Continuity of Earth Observation Data for Australia: Research ... - csiro

Figure 3-1 Usage of Priority Data Types by Surveyed Projects
a. Satellite Data b. Airborne Data
As noted in Section 2-4, this ranking makes no attempt to suggest the importance of one research project
over another. Nor does it give weight to the data volumes involved. It simply indicates the frequency and
diversity of use across all Australian research centres, and provides information on the anticipated national
outcomes and benefits from the different research projects. Atmospheric data types (e.g. from temperature
and humidity sounders such as IASI and AIRS) would no doubt appear in the list were a more arbitrary
weighting scheme employed which reflected data volumes or project size. Further, atmospheric data
corrections are a feature of almost every application involving calibrated land and ocean observations. The
deeper significance of these data (other than suggested by the scope of this study) will be the subject of a
CEODA Report focused on meteorological data needs. Section 2-4 explains the characteristics of the 13
‘major projects’ identified by the survey.
Some of the coverage characteristics required for these Priority Data Types are summarised in Table 3-10.
Table 3-10 Predominant Requirements of Priority Data Types
Priority EO Data Type Spatial Resolution Spatial Coverage Temporal Coverage Latency
Optical – Low Resolution Low National Daily Hours/Weeks
Optical – Medium Resolution Medium National Various Days/Weeks
Optical – High Resolution High Regional/Local
42 Continuity of Earth Observation Data for Australia: R&D • January 2012
Other
(field work/
irregular coverage)
Days/Weeks/
Not Important
Synthetic Aperture Radar Medium Regional Annually Weeks
Passive Microwave
Radiometry
Low Global Daily Hours
Radar Altimetry Low Global Daily Hours
Hyperspectral Imagery High Local Monthly Weeks
Lidar High Local Annually Weeks
Ocean Colour Low National Daily Hours