Selection of the Key Earth Observation Sensors and Platforms Focusing on Applications for Polar Regions in the Scope of Copernicus System 2020–2030

Abstract

An optimal payload selection conducted in the frame of the H2020 ONION project (id 687490) is presented based on the ability to cover the observation needs of the Copernicus system in the time period 2020–2030. Payload selection is constrained by the variables that can be measured, the power consumption, and weight of the instrument, and the required accuracy and spatial resolution (horizontal or vertical). It involved 20 measurements with observation gaps according to the user requirements that were detected in the top 10 use cases in the scope of Copernicus space infrastructure, 9 potential applied technologies, and 39 available commercial platforms. Additional Earth Observation (EO) infrastructures are proposed to reduce measurements gaps, based on a weighting system that assigned high relevance for measurements associated to Marine for Weather Forecast over Polar Regions. This study concludes with a rank and mapping of the potential technologies and the suitable commercial platforms to cover most of the requirements of the top ten use cases, analyzing the Marine for Weather Forecast, Sea Ice Monitoring, Fishing Pressure, and Agriculture and Forestry: Hydric stress as the priority use cases.

Mission and system architecture for an operational network of earth observation satellite nodes

“…On the one hand, it explores constellation designs that are characterized both by their orbital configuration and their instrument allocation. While the selection of potential spaceborne instruments was carried out in separate studies [7], the framework was conceived to allocate feasible configurations across all satellite nodes without restricting homogeneity, i.e. constellations are allowed to encompass multiple different satellite designs.…”

“…The output of the survey of possible instruments able to provide the required measurements for MWF [7] is a list encompassing: Global Navigation Satellite Systems-Reflectometry (GNSS-R), Optical Imager with Visible (VIS), Near-Infrared (NIR) and Thermal Infrared (TIR) bands, Radar Altimeter in Ka band, Microwave Radiometer (MW) with W, X, Y, K and Ka bands, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) in Ku and C band and SAR in X band (SAR-X).…”

On-Demand Satellite Payload Execution Strategy for Natural Disasters Monitoring Using LoRa: Observation Requirements and Optimum Medium Access Layer Mechanisms

“…Aside from in-situ instruments, satellites are also used for natural disaster monitoring. Earth observation (EO) satellites can carry payloads, such as synthetic aperture radars (SAR), radiometers, or optical imager spectrometers, among others [6], that have been proven to be useful in natural disaster monitoring and early warning systems. For instance, the data from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) [7] sensors are used to create fire detection maps [8].…”

Preface: Earth Observations for Addressing Global Challenges

“…The same authors further presented a review paper [2] for an optimal payload selection based on the ability to cover the observation needs of the Copernicus system in the time period 2020-2030. Payload selection is constrained by the variables that can be measured, the power consumption, weight of the instrument, and the required accuracy, and spatial resolution.…”