology provides the advantage of being usable for observation at any time of day, regardless of weather. Click here for further details.

Explanation of Contestant Task

Contestants will use patch image data divided into 100-meter grids, taken using a PALSAR-2 in the Kumamoto region, to determine whether or not observed areas show landslides.
(For reference purposes, data from the US optical-observation satellite Landsat 8 will also be provided. However, contestants are prohibited from using algorithms that require the input of Landsat 8 data.)

Explanation of Data

PALSAR-2 (provided by JAXA)

    40 × 40 px grayscale patch image

    GSD: 2.5 m

    Learning-use data: 247,971 images
    (pre-main-shock images from Mar 7, 2016, and post-main-shock images from May 16, 2016)
        Positives: 1,530 images
        Negatives: 246,441 images

    Evaluation-use data: 133,520 images
    (pre-main-shock images from Mar 7, 2016, and post-main-shock images from May 16, 2016)

Landsat 8

    4 × 4 px color patch images

    GSD: 30 m

    Data: 247,971 images (pre-main-shock images from May 21, 2015, and post-main-shock images from May 23, 2016)

Prize Amounts

1st prize: ¥1,000,000

2nd prize: ¥600,000

3rd prize: ¥400,000

Evaluation Function

Accuracy evaluation will be carried out using the Intersection over Union (IoU) method, as described below.

This function measures the degree of prediction accuracy in the model, so the higher the number, the better the result.

Scoring and Ranking of Contestants

1. Provisional contestant scorings will be determined based on evaluation of select evaluation-use data sets and carried out up until the contest's final day. Final scorings will be determined after the contest has ended, using the remaining evaluation-use data sets. (The leaderboard display will automatically change from running scores to final evaluation scores once the contest has ended, and final contestant rankings will be shown at this time. There may be large differences between in-contest running results and post-contest final rankings.)

2. Regarding evaluation-based rankings, the contestant who applied first for participation in the contest will be ranked higher in the case of an identical (tied) score.

3. The following are required to carry out contestant ranking (for winners only):
    ・Prediction model source code
    ・Learning-complete model
    ・Procedure description document enabling reproduction of the prediction process (must clearly explain preprocessing, learning, and prediction processes)
    ・Computer/equipment operating environment information, including OS version, software utilized and analysis methods
    ・Random number seed (if Random Forest or similar was used to generate random numbers)
    ・Degree of prediction model contribution for all explanatory variables (when using a method that enables calculation of degree of prediction)
    ・Insights gained through data interpretation, manipulation and modeling

4. During the reproducibility evaluation period, the contestant will be disqualified from award eligibility in any of the following cases:
    ・The contestant does not respond within the specified timeframe to contact from, or a request/demand from, the contest administrative office regarding contest-related procedures
    ・The contestant fails to adhere to participant requirements, rules, etc.
    ・The model's prediction results cannot be reproduced
    ・The contestant's approach cannot be used for prediction with new images

Contestant Attitude

・We ask that all contestants strive to achieve practical, useful approaches with top priority placed on achieving corporate goals, helping to solve social problems, sharing research results with the public, and other overarching goals.

System Usage

・Each person is limited to one account only. However, team-based participation is allowed as long as the one-account rule is followed. When participating as a team rather than as an individual, the following procedures are required:
       1. Registration with SIGNATE for all team members
       2. Submission, via contact form, of the team representative's e-mail address as well as the e-mail addresses of all other team members

Handling of Contest-related Information

・Sharing of prediction-related data and source codes with other contestants is prohibited.

Data Usage

・Submission of manually labeled result data is prohibited.
・Contestants are prohibited from using algorithms that require the input of or use Landsat 8 data.
・Rewriting of learning data labels and then using said data for model learning is prohibited. However, automated data augmentation via learning-use image data processing for use as learning data is allowed.
・Model learning using any data aside from that distributed to contestants is prohibited.
・Use of Google Cloud Vision API and other such APIs is prohibited. However, use of open-source learning-complete models, libraries and similar is allowed (source code publicly open and available to anyone, and not designed for commercial use; e.g., Tensorflow, Chainer, Keras, etc.). When using a learning-complete model, clearly cite the source using a hyperlink to relevant documentation or similar. 

Implementation Method

・Learning tools for models are limited to open-source, free tools (Python, R, etc.).
・Divide source code in three parts as shown below (preprocessing, learning and prediction), and carry out implementation for each.
        1. Preprocessing
            Module that reads supplied data, carries out preprocessing, and outputs each file in a format that can be input into the model. Divide into files for learning and files for evaluation ("get_train_data" and "get_test_data" or similar), and define a function for preprocessing.
        2. Learning
            Module that reads files created in step 1 to enable model learning. Define a function that can output the learning-complete model, feature quantity importance level and cross validation assessment results.
        3. Prediction
            Module that reads the test data created in step 1 and model created in step 2 and outputs prediction results in file format.

Contest sponsor:

Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

Support:

SAKURA Internet Inc.

Present:

Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency

【Additional Notes】
Use of ALOS-2 data:
When using ALOS-2 data, contestants must understand and adhere to the following.
(1) Regarding ALOS-2 data received from SIGNATE Inc., the intellectual property rights and all other rights for this data belong to the Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA).
(2) Neither SIGNATE Inc. nor JAXA provides any guarantee regarding the quality of data supplied for this competition, and neither organization will take responsibility for results stemming from ALOS-2 data usage or for any damages incurred through use of said data.

【Matters to be updated】
(The provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 3 [Reward and Vesting of Rights] of the Terms below shall be amended as follows [including the surviving provisions].):
1. Unless otherwise provided for, any Participant shall satisfy the following requirements in order to be entitled to receive a reward in any Competition that offers a reward:
(1) To be a winner;
(2) To grant to the Host and its supporting companies (hereinafter referred to as the “Licensees”) a non-exclusive license without restriction as to term and territory and free of charge to use all rights necessary for modifying the Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment for commercial or non-commercial purposes;
(3) To grant to the Licensees a non-exclusive license without restriction as to term and territory and free of charge to use all rights necessary for publishing and use, the Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment and the Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment as modified on the satellite data platform “Tellus” to be started to be provided in future (hereinafter referred to as “Tellus”) for commercial or non-commercial purposes, and for granting a sublicense to any contractor for the operation of Tellus and user of Tellus (together with the rights as prescribed in the preceding item, hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Rights”);
(4) To agree not to exercise moral rights to the Rights against the Licensees and their sub-licensees;
(5) To enter into agreements for the grant of license of the Rights with the Licensees including the consent to the preceding three (3) items and any other reasonable provisions;
(6) If the Host or any supporting company desires to receive an exclusive license or transfer of the rights contained in the Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment, to accept the consultation about the agreement on such license or transfer;
(7) To have the personal identity of such Participant verified by the Company; and
(8) Not to breach any provision of these Terms and the Terms of Use.

(The provisions of Article 4 [Confidentiality] of the Terms below shall be amended as follows [including the surviving provisions].):
1. Any Participant shall treat any information and data that they receive from the Company in relation to each Competition (hereinafter referred to as the “Company-Provided Information”) as confidential information and shall not disclose the same to any third party and use the same for any purpose other than for such Competition and purpose specified by the Company separately; provided, however, that the confidential information shall not include any information that falls under any of the following items:
(1) Information that is known to the public at the time of the disclosure;
(2) Information that is already possessed by the Participant at the time of the disclosure (only in the case where such Participant may demonstrate such fact by reasonable means);
(3) Information that becomes known to the public without the fault of the Participant after the disclosure;
(4) Information that is independently developed by the Participant without reference to any information as disclosed; or
(5) Information that is rightfully disclosed by any third party having a right to do so without the obligations of confidentiality (only in the case where such Participant may demonstrate such fact by reasonable means).
2. Any Participant shall delete or return to the Company the Company-Provided Information immediately after the completion of each Competition.
3. If there is any separate arrangement in relation to the confidential information in each Competition, the provisions of such arrangement shall prevail over the provisions of these Terms.
4. If any dispute occurs between the Host or other third party and the Company due to the breach by any Participant of the provisions of this Article and such other party makes any claim against the Company, such Participant shall compensate for any damage, loss, expenses (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees), lost profits and lost revenues, etc. incurred by the Company.
5. The provisions of this Article shall survive the termination of the relevant Competition or the Participant’s completion of the procedures for withdrawal from the service of the Company, with respect to the Company-Provided Information and the Winner’s Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment for a period of five (5) years thereafter.