Airborne suborbital science: Platforms and sensors

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Airborne (suborbital) science Platforms and
sensors
12 in attendance Scott Ollinger (co-chair)
Dar Roberts (co-chair) Collective Expertise
LIDAR, Interferometric radar imaging
spectroscopy, UAV development and testing (NASA
and USDA), rapid response systems, fire
detection, thermal imagery, sensor webs, Several
new NSF initiatives (CUAHSI, NCALM, HAIPER)
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• 1. What are the Terrestrial Ecology,
  Biodiversity, and Applied Sciences Communitys
  current and future needs for suborbital
  observations?
• Important contributions of aircraft remote
  sensing
• Sensor test bed (Provides a platform for sensor
  testing and algorithm development
• Unique sensors (HF imaging spectrometers, small
  foot print LIDAR, LVIS, FLIR, FLEX, P-band SAR,
  ATLAS)
• Control over timing of data acquisition
  (critical)
• Improved cloud avoidance (data acquisition under
  or around clouds)
• Multiple times of day (e.g. target specific tidal
  stage, sun angle or plant stress level)
• Rapid deployment following disturbance (fires,
  floods, insect outbreaks)
• Extended periods of data collection
• Multiple sensor altitude - Variable (Scalable)
  spatial resolution (lt1m to 20 m)
• High Informational Resolution (Spectral,
  polarimetric and vertical)
• Fine spectral resolution (Imaging Spectrometers)
  - Discrimination of species, chemistry and
  physiological function.
• Multi-frequency, fully polarimetric radar
  (Penetration depth, soil moisture flood status,
  vegetation structure). Frequency allocation and
  band width issues limit capacity in space.
• Control over Sun-Earth-Sensor geometry (timing,
  flight trajectory, BDRF)
• Multisensor integration Many sensor combinations
  possible at multiple scales
• Data quality/Sensor evolution - Opportunities for
  repeat calibration, repair and upgrade.
• Cost/Development cycle Aircraft missions can
  be quick and cost effective as compared to
  satellite missions.

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• 1b. Limitations/Challenges with Aircraft Data
• Limited spatial temporal coverage
• Difficult Georectification
• Intractability to many users
• Perception (sometimes real unavoidable) of data
  being difficult to access and work with.
• Perception (sometimes real, but avoidable) of
  aircraft remote sensing being a hard community to
  break into.
• No (or limited) distribution of standard data
  products, restricts use by those lacking specific
  skills.

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• 2. Recognizing that the NASA Suborbital Science
  program is evolving and that repeated attempts to
  secure new funds for new airborne sensors have
  failed, how should our community respond, adjust
  and adapt?
• What should we do???
• We should know how many non-NASA sensors (i.e.
  University, private etc.) exist along with
  availability/quality?
• Education Airborne program can be taken for
  granted. Need to inform/remind scientists,
  management, congress, etc. of the value of the
  airborne program.
• Need for a review article on the contributions of
  aircraft remote sensing to ecological research.
  POSSIBLE JOURNALS BIOSCIENCES, FRONTIERS in
  ECOLOGY, ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
• Improve dissemination and use of aircraft data
• Should NASA encourage development of data
  products from airborne sensors?
• Should there be an aircraft data DAAC or
  equivalent?
• Should NASA have specific calls for suborbital
  science product development?
• Interest in aircraft RS is growing in other
  agencies while resources at NASA remain flat.
  Provide feedback to program managers (at NASA and
  other agencies) where synergy exists with
  initiatives by other agencies

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• 3. What are the Terrestrial Ecology,
  Biodiversity, and Applied Sciences needs for
  unpiloted aerial vehicles (UAVs)?
• UAVs are appropriate for tasks that are Dull,
  Dirty or Dangerous
• Long duration, high altitude, plume dispersal
  fires, very low altitude
• Long duration eddy flux
• Fire dynamics
• Phytoplankton blooms
• Natural hazards requiring long duration, repeat
  passes
• UAV Attributes
• Cost
• Small UAVs can be cost effective and many are
  available
• Large UAVs are generally very expensive
  (cost/flight hour/pound payload UAVs 10x more
  than existing piloted aircraft.
• Medium-sized UAVs are presently lacking, but may
  be forthcoming
• Higher risk of crash
• Cannot fly over commercial airspace
• What UAVs are available? See
• http//uav.wff.nasa.gov/
• http//suborbital.nasa.gov/
• http//nirops.fs.fed.us/UASdemo/
• Payloads from 20 - 3000 kg

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Tentative Paper Outline

• Title The unique role of aircraft remote
  sensing in ecological research
• Ecological Needs for Remote Sensing (broadly)
• Specific contributions of airborne sensors
• Types of ecological measurements
• Niche of Airborne Sensors relative to Spaceborne
  sensors
• Historical Role of Airborne Sensors
• Case studies
• Future Directions