EnMAP related Cal/Val Activities of the User Service OpAiRS

Abstract

The user service Optical Airborne Remote Sensing & Calibration Homebase (OpAiRS) operates airborne sensors for the development and validation of novel optical remote sensing applications. In close cooperation with DLR’s Research Flight Facilities the ISO certified entity offers expertise throughout the entire systems chain from flight planning via data acquisition to generation of value-added products. OpAiRS aims to provide high quality products with reliable uncertainties especially suited for challenging remote sensing applications and Cal/Val activities. Calibration has been at the focus of OpAiRS activities ever since its foundation and remains a topic of active research. For this purpose a laboratory especially dedicated to the calibration of push-broom sensors has been established and continuously expanded over the last decade. The Calibration Home Base for APEX (CHB) was partially funded by ESA for the calibration of the APEX instrument and is also used for the calibration of the OpAiRS sensor suite. The CHB has been a constant source of innovative methods for improved sensor characterization methods over the last few years. These methods have mainly been developed for the airborne hyperspectral sensor system HySpex acquired by DLR from the Norwegian company NEO in 2011. The same calibration techniques are also employed for the pre-flight calibration of the German earth observation satellite EnMAP in cooperation with the satellite manufacturer OHB. OpAiRS contributions include the concept for radiometric, geometric and spectral calibration of the instrument including a sophisticated stray light correction. The HySpex sensor system is very well suited for pre-launch simulation of EnMAP data and post-launch instrument validation, because the two instruments have similar characteristic properties and are both calibrated based on the same standards and methods developed in the CHB. The presentation will focus on current OpAiRS activities regarding calibration, validation and preparation of the EnMAP mission with HySpex and the CHB. Additionally we aim to present the OpAiRS capabilities for the calibration and validation of current and future satellite missions as a basis for potential cooperation.