An Interaction Methodology to Collect and Assess User-Driven Requirements to Define Potential Opportunities of Future Hyperspectral Imaging Sentinel Mission

Abstract

Evolution in the Copernicus Space Component is foreseen in the mid-2020s to meet priority user needs not addressed by the existing infrastructure, and/or to reinforce existing services. In this context, the European Commission is intending to evaluate the overall potential utility of a complementary Copernicus hyperspectral mission to be added to the Copernicus Sentinels fleet. Hyperspectral imaging is a powerful remote sensing technology that, allowing the characterization and quantification of Earth surface materials, has the potential to deliver significant enhancements in quantitative value-added products. This study aims to illustrate the interaction methodology that was set up to collect and assess user-driven requirements in different thematic areas to demonstrate the potential benefit of a future Copernicus hyperspectral mission. Therefore, an ad hoc interaction matrix was circulated among several user communities to gather preferences about hyperspectral-based products and services. The results show how the involvement of several user communities strengthens the identification of these user requirements. Moreover, the requirement evaluation is used to identify potential opportunities of hyperspectral imaging in addressing operational needs associated with policy obligations at European, national, and local levels. The frequency distribution of spectral range classes and spatial and temporal resolutions are also derived from the preference expressed by the user communities in each thematic area investigated.

Application of New Hyperspectral Sensors in the Remote Sensing of Aquatic Ecosystem Health: Exploiting PRISMA and DESIS for Four Italian Lakes

“…To conclude, the unique value of spaceborne imaging spectroscopy has to be considered in synergy with all classes of sensors as cooperation among missions remains the key approach to study aquatic ecosystems [110], and to monitor water quality by also addressing operational needs associated with policy obligations [111]. To this aim, some challenges in exploiting imaging spectroscopy are open and would require further research efforts.…”

Earth Observation and Biodiversity Big Data for Forest Habitat Types Classification and Mapping

“…Moreover, Earth Observation (EO) data that are acquired by satellite sensors offer new opportunities for environmental sciences and are revolutionizing the methodologies applied, from experimental/theoretical to computational science [24], projecting big data from space in the mainstream of the ecological analysis. Therefore, it is easily foreseeable that, in the next decades, new technologies that are based on EO data will affect ecosystem surveys, mapping, and monitoring, thus opening a new era [25]. Recently, several scientific projects and studies have focused on natural habitats detection and the monitoring of their conservation status by using EO products [26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

Copernicus in Support of Monitoring, Protection, and Management of Cultural and Natural Heritage

“…It is important to highlight that the requirement tied to CSS (pollutant concentrations characterisation) is not satisfied by spectral characterisation of the current Copernicus Mission. Considering that the current Copernicus Candidate Mission includes hyperspectral monitoring capacity [20,24], it is possible that this requirement will be satisfied in the near future. It is also important to highlight some potential services that would fit by characteristics into the Copernicus operational products that refer to the following requirements (Table 5).…”

“…Despite their value, the adoption of Copernicus EO data and information, especially from non-technical local and regional governmental authorities, remains low due to a general asymmetry of information between offer and demand, especially among public administrations [19]. Thus, within the Copernicus infrastructure, the possibility of tailoring and clustering services, data, and products, in order to satisfy the cross-cutting requirements of the cultural heritage community, constitutes an historic opportunity for development and an evolution towards their uptake by horizontal/nontraditional users [19][20][21]. For this purpose, an initial EC study (Copernicus services in support of cultural heritage) was commissioned by the European Commission's Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs (DG GROW) [22].…”