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Landsat geometric and radiometric calibration and characterization

October 11, 2024

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science Calibration and Validation (Cal/Val) Center of Excellence (ECCOE) focuses on improving the accuracy, precision, calibration, and product quality of remote-sensing data, leveraging years of multiscale optical system geometric and radiometric calibration and characterization experience. The ECCOE Landsat Cal/Val team continually monitors the geometric and radiometric performance of active Landsat missions and makes calibration adjustments, as needed, to maintain data quality at the highest level (Haque and others, 2024).

The accuracy of the ECCOE team calibration adjustments gives other civil and commercial satellite programs around the globe a trusted criterion and reference point. The ECCOE team works with U.S. and international government agencies and commercial vendors to help harmonize data sources as more frequent, consistent views of Earth benefits scientific research.

Since the program started, more than 50 years ago, Landsat data have improved. When advances in calibration and validation today are applied to past satellite missions, researchers can consistently see how land changes over decades. To maintain this criterion, the ECCOE team continues to seek new and better ways to calibrate and validate data, which includes using the moon for calibration and drones for ground validation (fig. 1).

Publication Year 2024
Title Landsat geometric and radiometric calibration and characterization
DOI 10.3133/fs20243039
Authors Jerad Shaw, Cody Anderson, Mike Choate, Esad Micijevic
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Fact Sheet
Series Number 2024-3039
Index ID fs20243039
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
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