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CONTENTSReport of 1993 CEOS Plenary
CEOS/IGBP-DIS Pilot Project on Data Exchange
High Resolution Data Coverage for CEOS/IGBP-DIS Pilot Project
CEOS Working Group on Data (WGD)
CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation (WGCV)---This page
Introduction of CEOS Community Locator System (CCLS)
Report of 1993 CEOS Plenary (continued from page 1)
Requirements for Participation in CEOS
News Highlights
1994 CEOS Meeting Calendar
CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation (WGCV)
Susan M. Till
Director, Data Acquisition Division,
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
The CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation was established in 1984, and has developed into a permanent Working Group of the CEOS under the chairmanship of the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (S.M.Till). Its membership has steadily grown to include new members, observers and affiliates of CEOS.
- The objectives of the Working Group are to enhance coordination and
complementarity, to promote international cooperation and to focus activities
in the calibration and validation of earth observations for the benefit
of CEOS members and the international user community. Work to meet these
objectives includes the promotion of exchange of technical information
and documentation, investigation of possibilities for technical coordination
and cooperation for space and ground segments, coordination of calibration
and validation campaigns and programs, and optimising and sharing of available
facilities, expertise and resources as appropriate.
There were major activities in 1993 related to information exchange, development of common terminology, production of a pilot calibration/validation dossier, and specification of ground test sites. Some of the highlights are as follows:
The Seventh Meeting of the Working Group was held in June, 1993, hosted by the Joint Research Centre,Ispra, Commission of the European Communities. At the meeting, there were specialist presentation from NASDA on the JERS-1 mission and its calibration and validation, and from CNES on Topex/Poseidon. The second issue (with results of current campaigns and reports from members), and work continued on standardizing the definitions of terms used in calibration and validation. Substantial progress was also made in the definition of a CEOS Dossier on Calibration and Validation (a pilot version has since been produced), and in the survey and definition of ground test sites for multi-agency use.
In addition, the Working Group has established subgroups to perform detailed technical work in specific areas. There are currently four subgroups, which meet regularly.
The SAR Calibration Sub-group, charied by JPL/NASA, USA, addresses synthetic aperture radar issues through technical working groups, workshops and special journal issues. A four day workshop was held in September, 1993, and combined technical presentations with working sessions on methods, definitions and parameters related to SAR radiometry, geometry and interferometry.
The Subgroup on Infrared and Visible Optical Sensors was set up in 1992, and is chaired by I. Barton, CSIRO, Australia. It has held working meetings, and has two major activities underway, one related to test sites for infrared and visible sensors, and one related to on-board calibration and diffuser intercalibration. The subgroup is undertaking a number of surveys, to document long-term sites for calibration and validation, to document on-board calibration systems and to document ground calibration facilities and laboratories.
The Subgroup on Terrain Mapping is chaired by I.Dowman on behalf of BNSC, UK. It has met several times, with technical presentations and discussion groups, and is considering user requirements and available technologies. It ts cataloguing information on test sites, by means of a site survey form, and is assembling data sets of the test sites which would be used to validate Digital Elevation Models.
The fourth subgroup on Passive Microwave has been established recently as a WGCV activity, and is chaired by NASA, USA. It has held a preliminary meeting with presentations on calibration and validation results of current microwave sensors.
The Working Group on Calibration and Validation is holding its next meeting in the USA, hosted by NOAA, and is continuing its program of information exchange and technical workshops, and surveys of test site and facilities. It has been active in its recommendations to the members of the CEOS Plenary, such as use of common calibration standards and maintenance of test sites and data bases.
For more information on the Working Group and its subgroups, please contact its chair: Dr. Susan M. Till, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, 588 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0Y7 Canada;
fax: 1 613 993 5022, email: till@ccrs.emr.ca.(internet)
*Calibration is the process of quantitatively defining the system response
to konwn, controlled signal inputs
*Validation is the process of assessing by independent means the quality
of the data products derived from the system outputs
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