CEOS Database of World-wide Calibration Facilities and Validation Test Sites

摘要

Since 1995, the CEOS Calibration/Validation (Cal/Val) Database ahs provided the international Earth remote sensing science community with a) a central repository for inforamtion on current and planned Calibration/Validation activities and b) a means to foster collaboration on common Cal/Val issues. The Cal/Val Database uses an ORACLE relation database management system to store the data and is accessed via the World Wide Web (WWW) using PERL scripts to search and quary the database. The search queries are structured such that users can define any combination of fields, either through selection of valids, or by directly typing the inforamtion. All query results are displayed int he text form. The text displays are interactive allowign the user to point and click to access more detailed inforamtion. System functionality provides an online form of all of the three questionnaires for submitting new information and allows a user with the assigned passwork to edit archived inforamtion for their facility. This functionality allows users to update inforamtion, as it becomes available. In 2000, the Cal/Val database was updated through a process of additional surveying of existing and planned Cal/Val capabilities to support the NASA's Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) and other international Earth observing missions. A set of three updated questionnaires was prepared: one for calibration laboratories, one for test sites, and one for field instruments. The information requested included: a description of the facility, instruments available, instrument characteristics, types of measurements performed, programs/projects that have used the facility, etc. These questionnaires with cover letter were mailed to over 250 research groups that included CEOS members and facilities within the USA. The inforamtion collected from worldide facilities was used to construct and update this on-line database for use not only by the CEOS members, but also the broader international Earth science community. This project has bene funded by NASA Headquarters based on the recommendation from the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Working Group on Calibration and Validation (WGCV6). NASA is maintaining this database on behalf of CEOS. The database can be accessed at the following URL: http://spso.gsfc.nasa.gov/calval/.