Christian Chlebek

The EnMAP Spaceborne Imaging Spectroscopy Mission for Earth Observation

Imaging spectroscopy, also known as hyperspectral remote sensing, is based on the characterization of Earth surface materials and processes through spectrally-resolved measurements of the light interacting with matter. The potential of imaging spectroscopy for Earth remote sensing has been demonstrated since the 1980s. However, most of the developments and applications in imaging spectroscopy have largely relied on airborne spectrometers, as the amount and quality of space-based imaging spectroscopy data remain relatively low to date. The upcoming Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) German imaging spectroscopy mission is intended to fill this gap. An overview of the main characteristics and current status of the mission is provided in this contribution. The core payload of EnMAP consists of a dual-spectrometer instrument measuring in the optical spectral range between 420 and 2450 nm with a spectral sampling distance varying between 5 and 12 nm and a reference signal-to-noise ratio of 400:1 in the visible and near-infrared and 180:1 in the shortwave-infrared parts of the spectrum. EnMAP images will cover a 30 km-wide area in the across-track direction with a ground sampling distance of 30 m. An across-track tilted observation capability will enable a target revisit time of up to four days at the Equator and better at high latitudes. EnMAP will contribute to the development and exploitation of spaceborne imaging spectroscopy applications by making high-quality data freely available to scientific users worldwide.

Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) - Recent Advances and Status

The Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) is a German built hyperspectral space sensor scheduled for launch in 2012. EnMAP will measure over the 420-2450 nm spectral range at a varying spectral sampling of 5-10 nm. Images will covered 30 kmtimes30 km areas at approximate pixel sizes of 30 m. The primary goal of EnMAP is the exploitation of hyperspectral data for the derivation of high-spectral resolution observations of biophysical, biochemical and geochemical variables from a range of surface covers, such as vegetation canopies, rock and soil targets and coastal waters, on a global scale. General descriptions of the EnMAP instrument, the satellite operation concept, the data processing and archiving structures and current project development activities are provided in this paper.

ENMAP data product standards

EnMAP (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program; www.enmap.org) is a German, Earth observing, imaging spectroscopy, spaceborne mission planned for launch in 2017. In order to ensure data product standards during the complete mission lifetime operational workflows are established. These cover all activities for pre- and in-flight spectral, radiometric, and geometric characterization and calibration as well as for the independent product validation of the quality controlled images. Spectral and radiometric calibration of the hyperspectral imager covering the wavelength range from 420 nm to 2450 nm is especially based on satellite onboard sources and a full aperture diffuser. Geometric calibration and validation is based on acquisitions of selected reference sites, but also compared to further ground-truth, air-, and spaceborne missions. Standardized products including geometric and/or atmospheric corrections are generated by a fully-automatic hyperspectral image processing chain.

The hyperspectral instrument onboard ENMAP: overview and current status

The Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) is a German space borne science mission that aims at characterizing the Earth’s environment on a global scale. The single payload of the satellite is the hyper spectral imager (HSI). It is capable of measuring the solar radiance reflected from the Earth’s surface as a continuous spectrum in the spectral range of 420nm to 2450nm, with a spectral sampling of 6.5nm (VNIR) and 10nm (SWIR). The EnMAP swath of 30km is sampled in spatial direction with 30m.

Preparatory activities for the German spaceborne imaging spectrometer mission EnMAP

EnMAP (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program) is a German spaceborne imaging spectrometer Earth observing mission planned for launch in 2019. This paper reflects the status of the mission with an focus to changes of the Ground Segment based on a major review conducted in 2016 and the EnMAP Data Exploitation and Application Development Program and recent activities.

Overview of the EnMAP imaging spectroscopy mission

The Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) German imaging spectroscopy mission is intended to fill the current gap in space-based imaging spectroscopy data. An overview of the main characteristics and current status of the mission will be provided in this contribution. The core payload of EnMAP consists of a dual-spectrometer instrument measuring in the optical spectral range between 420 and 2450 nm with a spectral sampling distance varying between 5 and 12 nm and a reference signal-to-noise ratio of 400:1 in the visible near-infrared and 180:1 in the shortwave-infrared parts of the spectrum. EnMAP images will cover a 30 km wide area in the across-track direction with a ground sampling distance of 30 m. An across-track tilted observation capability will enable a target revisit time of up to 4 days at Equator and better at high latitudes. EnMAP will contribute to the development and exploitation of spaceborne imaging spectroscopy applications by making high-quality data freely available to scientific users worldwide.

Pre- and in-flight geometric characterization and calibration concepts for the EnMAP mission

The future hyperspectral satellite mission EnMAP (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program; www.enmap.org) will substantially improve remote sensing standard products and generate new user-driven information products on the status and evolution of different ecosystems. The launch is planned for 2016 with mission operations of five years. This paper describes the EnMAP mission and focuses on the status and challenges of how to achieve the required accuracies in geometric correction which applies the method of direct georeferencing. The pre-flight activities including simulations and measurements complement the initial and routine in-flight activities. The concepts for geometric characterization and calibration are analyzed and how thereby the absolute geo-location accuracy and the co-registration between the two spectrometers are realized in the operational on-ground processing. One spectrometer covers the spectral range from 420 nm to 1000 nm and 900 nm to 2450 nm is covered by the other one.