Global Observing Systems and Satellite Measurements

The Department of Geography is renowned for its remote sensing research. Several members of the department participate on instrument science teams which undertake research contributing to the design and implementation of satellite sensing systems. Recent participation includes the NASA MODIS Science Team; the Landsat 7 Science Team, the Vegetation Canopy Lidar Instrument Project Team and the MISR Science Team. Department members are also undertaking research associated with foreign instrument teams, for example, SPOT Vegetation, MERIS, POLDER and BIRD. This research includes evaluation of instrument calibration, the development of algorithms to convert the data into products and validation of the resulting products. Departmental researchers are also engaged in the development of consistent long-term data records from multiple satellites enabling monitoring of environmental and climate trends.

Data distribution is an important component of the observing systems and our researchers are also involved in the development and implementation of new systems for improved data access and analysis. Data sets generated by our researchers on landcover, vegetation primary production, fire, surface reflectance and land degradation and impervious surfaces are used by both scientists and natural resource managers.

A number of our researchers are involved in research to develop the next generation sensing systems for example, the development of spaceborne lidar, the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) and the Landsat Continuity Data Mission (LDCM) working with colleagues at the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center.

In addition to research on individual instruments, our researchers participate in national and international committees to develop strategic plans for the future global observing systems. These committees include the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS), the Global Observation of Forest Cover/Global Observation of Landcover Dynamics (GOFC/GOLD) program and the Integrated Global Observations of Land (IGOL) program, as well as a number of committees of the National Academy of Science concerned with observation requirements and science data records.

Example Projects

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VIIRS Environment Data	High-Resolution PAR	Land Cover Change
Landsat Acquisition Plan	Central Africa Observatory	Mapping Canopy Structure