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CONTENTSCEOS Holds Meeting on Integrated Global Observing Strategy
Report from the Second CEOS WGISS Meeting
WIGSS Subgroups Meet in Japan
News of The Working Group on Calibration and Validation---This page
10th CEOS Plenary Advisory Note 1, April 1996
CEOS EO mission/instruments capabilities and user requirements: the database goes on-line
Windows-based Metadata Generator for CEOS IDN now available - DIFENT
Launch of ADEOS/H-II Launch Vehicle Flight No.4/News Highlight/Meeting Calendar
News of The Working Group on Calibration and Validation
Susan M. Till
Director, Data Acquisition Division
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS)
Eleventh Meeting
The most recent meeting of the WGCV was held at Toulouse, France,
on Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 1996, chaired by Dr Susan Till (Canada/CCRS).
It followed two-day meetings of the WGCV Subgroups on Infrared and Visible
Optical Sensors (IVOS) and Terrain Mapping (TM), chaired by Drs Ian Barton
(Australia) and Ian Dowman (UK), respectively. The meeting was hosted by
the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and was held in Le Grand
Hotel Capoul in the centre of Toulouse. The meeting was well attended with
21 member agencies and tow observers represented.
- CNES arranged a Special Session on Thursday afternoon, with presentations
on RADARSAT, and tow CNES activities, status of "Vegetation" and SAR interferometry
for geodesy. A tour by bus followed, of four laboratories in the Toulouse
area: the Instrument Calibration Lob, at CERT/DERO; the Satellite Integration
White Room, at Matra Marconi Space; Optoelectronic lab and Antenna Compact
Base, both at CNES.
Major items discussed during WGCV11 were the Dossier, Strategic Plan, and subgroup activities. Newsletter Issue6 was finalised (it is to be published early summer 1996) and proposals for articles were made for Issue7. Two recommendations were formulated, concerning Interferometric SAR and Calibration and Test Sites, to be presented at the next CEOS Plenary in October 1996.
WGCV Dossier
Much of the input for the Dossier in Calibration and Validation has been assembled by NASA, with information from members, subgroups and colleagues. The Dossier is compiled in three main sections, Test Sites, Laboratories, and Instruments. Any further information is welcomed and the format allows for continuing updates and additions. It is now available on the WWW at http://spso. gsfc. gov/calval_hpage. html
Strategic Plan
The second revision of Issue 1 (originally released in September 1994) was reviewed at WGCV11, and a third revision is now in process.
This updated version will be issued in September 1996, in time for the CEOS Plenary. This covers the plans and activities of the Working Group and its subgroups over the next five years.
Subgroups
The IVOS Subgroup met in Toulouse 19-20 February, including a special session of eight presentations on Radiative Transfer. The members have had recent discussions on ocean colour, atmospheric correction, test sites, and input to the WGCV Dossier. The next meeting will consider calibration plans.
The subgroup on SAR Calibration, chaired by Tony Freeman (US/JPL), last met as a special session set up during IGARSS'95. SAR calibration has advanced so that calibrated SAR data is now the norm, with the majority of technical problems addressed and published. The next meeting is scheduled for December, 1996, at the Canadian Space Agency, St. Hubert Quebec, discussing RADARSAT data quality evaluation (please contact R.Hawkins at hawkins @ccrs. emr.ca for more details).
The Subgroup on Microwave Sensors, chaired by James Shiue (US/NASA)' met in October 1995. Discussions are ongoing on active sensors, terminology, and upcoming microwave missions.
The TM Subgroup also met in Toulouse and held technical discussions on interferometric SAR. Their ongoing concerns are test sites, DEMs, and the Evaluation Guide, which will be distributed widely with the Test Site Catalogue. Projects for validating terrain models derived from sensors were discussed.
Future Plans
The next meeting, WGCV12, is planned for 2 to 6 December 1996 and will be held at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, hosted by DLR (contact Wolfgang Noack). It is anticipated that some subgroup meetings will coincide with WGCV 12.
The WGDV Dossier will be augmented on a continuing basis. WGCV Newsletter Issue 7 should be available in October/ November, 1996.
Change of Chair
Susan till, who has Chaired the WGCV for the past five years, announced that she will step down from the position in November 1996. Susan took on the Chair's position in late 1990, and the group was revitalized with a meeting in Ottawa in August, 1991, which set new terms of reference and objectives for the group. She has since chaired seven meetings in the UK, Brazil, Italy, USA, Australia, Russia, and France, and has attended all the CEOS Plenaries on behalf of the members.
Some of main cal/val objectives are addressed by subgroups, particularly on a technical level. The SAR Calibration Subgroup was ongoing in 1991 and has continued its work. In 1992 three additional subgroups were formed:
IVOS, Terrain Mapping, and Passive Microwave (the latter was renamed the Microwave Sensors Subgroup in 1994). The subgroups have worked particularly well to inform WGCV members and to forward proposals for discussion and possible formulation as resolution to the CEOS.
Major outputs of the WGCV during Susan's term in office have been production of the WGCV Dossier and the Strategic Plan, periodic publication of the WGCV Newsletter, and organization of and documentation for test sites. The work has been accomplished through productive meetings with exchange of technical information, working sessions, and great support from the WGCV and subgroup members.
Beginning in November 1996, the WGCV will be chaired by Dr Alan Belward. Alan has a Ph.D. in remote sensing and global change, and is employed on the Scientific and Technical staff of the European Commission, Working with the Space Applications Institute of the Joint Research Centre (Ispra, Italy).
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