Turning Earth Observation
Science Into Applications
Andy Shaw
Director, Knowledge Exchange
National Centre for Earth Observation
7th UK-China Workshop on
Space Science and Technology
August 2011
Abundant challenges
Ice sheets, ocean circulation and
sea level rise
Precipitation patterns and
water availability
Production and
transport of
air pollution
Changing disease
patterns and health issues
Frequency and
severity of extreme events
Responses of
ecosystems to
climate change
SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
Real-world applications:
scientifically robust, technology enabled
observations
models
knowledge
understanding
instruments
systems
processes
model
map
monitor
measure
Benefits and challenges of satellite
EO
• Global
• Synoptic
• Repeated
• Non-intrusive
Data volumes growing exponentially
And still learning to
- understand physical basis of interpretation
- exploit multiple forms of data synergistically
- operate within a modelling framework
Develop the production chain
Monitoring Polar Oceans
• Ocean topography from Cryosat-2
OBSERVATIONS MODEL PREDICTION
Estimating renewable energy
• Tidal: combining satellite, in-situ and modelled data
Christchurch Earthquake
• Improving our understanding of earthquake dynamics
Optimal merging of models
and observations
GMES: Forthcoming ESA Sentinels to provide ‘services’
such as mapping of crop status
Use a radiative transfer model to infer Leaf area,
chlorophyll concentration and leaf water from Sentinel-2
(optical sensor) over course of a year
Left column: no DA
Right column: with temporal DA
Shaded area is 95% confidence interval
DA provides typical reduction in uncertainty by factor of 2 or 3 for
Sentinel-2 in this case.
Main Screen Layout
REGION MANAGE * Save selected regions* Restore saved regions* Delete regions
CALCULATE METRICS* Select Data Type ( flux , biomass , stock etc )* Select time & resolution of Data (2010 data, 1km)* View calculated metrics values, land area etc* Initiate report download
REGION SELECT * Specify region on map* View Heatmap
Fig : Carbon Metrics calculation for Central Africa region ( approx 14 million square kilometers )
Land Carbon Intelligence WebserviceCANOPY
EO ecosystem?
Earth
Observation
Public
good
ScienceSecurity
Environmental
monitoring
Investor
Regulator
User
G
O
V
E
R
N
M
E
N
T
Commercial
application
Data
Value added
servicesSystems
and
solutions
Employer
Wealth creator
I
N
D
U
S
T
R
Y
CEMS Concept – overall architecture
ESANASAOther
EO Operations
Instrument Calibration Facility
EO Data Providers
UK EO
Data
Manageme
nt
Data
Processin
g Facility
Data
Integrit
y
Facility
EO Science
Community
Modelling
Community
Visualisatio
n and
Application
Centre
Applications
DevelopmentPolicy Advice
Outreach &
Education
CEMS
Exploitation Opportunities
13/09/2011 15
CEMS
Model
Output
EvaluationModel
Re-analysis
In flight
Cal/Val
Synthesis of
ESA and non-
ESA ECV’s
(Coupled)
Model
Initiation
Real-time
Uncertainty for
Dynamic Control
“Knowledge
” from Data
Mining
Applications
Climate Diagnosis
and Prediction
Hazardous
Weather &
Flooding
Atmospheric
Composition and
Air Quality
Maritime
Cryosphere
Carbon Cycles
and Accounting
Summary
• Developing robust applications requires combined
scientific and technological expertise
• Important role of government as both investor and user
• User solutions usually a complex mix of capabilities,
functions, modules and systems
• Scientists must work closely with channel partners, end
users and advisors to determine real market needs
• ISIC provides NCEO a means of cooperation with
industry, government, research and end user partners
