World unveils universal platform to enhance precision in Earth satellite data analysis

The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) has unveiled the CEOS-Product Validation Platform (CEOS-PVP), a groundbreaking service that promises to revolutionise the use of Earth observation data.

The CEOS-PVP lays the foundation for more advanced applications of Earth observation data, such as environmental modelling, digital twin simulations, and predictive analytics. By reducing duplication of effort for both commercial and public missions, it allows a greater focus on applying satellite data to real-world challenges.

One of the key challenges in using Earth observation data is the small discrepancies that can arise when data from multiple satellites are combined. These discrepancies, while seemingly insignificant, can lead to significant differences in results, particularly for tracking long-term environmental changes. The precision offered by the CEOS-PVP will be crucial for detecting subtle signals, whether measuring the effectiveness of carbon reduction policies, monitoring biodiversity, or informing legal and financial decisions where high-confidence data is essential.

The platform's standout feature is RadVAL, a visualisation tool that allows users to track a sensor's performance over time against chosen references. Future upgrades will link the platform to reference satellite missions like ESA's TRUTHS, providing a definitive 'truth' measurement and further boosting confidence and comparability between sensors worldwide.

The system creates a virtual reference by combining results from multiple sites, offering a common baseline that any satellite can be measured against. This virtual reference helps harmonise Earth observation data from different sensors, preparing Analysis Ready Data (ARD) that can be substituted or combined without loss of quality.

The CEOS-PVP is hosted on the UK's Earth Observation Data Hub (EODH) and acts as a central archive where satellite operators upload imagery collected over designated 'reference' sites. These reference sites include specially monitored deserts, instrumented facilities like RadCalNet, and even the Moon.

Independent performance checks are crucial for integrating Earth observation data from different sources into a single, reliable picture, particularly for applications such as climate change tracking. The CEOS-PVP provides tools to make satellite imagery more consistent and interoperable, which can help unlock innovation in various fields like climate science, environmental monitoring, agriculture, and more.

The CEOS-PVP was developed by the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) on behalf of the CEOS. It is set to become a central part of the Earth observation ecosystem, supporting diverse satellite missions and ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the world's view from space. As participation grows and more data is added, the platform will support various applications, including disaster response and climate action.

Moreover, the CEOS-PVP helps smaller 'smallsat' systems demonstrate and improve their data quality, enabling them to meet international standards and compete in the growing global market for Earth observation data. By providing a standardised, trusted reference, the CEOS-PVP enables the application of artificial intelligence to decades of archived imagery.

In conclusion, the CEOS-PVP is poised to play a pivotal role in the future of Earth observation, offering a platform for improving the quality, consistency, and interoperability of satellite data, and enabling more accurate and reliable insights into our changing planet.

World unveils universal platform to enhance precision in Earth satellite data analysis