Article
 

Virtual constellations for global terrestrial monitoring

公开 Deposited

可下载的内容

下载PDF文件
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/zc77sr903

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • Free and open access to satellite imagery and value-added data products have revolutionized the role of remote sensing in Earth system science. Nonetheless, rapid changes in the global environment pose challenges to the science community that are increasingly difficult to address using data from single satellite sensors or platforms due to the underlying limitations of data availability and tradeoffs that govern the design and implementation of currently existing sensors. Virtual constellations of planned and existing satellite sensors may help to overcome this limitation by combining existing observations to mitigate limitations of any one particular sensor. While multi-sensor applications are not new, the integration and harmonization of multi-sensor data is still challenging, requiring tremendous efforts of science and operational user communities. Defined by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) as a “set of space and ground segment capabilities that operate in a coordinated manner to meet a combined and common set of Earth Observation requirements”, virtual constellations can principally be used to combine sensors with similar spatial, spectral, temporal, and radiometric characteristics. We extend this definition to also include sensors that are principally incompatible, because they are fundamentally different (for instance active versus passive remote sensing systems), but their combination is necessary and beneficial to achieve a specific monitoring goal. In this case, constellations are more likely to build upon the complementarity of resultant information products from these incompatible sensors rather than the raw physical measurements. In this communication, we explore the potential and possible limitations to be overcome regarding virtual constellations for terrestrial science applications, discuss potentials and limitations of various candidate sensors, and provide context on integration of sensors. Thematically, we focus on land-cover and land-use change (LCLUC), with emphasis given to medium spatial resolution (i.e., pixels sided 10 to 100 m) sensors, specifically as a complement to those onboard the Landsat series of satellites. We conclude that virtual constellations have the potential to notably improve observation capacity and thereby Earth science and monitoring programs in general. Various national and international parties have made notable and valuable progress related to virtual constellations. There is, however, inertia inherent to Earth observation programs, largely related to their complexity, as well as national interests, observation aims, and high system costs. Herein we define and describe virtual constellations, offer the science and applications information needs to offer context, provide the scientific support for a range of virtual constellation levels based upon applications readiness, capped by a discussion of issues and opportunities toward facilitating implementation of virtual constellations (in their various forms).
  • Crown Copyright © 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/remote-sensing-of-environment/
  • Keywords: Land cover, Monitoring, Landsat, Constellation, Sentinel-2, Satellite, Land use, Science
Resource Type
DOI
Date Available
Date Issued
Citation
  • Wulder, M. A., Hilker, T., White, J. C., Coops, N. C., Masek, J. G., Pflugmacher, D., & Crevier, Y. (2015). Virtual constellations for global terrestrial monitoring. Remote Sensing of Environment, 170, 62-76. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2015.09.001
Journal Title
Journal Volume
  • 170
权利声明
Funding Statement (additional comments about funding)
  • This research was undertaken as part of the "National Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring System (NTEMS): Timely and detailed national cross-sector monitoring for Canada" project jointly funded by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Government Related Initiatives Program (GRIP) and the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) of Natural Resources Canada.
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language
Replaces

关联

Parents:

This work has no parents.

单件

缩略图 标题 上传日期 公开度 行动
file details HilkerThomasForestryVirtualConstellationsGlobal.pdf 2017-07-26 公开 下载