Global Remote Sensing Calibration Benchmark Network Completed

The project "global remote sensing calibration benchmark network" supported by the CAS International Partnership Program has been completed after five-year research efforts.

The project aims to establish an operational global remote sensing calibration network and make the Baotou site to be an efficient calibration infrastructure and scientific test platform in accordance with international standards.

This project is led by Prof. LI Chuanrong, head of the Key Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing Information Technology from the Aerospace Information Research Institute(AIR), Chinese Academy of Sciences, and is jointly carried out in partnership with European and American space agencies or metrology institute including the ESA, NPL, FGI, as well as Chinese satellite payload development institutes and application units.

Started from 2016, the project, combining the advantages of the facility such as the Baotou site, which is part of the "National Calibration and Validation Site for High Resolution Remote Sensors " and the ongoing international collaboration under the framework of CEOS RadCalNet (Radiometric Calibration Network), has carried out researches into calibration methods, specifications and practices, as well as making equipment testing rules.

The Baotou site shares resources with the other three international calibration sites managed by USA, France and ESA, and jointly formulated the cooperative research mechanism, node access mechanism and data sharing mechanism for RadCalNet.

During over one year trial operation of the RadCalNet, eleven satellites including USA Landsat-8, ESA Sentinel-2A, USA WorldView-2/3, USA Rapideye, China GF-1, China ZY-3, USA DVE constellation and Russia Resurs-P, have been involved in this activity, and many user tests and comparative tests were conducted, the calibration products with the international unified quality standards were first-time provided for global remote sensing users.

The Baotou site as one of the core calibration facilities have been further improved. Meanwhile, the radiometric calibration technologies such as hyperspectral infrared consistent transfer calibration, LiDAR calibration, nighttime remote sensor calibration, have been greatly improved. The Baotou site has been built into the first ground-based test site to support the nighttime remote sensor calibration in the world.

The Baotou Site has become an important node in the global remote sensing calibration network, as well as a platform for China to participate in the international calibration cooperation and data sharing.

The Baotou site has also been included in the China's national space infrastructure projects and operational system to provide operational calibration services for optical sensors, atmospheric laser and laser altimeter.

The portal of CEOS Radiometric Calibration Network.