1. EROS Cal/Val Center of Excellence
Status as of May 4, 2017
Dennis Helder, Senior Calibration Advisor
(1)

2. ECCOE Vision
The EROS Calibration Center of Excellence (ECCOE) is recognized nationally and internationally as a leading organization for effectively improving the accuracy, precision, and efficiency of radiometric, geometric, and spatial characterization, calibration, and cross-calibration of optical remote sensing systems to achieve the highest degree of interoperability of remote sensing data products.

3. ECCOE Mission
Develop advanced methods to perform radiometric/geometric/spatial characterization and calibration of optical remote sensing systems to improve the accuracy and precision of all derived data products.
Develop new and improved methods for the cross-calibration of optical remote sensing systems to ensure continuous improvement of the interoperability of remote sensing data products.
Provide the expertise and advocacy necessary for the acquisition of new measurements that continue to improve optical remote sensing data quality, coverage, and expanded usefulness for science applications.
Develop mutually beneficial partnerships within USGS/DOI, across other government agencies, and throughout the industry.

4. ECCOE Goals Immediate Goals Intermediate Goals
Initiate operations plan
Develop web presence
Develop Cal/Val workshop
Intermediate Goals
Expand research mindset
Develop international relationships
Outline strategic calibration/validation efforts
Ensure sustainability

5. Generic ECCOE Structure
CEOS WGCV IVOS
CEOS
WGCV
IVOS
International CalVal organization that interacts synergistically with ECCOE.
USGS EROS CalVal Center Of Excellence
Other
Govt. Cal
Groups
U.S Government calibration groups that work closely with the ECCOE.
USGS
EROS
Affiliates
Organizations that are funded by ECCOE to conduct CalVal research.
Affiliates
Peer Review Panel
Organizations and gov’t. entities that interact with ECCOE to conduct CalVal activities.
Other
Govt. Cal
Groups
Collaborators
External panel of experts that meets at least annually to review ECCOE activities and recommend future directions for CalVal work.
Peer Review Panel
Collaborators

6. Current ECCOE Structure (May 2017)
CEOS WGCV IVOS
USGS EROS CalVal Center Of Excellence
SDSU
RIT
Affiliates
USGS
EROS
Peer Review Panel
UAZ
JPL
NOAA
NCC
NASA
GSFC
LPSO
Collaborators
CNES PL DG
ESA
GISTDA
(partial listing)

7. ECCOE Structure & Personnel – USGS EROS
Director – Dennis Helder
Subject Matter Experts
Cody Anderson
Mike Choate
Jon Christopherson
Obaidul Haque
Minsu Kim
Esad Micijevic
Web/PR/Admin. Support
Anya Hartpence
Ron Morfitt
Rajagopalan Rengarajan
Aparajithan Sampath
Pat Scaramuzza
Greg Stensaas
Jim Storey

8. ECCOE Structure & Personnel – Affiliates
University of Arizona
Nik Anderson
Stu Biggar
Jeff Czapla-Myers
Rochester Institute of Technology
Aaron Gerace
Matt Montanero
John Schott
South Dakota State University
Larry Leigh
Morakot Kaewmanee
Cibele Teixeira Pinto
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Simon Hook

9. ECCOE Events JACIE is the key conference connected to ECCOE
ECCOE Workshop
Annual event
Topical focus
Develops recommended practices
Publishes proceeding
Conducts CalVal Future Directions session each year
Invited panel and open to practitioners
ECCOE supports other conferences
Sessions at CALCON, IGARSS, Pecora, SPIE

10. ECCOE Workshop 2017
Topic: Cross-calibration of Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel 2 MSI and its impact on data interoperability
Venue: Pecora Conference, 2017, November, Sioux Falls, SD
Monday and Tuesday morning before start of Pecora
Format:
Panel of Experts
Landsat Calibration expertise
Sentinel 2 Calibration expertise
Applications expertise
General audience
Presentations, discussions, Q&A
Outcome: Specific recommendations for Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2, as well as for general sensor cross-calibration

11. ECCOE Peer Review Panel
Purpose: Provide advice on the future of CalVal for Land Remote Sensing for future direction and emphasis of ECCOE
Meets at least annually
6-12 members
Selected by ECCOE Director and Agency Leads

12. Thank you!
Questions?

13. Backup Slides

14. Who are the beneficiaries?
Optical Remote Sensing Data Users
Optical Remote Sensing Instrument and Data Calibration/Validation specialists
Optical Remote Sensing Data Characterization and Quality Assurance Specialists
USGS/DOI
Other Government Agencies (NASA/NOAA/NIST/USDA, etc.)

15. Why is EROS leading this?
USGS EROS is closely connected to remote sensing data users.
USGS EROS already has the expertise and is a recognized leader in the calibration of Landsat remote sensing imagery.
As Landsat is looked upon as a reference sensor and data archive for much of the remote sensing industry, a need exists to formalize an entity responsible for elucidating quality standards of, and reference methodologies for, relating to Landsat sensors and data in a way that is extensible to the broader community.
Given the second point, a need exists for an entity to play a major role in the development of standards and procedures for calibration/validation in support of the broader community as well as consistent with USGS needs.
As the number of remote sensing instruments [small sats] and data sets continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important for a stable reference point to exist that is aware of the heritage of calibrated remote sensing products and also responsive to the new opportunities continually be developed.

16. How does ECCOE relate to CEOS/WGCV/IVOS?
CEOS/WGCV/IVOS is focused on providing best practices for calibration of a wide array of remote sensing systems. It is dependent on the desire of its members to be successful in achieving its goals. ECCOE is a funded organization that is focused on providing best practices for calibration of Land Remote Sensing systems. Thus, ECCOE complements CEOS/WGCV/IVOS in function and should serve as an catalyst to achieving both entity’s goals.

17. ECCOE—what about validation?
This really begs the questions of how calibration and validation are defined, does ECCOE calibrate sensors or data, and where does the mission of ECCOE stop?
CEOS/WGCV provides the following definitions:
Calibration is the process of quantitatively defining a system’s responses to known, controlled signal inputs.
Validation, on the other hand, is the process of assessing, by independent means, the quality of the data products derived from those system outputs.
ECCOE limits its activities to calibration and validation of sensors and data through the Level 2 products of surface reflectance and surface temperature.

18. Does ECCOE duplicate the NOAA National Calibration Center?
The NOAA National Calibration Center (NCC) … mission is to establish SI (International Systems of Units) traceability and reduce uncertainties for satellite measurements to ensure high quality data for numerical weather prediction, reanalysis, climate change detection, and other environmental applications (
The ECCOE focuses on the characterization and calibration of optical remote sensing systems that are used primarily for Land Remote Sensing
Thus, ECCOE and the NCC have missions that are complementary and the two centers could potentially benefit from each other’s activities.

19. ECCOE Key Aspects/Attributes/Activities
Consistent with and supportive of USGS EROS mission:
“We do land change science using land remote sensing data…”
Can’t be Landsat centric
Leverage existing expertise
Focus on Optical Land Remote Sensing Systems
Collaborative and Distributed
Research
Publish!
Data or Instruments?
PR—experts, customers, public, congress
Strong connection to science

20. ECCOE Research
If a Center is going to be Excellent, it must do research
All Center participants should have a research expectation
Good news—much of the work already being done fits!
Develop a paradigm shift
Does not diminish operational activities, but extends them to achieve new and excellent levels of cal/val

21. ECCOE Publishes If a Center is Excellent, it must publish
All Center participants should have a publication expectation
Suggest 1 journal paper + 1 conference paper per FTE per year

22. ECCOE Affiliate Support (TBD)
Grant Programs
Sabbatical opportunity
Internship opportunities