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CONTENTSCEOS Task Force on Planning and Analysis Reports
Activities of Working Group on Calibration and Valldatlon, (WGCV)---This page
CEOS Inventory Interoperability Experlment
The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS): Plan for Space-Based Observations
Analysis of the Great Hanshin Earthquake by Using Satellite Data
Feasibility Study for a CEOS Developing Country Space Information System
The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS):
Plan for Space-Based Observations (continued from page 4)
CEOS Plenary/IAI/Highlight/Calender
Activities of the Working Group on Calibration and Validation, (WGCV)
Susan M. Till
Chair CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS)
The 9th Meeting of WGCV was held in Canberra, Australia on December 6-9, 1994. WGCV-9 was attended by 21 members or their alternates and several local participants - and was memorable forr a field trip to tour NASA's Tidbinbilla Deep Space Tracking Station, a game reserve, and Aussie BBQ.
- The working group business included review of the September 1994 draft
of the WGCV Strategic Plan, which led to a few revisions in the text. Lengthy
discussions of the terminology in Appendix A resulted in the formation
of a small task group to submit a revised list at the next meeting, based
on other standard references and communication with other CEOS working
groups.
The implementation of the Dossier on Calibration and Validation was discussed. The scope is to cover a 10-year period, of five years before and after January 1, 1996. It is proposed to be a stand-alone document and access will be primarily, although not only, via WWW or CEOS Infosys. On WWW a forum box will exist with search by key word. Contractual arrangements are being pursued to implement the draft Dossier.
The four subgroups are active. Two subgroups (IVOS and Terrain Mapping) held meetings coincident with WGCV-9 in Canberra. IVOS subgroup discussed SOLSPEC results, input to the Strategic Plan, Dossier, and new initiatives on ocean colour and atmospheric correction. Terrain Mapping looked at the Strategic Plan, first draft of the Evaluation Guide, and Test Sites. The updated dossier includes 12 sites, with two sites available for general distribution: Aix-Marseilles, France, and Drum Mountain, USA. The Microwave Sensors Subgroup met in August 1994 in Los Angeles. The subgroup mandate was reformulated, terminology was reviewed, the need for test sites was discussed, and a concern brought forward about radio frequency interference. The SAR CAL subgroup met at Ann Arbor in September 1994. A warkshop addressed issues such as RADARSAT Scan-SAR, spaceborne SAR, polarimetry, radiometric calibration, calibration devices, and interferometry. Members produced a five-year plan and decided the future direction of the subgoup.
The WGCV Newsletter Issue 4 is now available and Issue 5 is being compiled. The next meeting, WGCV-10, was in Moscow, hosted by the Russian Academy of Sciences, during June 27-30, 1995. Planning is underway for WGCV-11 at CNES, Toulouse, France, February 26-March 1, 1996.
CEOS Task Force on Planning and Analysis Reports to CEOS User Requirements Workshop
(continued from page 1)- The reformatted and updated information will enable the Task Force
to refine their analysis and will help in updating the CEOS Dossier. However,
even with existing information, the Task Force will be able to present
to the Plenary a rough assessment of gaps and overlaps in October 1995.
Among the other issues arising from the Task Fore's works is how to expand the understanding of user requirements. It was noted not that all CEOS Affiliates have documented their data needs, and those that have not should be encouraged to work with WMO, which serves as the coordinator of Affiliate requirements, to do so. There was also discussion of national/regional requirements, which may play an important role in influencing space agency programmatic decisions. The Plenary may wish to encourage Members to document their national/regional user requirements in the same format as the Affiliates requirements and to share this information among CEOS agencies. In addition, there was a recommendation that all the updated information on both capabilities and requirements be made available and maintained on-line in a database format for easy analysis by any interested user or provider, in addition to the biennial publication of the CEOS Dossier.
The next steps for this process include:
11-12 July 1995: Planning and Analysis Task Force meeting in Paris to revise draft report; includes incorporating feedback from the Workshop 1-7 September 1995: Revised Task Force report issued to CEOS participants for review prior to the Plenary meeting; includes preliminary user requirements and instrument performance information and highlights of gaps and overlaps
11-13 October 1995: Ninth CEOS Plenary meeting in Montreal-Plenary provides feedback on Task Force report; Affiliates report on user requirements activities; status of Dossier reviewed
March 1996: Affiliates and space agencies formally submit updated and restructured information for 1996 Dossier update
For further information, please contaet the CEOS Secretariat and/or the co-chairs of the Task Force.
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