The GEMS Project, Geological Mapping of Sensitive Environments in Yemen, Tunisia, Lebanon, and France. An interim report illustrated on the French tidal flats

After the launch of ALOS in January 2006, the first data acquired in the frame of the GEMS Project, pilot project of ALOS Data European Node (ADEN) have been delivered in mid-2007 only. Mainly ALOS PALSAR data are concerned. Some optical data are more difficult to obtain, particularly with the optical sensors AVNIR-2 and PRISM onboard ALOS. SAR data from the ESA's sensors ASAR and ERS have been also ordered and received. The scientific teams are working on each site. Some theses are in progress. In 2006 and 2007, Lebanon and Yemen test sites have been difficult to investigate in the field due to internal difficulties. Two sites have been preferentially studied during the first months of the project, namely the French tidal flats and the rocky desert of Yemen. Tunisia and Lebanon test sites are expected to be revisited in 2008.