GEO Task DA-06-02: “This task is led by CEOS and IEEE”

1. GEO Task DA-06-02: “This task is led by CEOS and IEEE” GOAL: “Develop a GEO data quality assurance strategy, beginning with space-based observations and evaluating expansion to observations, taking account of the existing work in this area”. This task is fundamental and cross-cutting for GEOSS GEO 2007-2009 Work Plan (page 25)

2. Time Frame

3. Major concepts and key elements of the data quality assurance strategy were developed and approved at WGCV29 Plenary – February 2008, Sanya, China Data Quality Assurance Strategy Draft generated by group of experts as agreed at the WGCV29 Plenary Quality Assurance Framework for Earth Observation (QA4EO) - draft document outlining the strategy reviewed and revisions suggested at the GEO/CEOS CalVal Workshop at NIST, May 6-8, 2008, Gaithersburg, MD Phase 1: Develop strategies - determine key elements, required activities and tasks

4. Currently the QA4EO Draft is being modified to incorporate the suggested revisions and would undergo additional review The next version of the QA4EO Draft will be discussed/approved by the CEOS/WGCV community at the WGCV29 Plenary, 30 September 2008, Avignon France The accomplishments up-to-date would allow Phase 1to be completed at the end of September, 2008 Phase 1: Develop strategies - determine key elements, required activities and tasks

5. To test and further develop the QA4EO, WGCV has initiated a number of test projects Project 1, Fundamental Climate Data Records (FCDR): Quantified the measurement consistency among AVHRR, MODIS, and ATSR for generating FCDRs (NASA, NOAA, ESA, CCRS/CSA, USGS). Documented in a journal paper submitted. Project 2, Benchmark Mission Planning: Active studies on TRUTHS (NPL) and CLARREO (NASA) Opportunity for international collaboration through CEOS Project 3, CEOS/WGCV Joint Experiment: Cross calibration and inter-comparisons at Dome C Phase 2: Implementation – initiated in 2007

6. The technical working subgroups of CEOS/WGCV are developing field specific quality assurance guidelines: The CEOS/WGCV Synthetic Aperture Radar subgroup has already established calibration specifications for Polarimetric SAR, the Land Product Validation community have established guidelines for global data land cover validation, etc. Accomplishments todate are on track for an early Phase 2 completion (late 2010 or early 2011) Phase 2: Implementation – initiated in 2007

7. The CEOS Cal/Val Portal has completed one year of operations. It has grown substantially over the last 12 months; several projects, data and documents have been integrated in the portal, and links are now pointing to a large number of key information sources. The Cal/Val Portal query interface for EO data now provides access to the former WTF MODIS data.

8. The CEOS Cal/Val Portal now contains: ● Terms and Definitions A list of frequently used terms and proposed definitions is available within the Information section. This list is still subject to discussion and revision. ● Sites A questionnaire has been published to collect information about radiometric and geometric calibration sites. You are invited to fill in this questionnaire and contribute to the process of establishing a set of CEOS reference sites. ● WTF products available The following former WTF products have been migrated into the Cal/Val Portal: MODIS, AVHRR NDVI and SPOT NDVI ● In situ Database New in situ databases are accessible, including: METOZ (NASA), GlobColour (ESA), MERMAID (ESA), NOAA NDBC (NOAA), Medspiration (UK Met), Coriolis (Coriolis), TEMS (GTOS)

9. The CEOS Cal/Val Portal now contains: ● Tools New software tools have been added, including additional radiative transfer codes (MODTRAN, Streamer) and an orbit predictor ESOV-NG) ● QA4EQ A section on the Quality Assurance Framework for Earth Observation activities (QA4EO) has been added. This contains the Framework Document, Key Guidelines and detailed Guidelines/Procedures. ● Documentation o The literature section has received a new structure. Several new sources have been added and are now grouped into “general topics”, “IVOS”, “Microwave instruments”, “SAR” and “projects” o The links section has also received a new grouping. All links have been reviewed and tested. o New reference documents on calibration and validation have been added to the documents section.

10. Upcoming changes and improvements • The portal will be further expanded with information on, for example, use case descriptions for the tools, additional documentation on validation, and description of future instruments (e.g. SMOS). • The site descriptions will become more illustrative • Methodology for geometry validation will be added • The portal will be migrated to a content management system

11. Further Information For detailed information about the CEOS Cal/Val Portal feel free to browse and download the September issue of the Cal/Val Portal Newsletter at: CalValPortal.CEOS.org Information about current and past DA-06-02 activities of the CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation can be found at: WGCV.CEOS.org

12. The Cal/Val Portal query interface for EO data now provides access to the former WTF MODIS data.