1. Virtual Constellation (LSI-VC)
Land Surface Imaging
Virtual Constellation (LSI-VC)
Steve Labahn, USGS, LSI-VC Co-Lead
CEOS 2019 SIT Technical Workshop
Session 5.7
Fairbanks, Alaska USA
11-12 September 2019

2. CARD4L
CEOS Analysis Ready Data for Land (CARD4L) are satellite data that have been processed to a minimum set of requirements and organized into a form that allows immediate analysis with a minimum of additional user effort and interoperability both through time and with other datasets.
CARD4L offers numerous benefits for data producers, data distributors, and data users.
Data Producers
Increase Uptake
Increase Impact
Stay Relevant
Increase Efficiency
Enable Interoperability
Data Distributors
Platform Appeal
Consistent, High-
Quality Data Sets
Data Users
Save Time and Effort
Capitalize on Experts
Minimize Costs
More info:

3. CARD4L Framework http://ceos.org/ard/
CARD4L Definition
Product Family Specifications (PFS)
Optical Surface Reflectance (CARD4L-OSR)
Surface Temperature (CARD4L-ST)
Normalized Radar Backscatter (CARD4L-NRB)
* Additional radar PFSs are under consideration
Providers self-assess how well their products meet the specifications
Providers submit self-assessment to CEOS WGCV for peer review
CARD4L-compliant stamp!

4. LSI-VC-8 / SDCG-16 / GEOGLAM Joint Meeting 4-6 September 2019 Anchorage, AK USA
3rd joint meeting of LSI-VC with CEOS SDCG for GFOI and CEOS GEOGLAM
Continued progress on CARD4L
USGS, JAXA, and ESA progressing CARD4L self-assessments. Expect these to begin WGCV peer review shortly.
WGCV CARD4L peer review process presented at WGCV-45 was agreed. An initial pool of reviewers were also identified. WGCV is now in a position to peer review the CARD4L self-assessments when requested. Thanks to WGCV for their support!
Discussed CARD4L promotion and pilots with thematic groups (CEOS SDCG for GFOI and CEOS GEOGLAM)
KARI joined for the first time. Assessing their products against CARD4L and producing some initial ARD based on CARD4L with sub-10m data from KOMPSAT (for use with Open Data Cube)
Initiated discussions around LSI-VC contributions to SIT Chair CEOS ARD priorities
CEOS-Industry ARD Workshop
Connecting with WGCV and WGISS on various topics including CEOS Interoperability Terminology Report
Joint session with WGClimate with goal of rebooting LSI-VC requirements and gap analysis
LSI-VC plans to undertake two actions from the WGClimate Coordinated Action Plan -> LST CDRs and continuity
Discussed biomass measurements as a priority across CEOS (SDCG, GHG, etc.) -> CARD4Lidar concept
New LSI-VC Co-lead nomination

5. LSI-VC Co-Lead Nomination
During LSI-VC-8, Dr. Zoltan Szantoi (European Commission) was nominated to succeed Dr. Susanne Mecklenburg (ESA) as an LSI-VC Co-lead
Nomination consistent with LSI-VC’s goal to promote leadership diversity by sharing the three Co-lead responsibilities across major geographic regions
Nomination was unanimously approved at LSI-VC-8 meeting on 6 September
Nomination is contingent on final approval by the European Commission

6. USGS Collection 2 Landsat 8 Level-2 Surface Reflectance
Path 29 / Row 31
October 8, 2016
True-color RGB (4/3/2)
LPGS v (7/22/2019)
LaSRC (SR)
Single-Channel (ST)

7. ESA Sentinel-2 Level-2A Surface Reflectance

8. JAXA ALOS-2 PALSAR-2 Normalised Radar Backscatter

9. JAXA ALOS-2 PALSAR-2 Polarimetric Decomposition

10. GEO Week 2019 http://www.earthobservations.org/geoweek19.php
Ministerial Summit / GEO-XVI Plenary / Industry Track / Exhibition / Side Events
4-9 November 2019
Canberra, Australia

11. We very much look forward to continued engagement and
collaboration with the entire EO community!
For further information, please contact:
Matt Steventon, Symbios, LSI-VC Secretariat,
Adam Lewis, GA, LSI-VC Co-Lead,
Steve Labahn, USGS, LSI-VC Co-Lead,
Zoltan Szantoi, EC, LSI-VC Co-Lead, (TBC)

12. Questions?

13. Deliverables Task Title Associated Actions Status VC-31
Evaluate CARD4L supply and user access trials via pilot activities (e.g., with SDCG for GFOI, GEOGLAM)
– SDCG led trial for GFOI utilising Digital Earth Africa – LSI/CEOS Agencies to trial production and supply of CARD4L (including to third party data hosts/analysis platforms) (USGS + others) – Investigation into COGs and STAC for CARD4L usability and discoverability and impact on PFS (USGS + others) – GEOGLAM/JECAM CARD4L Pilot – Asia-RiCE JAXA ALOS-2 CARD4L Pilot
LSI-VC is working with its subgroups to explore opportunities for CARD4L supply and user access trials. SDCG-GFOI in particular will work via USGS/SilvaCarbon to explore opportunities for forest pilots. JAXA has expressed interest in running CARD4L pilots using ALOS-2 data through its Asia-RiCE (GEOGLAM) network. LSI-VC will contribute to the CEOS Paper on the Interplay of Industry and CEOS ARD (CEOS ARD Strategy Task 2.3) and this is expected to result in recommended changes to the PFS regarding COG and STAC technologies. Agencies are completing their CARD4L self-assessments. In parallel, USGS is progressing the implementation of Landsat Collection 2 (expected to be CARD4L, hosted in the cloud). ESA Sentinel-2 data (also expected to be CARD4L compliant) is available on the open access hub and various mirrors (public, private, cloud, etc.).
VC-33
Complete Annual Update of the CARD4L Product Family Specifications (PFS)
– Andreia tracking updates necessary in next cycle – SAR Definition Team developing new SAR PFS
Next PFS update is scheduled for February/March SAR Definition Team expecting to present ~3 new SAR PFS for endorsement at LSI-VC-9 (Polarimetric Radar (PR), Geocoded SLC (GSLC), Interferometric Radar (InSAR)). Also preparing standard metadata file format and sample products.
VC-37
CEOS Information Tool Improvements
– Identify potential modifications to existing CEOS information tools that can be made to help improve their value for (LSI) gap analyses – Act as a beta tester for the MIM DB API – Provide requirements/need for a MIM API web UI for gap analyses – Develop initial version of a MIM web application (for custom timeline queries) (MIM team) – SEO to make specific changes to the COVE tool based on feedback from (1)
MIM API work continuing. COVE tool updates ongoing.
VC-39
Formally define terms used in the context of the Moderate Resolution Interoperability (MRI) Initiative
– MRI terminology document COMPLETE – Steve connecting with similar parallel efforts in WGISS and WGCV IVOS – Terminology will be endorsed through CEOS ARD Strategy Task 1.4 (CEOS Interoperability Terminology Report)
The CEOS Interoperability Terminology Report was suggested by LSI-VC as a task for the CEOS ARD Strategy, providing a means for the LSI-VC endorsed MRI Terminology to be elevated to the highest level of CEOS for official endorsement. LSI-VC will coordinate with similar (but differently scoped) activities ongoing in WGISS and WGCV IVOS to ensure consistency amongst all definitions.

14. Deliverables Task Title Associated Actions Status VC-40
Complete Initial CARD4L Product Assessments
– ESA and USGS to trial SR and ST self-assessments – JAXA to trial NRB self-assessment – LSI Sec and WGCV POC to coordinate WGCV peer review of self-assessments – WGCV peer review self-assessments – Approve the first official CARD4L datasets – LSI Sec to post CARD4L dataset information online
ESA, USGS, JAXA, KARI are all undertaking self-assessments. At WGCV-45, WGCV agreed the CARD4L peer review process and they are now ready to respond to requests for self-assessment peer reviews. A panel of reviewers has been identfied. The LSI-VC Secretariat and WGCV POC will coordinate the submission of self-assessments for peer review. Once the first CARD4L datasets are approved, the LSI-VC Secretariat will advertise these datasets online (on ceos.org/ard and its CARD4L Register) and will post links to the data, sample products, self-assessment, etc. Other opportunities for CARD4L dataset promotion will also be explored (e.g., via MIM DB, COVE, etc.)
VC-41
Pursue CEOS ARD promotion
– Communication Package (information notes, current PFS, CARD4L website, introduction statement) COMPLETE – Zolti following up the EARSC and DIAS provider promotion angle (there was no space in the upcoming EARSC meeting, however, we will work with them on a later date) – LSI-VC to communicate actively with the commercial sector using the communication package and networks – Andreia to coordinate CARD4L representation at major conferences and meetings (and maintain calendar). All to contribute to opportunities. – Matt to promote CARD4L datasets via the CEOS ARD website stocktake page (CEOS ARD Strategy Task 4.3) ON HOLD – Promote CARD4L datasets via WGISS systems – USGS to coordinate participation in the second ARD workshop and try to influence agenda and target outcomes COMPLETE – Encourage other CEOS Agencies to adopt CARD4L PFS and start generating CARD4L products (preferably as standard mission products) – Will contribute to the CEOS Paper on the Interplay of Industry and CEOS ARD (CEOS ARD Strategy Task 2.3) – Will contribute to the CEOS–Industry ARD Workshop (CEOS ARD Strategy Task 4.2)
Various efforts are being undertaken to promote the concept of CEOS ARD, including: – Communication package (incl. information notes) – ceos.org/ard website – Engagement with commercial sector via various forums, including the ARD-1/2 workshops. – Representation and presentation at major conferences and meetings – CEOS Paper on the Interplay of Industry and CEOS ARD (CEOS ARD Strategy Task 2.3) – CEOS–Industry ARD Workshop (CEOS ARD Strategy Task 4.2) – GEO Week 2019 showcase and side event: Analysis Ready Data This will be an ongoing task.
VC-42
Open-source library for surface reflectance product generation
– Define the library, what it will include, where it is to be hosted, and what contributions are needed to complete it – ESA is in the process of making Sen2Cor open source – ESA awarding contract to develop Sen2Like – first version expected by end-2019 – ESA will promote VC-42 at the Planet workshop in August COMPLETE?
VC-XX
Addressing LST Actions Identified in the WGClimate Coordinated Action Plan
New action following discussion with WGClimate at LSI-VC-8.

15. Definitions
In the context of Earth remote sensing, the terms Analysis Ready Data (ARD), interoperability, and harmonisation are often used and, to a large extent, used inconsistently
As it relates to Earth observation products, interoperability represents a continuum of potential compatibility for products to work in numerous information technology systems and with other like-prepared data products
Ultimate product interoperability (i.e., a fully harmonised dataset) is achieved when products have a fully consistent spectral, radiometric, geometric, metadata, and file format implementation where applications can interact fully with the data interchangeably, automatically, and without modification
Specifically, 5 terms have been defined:
Analysis Ready Data (ARD)
CEOS ARD for Land (CARD4L) Products
Interoperable Products
Harmonised Products
Fused Products