NCEO hosts dedicated infrastructure for processing and storing data and performing model comparisons, and provides a centralised source of instrumentation and measurement expertise to support Earth Observation science.
NCEO have the instrumentation and capability to conduct airborne remote sensing campaigns in the UK, Europe and worldwide using a suite of image sensors covering spectral bands 400 to 2500 nm and 7.6 to 12.5 um, therefore allowing hyperspectral imaging and spectrometric data in the infrared ranges VNIR, SWIR and LWIR. This capability coupled with 100 MP digital photography and a LiDAR capable of fullwave form, single and multiple point data provides a comprehensive remote sensing capability.
To calculate pixel size and swath width on the ground of the hyperspectral (Fenix) an Thermal (Owl) sensors please use this link: https://nerc-arf-dan.pml.ac.uk/pixelsize/pixelsize.html
This capability was formally offered by the NERC Airborne Research Facility but are now being extended and offered to the community by NCEO.
The opportunities can be accessed through NCEO’s Earth Observation Instrumentation and Facilities (EOIF) Division led by Professor Martin Wooster at NCEO-King’s. To discuss science opportunities please contact martin.wooster@kcl.ac.uk and to discuss detailed technical and planning information for airborne science contact james.johnson@kcl.ac.uk
Environmental researchers across the NERC portfolio can access this airborne remote sensing acquisition capability via the UKRI grant process, via direct payment, or via other project funding (e.g. EU, ESA, commercial projects etc). Please get in touch to discuss options and opportunities.
NCEO offers access to data, alongside massive storage, processing and analysis capabilities, through the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis (CEDA) on the JASMIN computing infrastructure.
JASMIN hosts a range of activities, including the Climate and Environmental Monitoring from Space (CEMS) facility, to support the analysis requirements of the UK and European climate and environmental science community.
The CEDA Earth Observation data archive is the largest in the UK, with over a Petabyte of satellite data and related data products. It contains over two decades’ worth of satellite data from a range of satellite missions, whilst the data from the NERC ARSF aircraft campaigns extends back to 1982. It is the UK academic data hub for ESA’s Sentinel missions, with responsibility for storing data and providing access to it for the science community.
CEMS is run in collaboration with the Satellite Applications Catapult at Harwell to support scientists and industry working together to promote commercial exploitation of EO data. It offers access to collaborative workspaces, hosted processing, high performance computing, and a cloud computing environment that NERC scientists can access remotely.
NCEO provides governance and oversight of NERC’s Field Spectroscopy Facility at the University of Edinburgh, which provides optical sensing expertise and equipment for assessing the spectral properties of vegetation, rocks, soil and water under different observing conditions.
Ground-based spectral measurements are used to study critical environmental phenomena, such as the photosynthetic activity of vegetation or the changing albedo of snow and ice under different conditions. They are also important for developing and validating data products from satellite and aircraft missions.
The Facility includes a calibration and test laboratory for scientists to characterise new equipment. The FSF can support NERC science and the wider UK research community, subject to peer review and appropriate funding support for the type and size of project.
All new users are offered a period of extended training in both equipment use and measurement principles.
The NERC Earth Observation Data Acquisition and Analysis Service (NEODAAS) is based at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and coordinated on behalf of NERC by NCEO.
NEODAAS offers a range of services to assist researchers in their use of Earth Observation data including: systematic acquisition and processing of data from a number of satellites, near-real time support and rapid response using satellite data, airborne data processing , development of new products and user support.
Data from a number of satellites are downloaded as soon as they are made available and processed to produce a range of products such as chlorophyll concentration and sea surface temperature. These products are made available hours after acquisition and are used to support a range of activities such as research cruises where access to timely satellite is a key tool in guiding campaigns to the most scientifically valuable locations.
A requests system allows researchers to obtain data with processing to suit their specific requirements in terms of spatial and temporal coverage, choice of most appropriate sensors and algorithms and other pre-processing. Training and support (via a helpdesk service) are made available to help users get the most out of their data. The NEODAAS also work with researchers to take new algorithms which have been developed and turn these into an operational service. Working with researchers to develop new products is an important aspect of the service to reflect the changing needs of the community and latest advances in technology such as new sensors and algorithms.
Contact Information:
Email: helpdesk@neodaas.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1752 633 100
We are contributing instruments to the network of ground-based Fourier Transform Spectrometers, called TCCON, to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide, methane and other gases at about 18 sites around the globe to validate satellite observations.
Other publicly available data include measurements of atmospheric aerosols from the FSF Cimel sun photometer, which is part of the global AERONET sun photometer network. Other EO measurement capabilities within NCEO institutions include Fourier Transform IR Spectroscopy, terrestrial laser scanning and IR imaging.
NCEO institutions have developed a range of retrieval algorithm, data assimilation models, analysis tools and underpinning data that can be used to either simulate or best exploit key EO datasets. The expertise in these and other widely used third-party tools are available to the research community in the UK and internationally.
The PDF below contains a list of NCEO Instruments available for use with potential collaborators. If you have a proposal, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please get in touch with the relevant contact by e-mail.