Land Surface Imagery Measurement Instruments

Measurement Definition: Level-1 product (not a geophysical parameter). High-resolution imagery covering wavelengths in the range 0.4-1 µm (cloud-affected) or 1-10 GHz (SAR, all-weather) - Accuracy expressed as Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) at the Nyquist spatial wavelength (twice the resolution). Actually [ MTF-1 ] is used, so that smaller figures correspond to better performance, as usual.
InstrumentStatus/
Accuracy
Instrument DescriptionMeasurement TechnologyTimeline
AEISSOperationalHigh resolution imager for land applications of cartography and disaster monitoring.High resolution optical imager
AEISS-AOperationalHigh resolution imager for land applications of cartography and disaster monitoring.High resolution optical imager
AGRIOperationalA multiple channel radiation imager, one of the primary instruments aboard FY-4. Technically featured by a precisely designed two-mirror structure, capable of accurate and flexible sensing in two dimensions, and minute-level fast sector scanning. Frequent Earth imaging over 14 bands with off-axis three reflections of the primary optic system. On-board black body available for IR calibrations at very short time intervals.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
AMIOperationalContinuous monitoring capability for the near real-time generation of high-resolution meteorological products and long-term change analysis of land/sea surface temperature and cloud coverage.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
ASTEROperationalSurface and cloud imaging with high spatial resolution, stereoscopic observation of local topography, cloud heights, volcanic plumes, and generation of local surface digital elevation maps. Surface temperature and emissivity. ASTER SWIR detectors are no longer functioning due to anomalously high SWIR detector temperatures. ASTER SWIR data acquired since April 2008 are not useable, and show saturation of values and severe striping. All attempts to bring the SWIR bands back to life have failed, and no further action is envisioned.High resolution optical imager
AVHRR/3OperationalMeasurements of land and sea surface temperature, cloud cover, snow and ice cover, soil moisture and vegetation indices. Data also used for volcanic eruption monitoring.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
AWiFSOperationalVegetation and crop monitoring, resource assessment (regional scale), forest mapping, land cover/ land use mapping, and change detection.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
C-Band SAROperationalMarine core services, land monitoring and emergency services. Monitoring sea ice zones and arctic environment. Surveillance of marine environment, monitoring land surface motion risks, mapping of land surfaces (forest, water and soil, agriculture), mapping in support of humanitarian aid in crisis situations.Imaging radar (SAR)
COSIOperationalSAR for land applications of cartography and disaster monitoring.Imaging radar (SAR)
C-SAROperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use, urban studies.Imaging radar (SAR)
CSG SAROperationalAll-weather images of ocean, land and ice for monitoring of land surface processes, ice, environmental monitoring, risk management, environmental resources, maritime management, Earth topographic mapping.Imaging radar (SAR)
CZIOperationalImagery of coastal regions - estuaries, tidal regions, etc.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
Geoton-L1 (2)OperationalMultispectral images of land surfaces and Oceans.High resolution optical imager
High Resolution Optical Sensor (CAS500-1)OperationalCartography, land use and planningHigh resolution optical imager
HiRAISOperationalBiomass, FAPAR, fraction of vegetated land, land cover, LAI, NDVI, vegetation type.High resolution optical imager
HiRIOperationalCartography, land use, risk, agriculture and forestry, civil planning and mapping, digital terrain models, defence.High resolution optical imager
HRMXOperationalFor crops and vegetation dynamics, natural resources census, disaster management and large scale mapping of themes.High resolution optical imager
HSIOperationalDetailed monitoring and characterization of rock and soil targets, vegetation, inland and coastal waters on a global scale.High resolution optical imager
HSI-2 (HJ-2A)OperationalHyperspectral measurements for environment and disaster management operations.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
HYCOperationalHyperspectral data for complex land ecosystem studies.n/a
IRMSS-2 (HJ-2)OperationalInfrared measurements for environment and natural disaster monitoring.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
IRSOperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use.n/a
KHCSOperationalBiomass, FAPAR, fraction of vegetated land, land cover, LAI, NDVI, vegetation type.High resolution optical imager
KMSSOperationalMultispectral images of land & sea surfaces and ice cover.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
KShMSA-VROperationalLand surface and ocean monitoringMulti-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
LISS-III (Resourcesat)OperationalData used for vegetation type assessment, resource assessment, crop stress detection, crop production forecasting, forestry, land use and land cover change.High resolution optical imager
LISS-IVOperationalVegetation monitoring, improved crop discrimination, crop yield, disaster monitoring and rapid assessment of natural resources.High resolution optical imager
MBEIOperationalMultispectral scanner images of land surface.High resolution optical imager
MIRSOperationalScanner images of land surface in middle infra-red range.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
MODISOperationalData on biological and physical processes on the surface of the Earth and in the lower atmosphere, and on global dynamics. Surface temperatures of land and ocean, chlorophyll fluorescence, land cover measurements, cloud cover (day and night).n/a
MSOperationalVegetation and land cover, land cover change.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
MSCOperationalHigh resolution imager for land applications of cartography and disaster monitoring.High resolution optical imager
MSI (BJ-2)OperationalSSTL-300 S1 Imager also known as VHRI 100 (Very High Resolution Imager 100).High resolution optical imager
MSI (Sentinel-2)OperationalOptical high spatial resolution imagery over land and coastal areas for Copernicus operational services.High resolution optical imager
MSSOperationalMultispectral images of land & sea surfaces and ice cover.High resolution optical imager
MSU-MROperationalParameters of clouds, snow, ice and land cover, vegetation, surface temperature, fire detection.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
MUX (CBERS-4)OperationalAgriculture; Forestry; Geology; Natural disaster management; Cartography; Environment monitoring; Fire detection, localization and counting; Hydrology, coastal water mapping; Land use; Surveillance and law enforcementHigh resolution optical imager
MUX (CBERS-4A)OperationalAgriculture; Forestry; Geology; Natural disaster management; Cartography; Environment monitoring; Fire detection, localization and counting; Hydrology, coastal water mapping; Land use; Surveillance and law enforcementMulti-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
MUX (GF-1)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use.High resolution optical imager
MUX (GF-2)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use.High resolution optical imager
MUX (ZY-3-02)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use.High resolution optical imager
MVIRSOperationalMeasures surface temperature and cloud and ice cover. Used for snow and flood monitoring and surface temperature.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
MWIR (GF-4)OperationalInfrared measurements for environmental and natural disaster monitoring.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
MX (Cartosat-3)OperationalHigh resolution land observation and cartography High resolution optical imager
NAOMI (MS)OperationalNAOMI - MS (2m GSD, 10.3km Swath) is a TMA opto-mechanical instrument employing 24-stage TDI scanning. Data is used for various applications including cartography, land use planning and management, national security, etc.High resolution optical imager
NAOMI (PAN)OperationalNAOMI - PAN (0.5m GSD, 10.3km Swath) is a TMA opto-mechanical instrument employing a line scanning technique. Data is used for various applications including cartography, land use planning and management, national security, etc.High resolution optical imager
NigeriaSat 2 Remote Sensing (Med and High Res)OperationalHigh resolution images for monitoring of land surface and coastal processes and for agricultural, geological and hydrological applications.High resolution optical imager
NigeriaSat X Remote Sensing (Medium Resolution)OperationalHigh resolution images for monitoring of land surface and coastal processes and for agricultural, geological and hydrological applications.High resolution optical imager
OLCIOperationalMarine and land services.n/a
OLIOperationalMeasures surface radiance, land cover state, and change (e.g., vegetation type). Used as multi-purpose imagery for land applications.High resolution optical imager
OLI-2OperationalMeasures surface radiance, land cover state, and change (e.g., vegetation type). Used as multi-purpose imagery for land applications.High resolution optical imager
PALSAR-2OperationalDisaster monitoring, land monitoring, agricultural monitoring, natural resource exploration, global forest monitoring, potential use and interferometry.Imaging radar (SAR)
PAN (BJ-2)OperationalSSTL-300 S1 Imager also known as VHRI 100 (Very High Resolution Imager 100).High resolution optical imager
PAN (Cartosat-2A/2B)OperationalHigh resolution stereo images for large scale (better than 1:0000) mapping applications, urban applications, GIS ingest.High resolution optical imager
PAN (Cartosat-3)OperationalHigh resolution images for study of topography, urban areas, development of DTM, run-off models etc. Urban sprawl, forest cover/timber volume, land use change.High resolution optical imager
PAN (CBERS-4)OperationalAgriculture; Forestry; Geology; Natural disaster management; Cartography; Environment monitoring; Fire detection, localization and counting; Hydrology, coastal water mapping; Land use; Surveillance and law enforcementHigh resolution optical imager
PAN (GF-1)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use, urban studies.High resolution optical imager
PAN (GF-2)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use, urban studies.High resolution optical imager
PAN (ZY Series)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land useHigh resolution optical imager
Paz SAR-XOperationalHigh resolution X-band radar for security, land use, urban management, environmental monitoring, risk management. Different acquisition modes: Spotlight (5 x 5-10 km SSD =<1 m), Scansar (100 x 100 km, SSD <=15 m); Stripmode (strips of 30 x 30 km with SSD 3 m).Imaging radar (SAR)
PelicanOperationalVery high resolution sensor which will replenish and improve upon the capabilities of the existing SkySat instruments.High resolution optical imager
PSSOperationalPanchromatic data for environmental monitoring, agriculture and forestry.High resolution optical imager
SAR (RADARSAT-2)OperationalAll-weather images of ocean, ice and land surfaces. Used for monitoring of coastal zones, polar ice, sea ice, sea state, geological features, vegetation and land surface processes.Imaging radar (SAR)
SAR (RCM)OperationalAll-weather, C-band data to support ecosystem monitoring, maritime surveillance and disaster management.Imaging radar (SAR)
SAR (RISAT)OperationalRadar backscatter measurements of land, water and ocean surfaces for applications in soil moisture, crop applications (under cloud cover), terrain mapping, etc.Imaging radar (SAR)
SAR 2000OperationalAll-weather images of ocean, land and ice for monitoring of land surface processes, ice, environmental monitoring, risk management, environmental resources, maritime management, Earth topographic mapping.Imaging radar (SAR)
SAR-LOperationalLand, ocean, emergencies, soil moisture, interferometry, others.Imaging radar (SAR)
S-band SAROperationalSAR imagery for a range of applications including agriculture, maritime and forestryImaging radar (SAR)
SGLIOperationalMedium resolution multi-spectral imaging of land, ocean and atmosphere. SGLI-VNR is an optical sensor capable of multi-channel nadir observation at wavelengths from near-UV to NIR and forward or backward polarization observation at red and near infrared wavelengths (Push-broom scanning). SGLI-IRS is an optical sensor capable of multi-channel nadir observation at wavelengths from SWIR to TIR wavelengths (Cross-track scanning).n/a
SLIM-6-22OperationalVisible and NIR imagery in support of disaster management - part of the Disaster Management constellation.High resolution optical imager
TOP (MS)OperationalTHEOS Optical Payload - MS (15m GSD, 90km Swath) is a refractive instrument employing a line scanning tehchnique. Data is used for various applications including cartography, land use planning and management, national security, etc.High resolution optical imager
TOP (PAN)OperationalTHEOS Optical Payload - PAN (2m GSD, 22km Swath) is a cassegrain type opto-mechanical instrument employing a line scanning technique. Data is used for various applications including cartography, land use planning and management, national security, etc.High resolution optical imager
VIIRSOperationalGlobal observations of land, ocean, and atmosphere parameters: cloud/weather imagery, sea-surface temperature, ocean colour, land surface vegetation indices.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
VIRROperationalMultispectral Visible and Infra-red Scan Radiometer.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
VISSR-2OperationalMeteorological.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
VNIR (GF-4)OperationalInfrared measurements for environmental and natural disaster monitoring.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
VSCOperationalHigh resolution superspectral images (12 spectral bands) for vegetation and landcover applications.High resolution optical imager
WFI (Amazonia-1)OperationalUsed for fire extent detection measurement, coastal and vegetation monitoring, land cover and land use mapping. WFI (Amazonia-1) is the same instrument as WFI (CBERS), however due to differences in orbital altitude, they have different spatial resolutionMulti-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
WFI (CBERS-4)OperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use. WFI (Amazonia-1) is the same instrument as WFI (CBERS), however due to differences in orbital altitude, they have different spatial resolutions.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
WFI (CBERS-4A)OperationalAgriculture; Forestry; Geology; Natural disaster management; Cartography; Environment monitoring; Fire detection, localization and counting; Hydrology, coastal water mapping; Land use; Surveillance and law enforcementMulti-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
WFVOperationalEarth resources, environmental monitoring, land use.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
WPMOperationalAgriculture; Forestry; Geology; Natural disaster management; Cartography; Environment monitoring; Fire detection, localization and counting; Hydrology, coastal water mapping; Land use; Surveillance and law enforcementHigh resolution optical imager
WSAROperationalHigh resolution radar measurements of land and ocean features.Imaging radar (SAR)
WVC-2OperationalMultispectral measurements of Earth's surface for natural enviroment and disaster applications.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
X-Band SAROperationalHigh resolution images for monitoring of land surface and coastal processes and for agricultural, geological and hydrological applications.Imaging radar (SAR)
AEISS-HRBeing developedHigh resolution imager for land applications of cartography and disaster monitoringHigh resolution optical imager
AEISS-HR-ABeing developedHigh resolution imager for land applications of cartography and disaster monitoringHigh resolution optical imager
ALISS IIIBeing developedFor crops and vegetation dynamics, natural resources census, disaster management and large scale mapping of themes.High resolution optical imager
AMSIBeing developedOptical high spatial resolution imagery over land and coastal areas for Copernicus operational services.High resolution optical imager
AOLCIBeing developedVisible and near-infrared hyperspectral radiometer supporting a wide range of Marine, Land, Atmosphere and Climate Services. Provides enhanced continutity of ocean colour and land colour measurements from OLCI and enhanced synergy with ASLSTRn/a
APANBeing developedHigh-resolution images for the study of topography, urban areas, development of DTM, run-off models etc., urban sprawl, forest cover/timber volume, land use change.High resolution optical imager
ASLSTRBeing developedDual-view conical scanner with channels in the VIS, NIR SWIR TIR, supporting a wide range of Marine, Land, Atmosphere and Climate Services. Provides enhanced continutity of SST and LST measurements from SLSTR and enhanced synergy with AOLCIMulti-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
CERIA CameraBeing developedTHEOS-2 Small Satellite's optical payload consists of RGB bayer type sensors (5.9km x 5.9km). Data is used for general monitoring and disasters.High resolution optical imager
CWFMSBeing developedMeasurements are: Fire Radiative Power (FRP), hotspot locations, rate of spread, burned area mapping. Data products generated: 1) Fire maps, showing location, extent, and timing of forest fire events; 2) Fire characteristics, such as fire line intensity, rate of spread and fuel consumption; 3) Plume dynamics through smoke transport maps and plume heights; 4) Mass of carbon released into atmosphere.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
HYC2Being developedHyperspectral data for complex land ecosystem studies.n/a
LISS-VBeing developedVegetation monitoring, improved crop discrimination, crop yield, disaster monitoring and rapid assessment of natural resources.High resolution optical imager
METimageBeing developedOperational multi spectral imager for meteorological EPS-SG VIS/IR Imaging Mission (VII): imagery data for global and regional NWP, NWC, and climate monitoring with information on LST, SST, clouds coverage, height and micro-physics, land surfaces (vegetation, snow/ice, fire), water vapour column, aerosol and atmospheric motion vectors. Provides collocated cloud mask, height & characterisation as well as intra-pixel heterogeneity to other EPS-SG missions (with larger footprint).Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
Optical Instrument (CO3D)Being developedWill provide global Digital Surface Models of landmasses between +- 70° latitudes with a resolution of 1 m and in 3D.High resolution optical imager
PALSAR-3Being developedDisaster monitoring, land monitoring, agricultural monitoring, natural resource exploration, global forest monitoring, potential use and interferometry.Imaging radar (SAR)
SAR (KOMPSAT-6)Being developedHigh resolution radar for land applications of cartography and disaster monitoringImaging radar (SAR)
SBG VSWIR InstrumentBeing developedImaging spectrometer to provide information on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, hydrology, weather, climate, and solid Earth.n/a
VIREO on SBG-TIRBeing developedObservations will be used for geolocation and to produce retrieved estimates of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI).Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
CARApprovedPanchromatic and multispectral (Vis/IR) measurements with high spatial resolution, with stereo capability for DEM generation. Applications in emergencies in general, agriculture, land use/land cover, change detection, urban environment, cartography, topography.High resolution optical imager
High Resolution Optical Sensor (CAS500-2)ApprovedCartography, land use and planningHigh resolution optical imager
MSI (Atlantic Constellation PF)ApprovedMulti-purpose optical imagery. Demonstrate the key technologies asociated with the project such as enhanced AI processesing and inter satellite links allowing tasking even when not above a ground station.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
OEK VRApprovedMultispectral images of land surfaces and Oceans.High resolution optical imager
Advanced KMSSProposedMultispectral images of land & sea surfaces and ice cover.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
Advanced MSU-MRProposedParameters of clouds, snow, ice and land cover, vegetation, surface temperature, fire detection.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
BIK-SD 1ProposedProvides a simultaneous taking of images of an object in several spectral bands of thermal range with detection and registration of land-based, subsurface-based and space-based objects.Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer
LandISProposedMeasures surface radiance, land cover state and change (e.g., vegetation type), and longwave termal infrared surface emittance. Used as multi-purpose imagery for land applications.High resolution optical imager
L-Band SARProposedGlobal observation of dynamic processes in the bio-, cryo-, geo- and hydrosphere.Imaging radar (SAR)
X-Band SARProposedSAR images for monitoring of land surface and coastal processes.n/a