ISO adopts a standard for processing remotely sensed data

Calibration and validation of remote sensed data. ISO 19124-1 Fundamentals.

This technical specification standard targets data collected by a sensor on-board a platform in a mission, and products derived in part or whole from the data. The technical specification defines the metadata related to the calibration and validation process not found in other international standards.

This document addresses the overall framework and common calibration and validation processes related to Earth observation data and derived products from different types of remote sensors. Subsequent parts in the ISO 19124 series will target data from specific sensors, like infrared, ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared, microwave, or broadband, and others.

As well, it is planned that a part in this series will be developed that standardizes CAL/VAL test sites. CAL/VAL standards for products will serve as the basic metadata needed for analysis ready data products, standards that are currently proposed for future development.

The publication of this standard contributes to making remote sensing and earth observation data more FAIR. (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable). With Terabytes of space imagery being collected daily, the future capability of rapid response, to say disasters, depends upon our ability to share and bring together reliably calibrated and validated, analysis ready data products.