Global digital elevation models (DEMs) have become routine operational inputs across mapping, environmental monitoring, modelling and Earth-observation workflows. Their broad coverage and global availability have made them data that many practitioners simply take for granted. But knowledge of the terrain and topography of Earth’s surface is fundamental for monitoring and understanding terrestrial ecosystems and the […]

The validation of satellite-based land products relies heavily on in-situ or fiducial reference measurements (FRMs) collected over an ensemble of globally representative sites, providing consistent, high quality and traceable reference data. These sites must ensure adequate representation of different land cover and ecoclimatic conditions to enable unbiased satellite data validation at global scale. Evolving validation […]

Post-launch calibration and validation (Cal/Val) is essential to ensure that satellite observations remain accurate, comparable and fit for purpose throughout their operational lifetime. The concept of a Fiducial Reference Measurement (FRM) was established by the EO community as a practical means to identify independent reference data that demonstrably meets quality assurance principles. The CEOS-FRM initiative, […]

Spaceborne hyperspectral sensors provide contiguous spectral coverage of the Earth’s surface within the optical and infrared spectrum, enabling the derivation of several biogeophysical products and user applications. Atmospheric correction (AC) is essential for processing satellite data because it removes the effects of the atmosphere (e.g., aerosols, water vapor and dust) that alter the signal before […]

Learn more about the CEOS CalVal Portal and recent updates in the October 2024 newsletter. View it in your browser here, and explore the CalVal Portal at calvalportal.ceos.org. 

The Very High-resolution Radar & Optical Data Assessment (VH-RODA) Workshop 2023 proved to be a significant event for the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). The workshop was hosted by the European Space Agency (ESA) at ESA-ESRIN in Frascati, Italy, on November 27-30, 2023.  VH-RODA serves as an open forum for the new space, commercial, […]