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USGS2022

System characterization report on Planet SkySat

This report addresses system characterization of Planet’s SkySat and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. SkySat is a constellation of submeter resolution Earth observation satellites providing analytics services, high-definition video, and imagery. The goal for the constellation is to capture multiple daily repeats of high-resolution imagery over any spot on the Earth. As of September 2020, 21 SkySat satellites have been launched, and the first launch occurred in November 2013. More information on Planet satellites and sensors is available in the “2020 Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation—Remote Sensing Satellite Compendium” and from the manufacturer at https://www.planet.com/ . The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that SkySat has an interior geometric performance in the range of a 0.38- (0.47 pixel) to 0.75-meter (m; 0.93 pixel) root mean square error in easting and a 0.27- (0.33 pixel) to 0.55-m (0.68 pixel) root mean square error in northing, in band-to-band registration; an exterior geometric performance in the range of 0.26 (0.32 pixel) to 1.04 m (1.28 pixels) offset in comparison to ground control points; a radiometric performance in the range of 0.033 to 0.797 (linear regression); and a spatial performance in the range of 3.7 to 4.3 pixels at full width at half maximum, with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.004 to 0.009.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2021

System characterization report on Resourcesat-2 Advanced Wide Field Sensor

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the Indian Space Research Organisation Resourcesat-2 Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence in 2021. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. Resourcesat-2 is a medium-resolution satellite launched in 2011 on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C16. Resourcesat-2 carries the same sensing elements as Resourcesat-1 (launched in October 2003) and provides continuity for the mission. The objectives of the Resourcesat mission are to provide remote sensing data services to global users, focusing on data for integrated land and water resources management. Resourcesat-2A is identical to Resourcesat-2 and was launched in 2016 on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C36 launch vehicle for continuity of data and improved temporal resolution. The two satellites operating in tandem improved the revisit capability from 5 days to 2–3 days. The Resourcesat-2 platform is of Indian Remote Sensing Satellites-1C/1D–P3 heritage and was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation. Resourcesat-2 and Resourcesat-2A carry the AWiFS, Linear Imaging Self Scanning-3, and Linear Imaging Self Scanning-4 sensors for medium-resolution imaging. More information on Indian Space Research Organisation satellites and sensors is available in the “2020 Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation—Remote Sensing Satellite Compendium” and from the manufacturer at https://www.isro.gov.in/ . The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that AWiFS has an interior geometric performance in the range of −16.080 (−0.268 pixel) to 35.520 meters (m; 0.592 pixel) in easting and −25.680 (−0.428 pixel) to 23.400 m (0.390 pixel) in northing in band-to-band registration, an exterior geometric error of −64.262 (−1.071 pixels) to −19.059 m (−0.318 pixel) in easting and −29.028 (−0.484 pixel) to 41.249 m (0.687 pixel) in northing offset in comparison to the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager, a radiometric performance in the range of 2.29–2.36 pixels for full width at half maximum, with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.030–0.035.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2021

System characterization report on Resourcesat-2 Linear Imaging Self Scanning-3 (LISS–3) sensor

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the Indian Space Research Organisation Resourcesat-2 Linear Imaging Self Scanning-3 (LISS–3) sensor and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence in 2021. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. Resourcesat-2 is a medium-resolution satellite launched in 2011 on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C16 launch vehicle. Resourcesat-2 carries the same sensing elements as Resourcesat-1 (launched in October 2003) and provides continuity for the mission. The objectives of the Resourcesat mission are to provide remote sensing data services to global users, focusing on data for integrated land and water resources management. Resourcesat-2A is identical to Resourcesat-2 and was launched in 2016 on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C36 launch vehicle for continuity of data and improved temporal resolution. The two satellites operating in tandem improved the revisit capability from 5 days to 2–3 days. The Resourcesat-2 platform is of Indian Remote Sensing Satellites-1C/1D–P3 heritage and was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation. Resourcesat-2 and Resourcesat-2A carry the Advanced Wide Field Sensor and LISS–3, as well as the Linear Imaging Self Scanning-4 for medium-resolution imaging. More information on Indian Space Research Organisation satellites and sensors is available in the “2020 Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation—Remote Sensing Satellite Compendium” and from the manufacturer at https://www.isro.gov.in/ . The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that LISS–3 has an interior geometric performance in the range of −4.620 (−0.154 pixel) to 13.230 meters (m; 0.441 pixel) in easting and −12.360 (−0.412 pixel) to 1.500 m (0.050 pixel) in northing in band-to-band registration, an exterior geometric error of −27.805 (−0.927 pixel) to 26.578 m (0.886 pixel) in easting and −35.341 (−1.178 pixel) to −6.286 m (−0.210 pixel) in northing offset in comparison to the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager, a radiometric performance in the range of −0.096 to 0.036 in offset and 0.585–0.946 in slope, and a spatial performance in the range of 1.87–1.95 pixels for full width at half maximum, with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.045–0.070.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2021

System characterization report on the WorldView-3 Imager

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the Maxar WorldView-3 satellite and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence in 2020. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. WorldView-3 is a high-resolution multispectral satellite launched in 2014 by Maxar Technologies on an Atlas V launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California for Earth resources monitoring. WorldView-3 provides substantial technical improvements to previous WorldView satellites, including spectral bands, ground sample distance, and swath. The WorldView-3 satellite was designed and built by Lockheed Martin for Maxar Technologies using the BCP–5000 bus with the WorldView-3 Imager and the Clouds, Aerosols, Vapors, Ice, and Snow sensor. The high-resolution WorldView-3 Imager is the main instrument, and the Clouds, Aerosols, Vapors, Ice, and Snow sensor provides additional data on obscurants and other atmospheric effects used in data production. More information on Maxar WorldView satellites and sensors is available within the “2020 Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation—Remote Sensing Satellite Compendium” and from the manufacturer at https://www.maxar.com/ . The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that WorldView-3 has a range of interior geometric performance of −0.09 (−0.07 pixel) to 0.24 meter (0.19 pixel) in band-to-band registration; an exterior geometric performance in the range of a −21.10- (−2.11 pixels) to 28.23-meter (2.82 pixels) offset in comparison to Sentinel-2; a radiometric performance in the range of −0.121 to 1.420 (offset and slope); and a spatial performance in the range of 1.2 to 1.7 pixels at full width at half maximum with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.093 to 0.185.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2021

System characterization report on the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite-4A (CBERS–4A)

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite-4A (CBERS–4A) multispectral remote sensing satellite and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence in 2021. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. CBERS–4A is a joint Chinese-Brazilian medium-resolution satellite launched in December 2019 by the China National Space Agency/National Institute for Space Research (Brazil) on a Chang Zheng 4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center for Earth resources monitoring. The CBERS–4A mission continues the CBERS mission that has been in continual operation since the launch of CBERS–1 in 1999. The CBERS–4A satellite was designed and built by Academia Chinesa de Tecnologia Espacial/National Institute for Space Research and uses the Phoenix-Eye bus. CBERS–4A carries the multispectral camera and wide field imager sensors for medium-resolution land imaging and the wide swath panchromatic and multispectral camera sensor for high-resolution land imaging. This assessment focused on the multispectral camera sensor only. More information on CBERS sensors is available in the “ 2020 Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation—Remote Sensing Satellite Compendium ” and at https://www.gov.br/pt-br/servicos/obter-imagens-de-sensoriamento-remoto-da-terra-geradas-pelo-satelite-cbers-04a . The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that CBERS–4A provides an interior (band-to-band) geometric performance in the range of −0.02 to −0.16 pixel; an exterior geometric accuracy performance of −22.02 (−1.47 pixels) to −16.06 meters (−1.07 pixels); a radiometric accuracy performance of –0.006 to 0.925 (offset and slope); and a spatial performance for relative edge response in the range of 0.39 to 0.44, for full width at half maximum in the range of 2.38 to 2.56 pixels, and for a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.001 to 0.013.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2022

System characterization report on PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa (PRISMA)

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the Italian Space Agency’s PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa (PRISMA) and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (band to band and image to image), radiometric, and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that PRISMA has a band-to-band geometric performance in the range of −0.046 to 0.040 pixel; an image-to-image geometric performance (relative to the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager) in the range of −60.791 meters (m; −2.03 pixels) to 299.541 m (9.98 pixels); a radiometric performance in the range of −0.037 to −0.001 in offset and 1.026 to 1.274 in slope; and a spatial performance with a relative edge response in the range of 0.56 to 0.63, full width at half maximum in the range of 1.84 to 1.97 pixels, and a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.054 to 0.096. Regarding fairly large geometric accuracy, the following explanation is provided to help the reader. The geometric accuracy required for PRISMA is a 200-m circular error at 90 percent (CE90) without ground control points (GCPs), a 15-m CE90 using GCPs is documented in the PRISMA mission overview (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, 2021). The PRISMA images used for the current system characterization were georeferenced without using any GCPs; thus, the 200-m geometric accuracy requirement is applied. Beginning in 2022, a worldwide GCP database will be used in the PRISMA product processing chain, which will improve georeferencing accuracy to meet the 15-m CE90 requirement.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2022

System characterization report on the Satellogic NewSat multispectral sensor

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of Satellogic’s NewSat satellite (also known as ÑuSat) and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. Since 2016, Satellogic has launched 17 NewSat satellites. All NewSat satellites have four-band imagers with a 1-meter (m) ground sample distance, and values in pixels are identical to values in meters. All NewSats have been launched into Sun-synchronous orbits of about 475 kilometers, with inclinations of about 97.5 degrees. The satellites have expected lifetimes of about 3 years. More information on the Satellogic satellites and sensors is available in the “2020 Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation—Remote Sensing Satellite Compendium” and from the manufacturer at https://satellogic.com/ . The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that the NewSat satellites have an interior geometric performance in the range of −0.119 (−0.119 pixel) to 0.020 m (0.020 pixel) in easting and −0.148 (−0.148 pixel) to 0.014 m (0.014 pixel) in northing in band-to-band registration, an exterior geometric performance of −9.04 (−9.04 pixels) to −5.84 m (−5.84 pixels) in easting and 1.25 (1.25 pixels) to 3.11 m (3.11 pixels) in northing offset in comparison to Sentinel-2, an exterior geometric performance using ground control points of a 6.5-m circular error (95 percent), a radiometric performance in the range of 0.034 to 0.081 in offset and 0.652 to 0.808 in slope, and a spatial performance in the range of 1.61 to 1.76 pixels for full width at half maximum, with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.081 to 0.138.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2022

System characterization report on the Amazônia-1 multispectral sensor

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais Amazônia-1 satellite and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. Amazônia-1 is a four-band imager with a 64-meter (m) pixel ground sample distance. Amazônia-1 was launched in February 2021 into a Sun-synchronous orbit of 752 kilometers with an inclination of 98.4 degrees and a swath width of 850 kilometers. The satellite has an expected lifetime of about 4 years. More information on Amazônia-1 is available in the “Land Remote Sensing Satellites Online Compendium” ( https://calval.cr.usgs.gov/apps/compendium ). The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that the Amazônia-1 satellite has an interior geometric performance in the range of −3.584 m (−0.056 pixel) to 0.320 m (0.005 pixel) in easting and −1.984 m (−0.031 pixel) to 2.048 m (0.032 pixel) in northing in band-to-band registration, an exterior geometric performance of −37.256 m (−0.621 pixel) to 54.758 m (0.913 pixel) in easting and −12.684 m (−0.211 pixel) to 54.898 m (0.915 pixel) in northing offset in comparison to the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager, a radiometric performance in the range of 0.030 to 0.143 in offset and 0.662 to 0.825 in slope, and a spatial performance in the range of 1.62 to 2.06 pixels for full width at half maximum, with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.062 to 0.115.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2023

System characterization report on the BlackSky Global multispectral sensor

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the BlackSky Global satellites and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. The BlackSky Global satellites are three-band multispectral imagers (red, green, and blue multispectral bands plus a panchromatic band) with a 0.8- to 0.9-meter (m) pixel ground sample distance for the assessed satellites. BlackSky Global satellites 9 and 12–17 were launched in March and December 2021, respectively, into a Sun-synchronous orbit of 430–450 kilometers with an inclination of 42–53 degrees and a swath width of 6 kilometers at nadir. Each Global satellite has an expected lifetime of about 3 years. More information on the BlackSky Global satellites is available in the “Land Remote Sensing Satellites Online Compendium” ( https://calval.cr.usgs.gov/apps/compendium ) and from BlackSky at Real-Time Space-Based Intelligence (blacksky.com) The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior) and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that the assessed BlackSky Global satellites have an interior geometric performance in the range of −0.011 m (−0.012 pixel) to 0.007 m (0.008 pixel) in easting and −0.018 m (−0.020 pixel) to 0.012 m (0.013 pixel) in northing in band-to-band registration; an exterior geometric performance using ground control points of 8.0-m circular error (95-percent certainty) for orthorectified products and 10.7- to 17.4-m circular error (95-percent certainty) for nonorthorectified products, depending on the geolocation metadata used; and a spatial performance in the range of 1.70 to 2.43 pixels for full width at half maximum, with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.032 to 0.084.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2023

System characterization report on the Pléiades Neo Imager

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the Pléiades Neo satellite and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. Pléiades Neo is a constellation of four identical very-high-resolution optical satellites operated by Airbus Defence and Space. The first two satellites, Pléiades Neo-3 and -4, were launched in April and August 2021, respectively. The next two satellites, launched in December 2022, did not reach orbit because of Vega-C launch vehicle failure. Pléiades Neo provides several technical improvements to previous Pléiades-HR satellites, including the addition of coastal aerosol (deep blue) and red edge spectral bands, with improved ground sample distance and swath. The Pléiades Neo satellites were designed and built by Airbus Defence and Space with the high-resolution, multispectral imager for Earth imaging and use the S950 optical satellite bus. The high-resolution sensor on Pléiades Neo collects Earth data in the visible and near-infrared region with six bands and a panchromatic band. The satellites can operate off nadir to achieve a revisit of less than 1 day. More information on Pléiades Neo satellites and sensors is available in the “Land Remote Sensing Satellites Online Compendium” ( https://calval.cr.usgs.gov/apps/compendium# ) and from the manufacturer ( https://www.intelligence-airbusds.com/imagery/constellation/pleiades-Neo/ ). The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that Pléiades Neo has an interior geometric performance in the range of 0.01 meter (m; 0.008 pixel) to −0.017 m (−0.014 pixel) in band-to-band registration; an exterior geometric performance in the range of −7.015 m (−0.702 pixel) to 3.846 m (0.385 pixel) offset in comparison to Sentinel-2 using ground control points of 2.2 to 7.2 m (95-percent circular error); a radiometric performance in the range of −0.070 (minimum) to −0.053 (maximum) in offset and 1.107 (minimum) to 1.202 (maximum) in slope; and a spatial performance in the range of 1.002 to 1.226 pixels at full width at half maximum with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.22 to 0.34 (bands 2–7).

Open-File Report↗
USGS2024

System characterization report on Vision-1

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the Airbus Vision-1 satellite and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. Vision-1 is a high-resolution Earth observation satellite launched in September 2018 as a collaborative effort between Airbus and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. It features a Newtonian telescope with a refractive relay, capturing images in panchromatic and multispectral bands. Operating in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 583 kilometers, Vision-1 ensures consistent illumination conditions during image acquisition. It has a revisit time of 1 to 8 days depending on latitude and viewing angle, and it features an off-pointing agility of plus or minus 45 degrees, allowing for multiple target captures in a single pass using spot, strip, and mosaic imaging modes. The panchromatic band offers a resolution of 0.87 meter (m), whereas the multispectral bands (blue, green, red, and near infrared) provide a resolution of 3.48 m. These capabilities support a variety of applications including urban planning, agricultural monitoring, land classification, natural resource management, and disaster response. More information on the Vision-1 satellite and sensors is available in the “2022 Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation—Remote Sensing Satellite Compendium.” The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances. Results of these analyses indicate that the Vision-1 satellite has an interior geometric performance in the range of 0 to 0.02 m in easting and −0.01 to 0.03 m in northing in band-to-band registration, an exterior geometric performance of 1.7 to 2.2 m in easting and −1.1 to −0.7 m in northing offset with a 90-percent circular error of 3.4 to 3.7 m, a radiometric performance in the range of −0.029 to 0.017 in offset and 0.884 to 0.984 in slope, and a spatial performance in the range of 0.992 to 1.092 pixels for multispectral full width at half maximum and 1.895 pixels for the panchromatic band full width at half maximum, with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.29 to 0.36 for the multispectral bands and 0.05 for the panchromatic band.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2024

System characterization report on the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) sensor

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) sensor, an imaging spectrometer developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This report is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior) and radiometric performances. Results of these analyses indicate that the EMIT sensor has a band-to-band geometric performance in the range of −0.355 to 0.210 pixel with a few exceptions of shortwave infrared channels. Geometric offset relative to the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager ranged from −15.966 meters (−0.266 pixel) to 43.844 meters (0.731 pixel). Offset of a radiometric comparison ranged from −0.016 to 0.025, and slope of a radiometric comparison ranged from 0.837 to 0.985. EMIT agreed with Radiometric Calibration Network measurements within 5 percent across most of the spectral channels.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2025

System characterization report on Resourcesat-2A Linear Imaging Self Scanning-3 sensor

Executive Summary This report addresses system characterization of the Indian Space Research Organisation Resourcesat-2A Linear Imaging Self Scanning-3 sensor and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence since 2021. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization, present technical and operational information about the specific sensing system being evaluated, and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. Resourcesat-2A is identical to Resourcesat-2 and was launched in 2016 on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C36 for continuity of data and improved temporal resolution. The Resourcesat-2 platform (which includes Resourcesat-2A) is of Indian Remote Sensing Satellites-1C/1D–P3 heritage and was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation. Resourcesat-2 and Resourcesat-2A carry the Linear Imaging Self Scanning-3 and Linear Imaging Self Scanning-4 sensors for medium-resolution imaging. More information on Indian Space Research Organisation satellites and sensors is available in the “2022 Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation—Remote Sensing Satellite Compendium” and from the manufacturer at https://www.isro.gov.in/ . The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances. To summarize the results, we have determined that this sensor provides an interior geometric performance with mean offsets in the range of 1.75 meters (m; 0.06 pixel) to 6.83 m (0.23 pixel) in easting and −1.83 m (−0.06 pixel) to 1.81 m (0.06 pixel) in northing in band-to-band registration and a root mean square error in the range of 3.81 m (0.13 pixel) to 8.19 m (0.27 pixel) in easting and 2.21 m (0.09 pixel) to 4.72 m (0.16 pixel) in northing. We have measured an exterior geometric error offset in the range of −21.29 to 6.88 m in easting and −7.35 to −2.63 m in northing, and the root mean square error is in the range of 7.19 to 21.43 m in easting and 3.64 to 8.19 m in northing in comparison to the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager. The measured radiometric performance was in the range of −0.002 to 0.031 in offset and 0.701 to 0.940 in slope, and the spatial performance was in the range of 1.204 to 1.265 pixels for full width at half maximum with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency in the range of 0.251 to 0.277.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2026

System characterization report on Tanager

Executive Summary This report addresses the system characterization of the Tanager satellite hyperspectral sensor created by Planet Labs PBC and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the Tanager hyperspectral sensor; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. This report summarizes the sensor performance of the Tanager based on the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization process. In summary, we determined that the Tanager exhibits a band- to- band geometric error ranging from −0.074 to 0.097 pixel. Compared to the Landsat Operational Land Imager, geometric offsets ranged from −5.980 meters (−0.20 pixel) to 11.348 meters (0.40 pixel). Radiometric comparisons showed offsets between −0.004 and 0.056 with slopes from 0.830 to 1.066. Spectral shifts are found between 0.65 and 0.75 nanometers. Finally, spatial performance evaluation yielded a point spread function full width at half maximum of 1.27 to 1.75 pixels, a relative edge response of 0.802 to 0.651, and a modulation transfer function at Nyquist of 0.488 to 0.253.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1971

Uranium-series dating of some pleistocene marine deposits in Southern California

Analyses of uranium isotopes and their long-lived daughter products showed evidence of uranium migration in most of the 22 fossil mollusk shell samples from marine terrace deposits in southern California. Two samples, however, remained an ideal closed system as indicated by concordant 230 Th/ 234 U and 231 Pa/ 235 U dates. The closed-system age of the lowest exposed marine terrace deposit along part of the mainland coast of southern California is 69 000 ± 10 000 yr, and correlation of this discontinuous deposit is afforded between the Newport Beach-Laguna Beach area and the Palos Verdes Hills. Some mollusk shell samples were dated by the open-system model; the remaining samples were found to be unsuitable for uranium-series dating.

California↗
USGS2016

Ordinary kriging as a tool to estimate historical daily streamflow records

Efficient and responsible management of water resources relies on accurate streamflow records. However, many watersheds are ungaged, limiting the ability to assess and understand local hydrology. Several tools have been developed to alleviate this data scarcity, but few provide continuous daily streamflow records at individual streamgages within an entire region. Building on the history of hydrologic mapping, ordinary kriging was extended to predict daily streamflow time series on a regional basis. Pooling parameters to estimate a single, time-invariant characterization of spatial semivariance structure is shown to produce accurate reproduction of streamflow. This approach is contrasted with a time-varying series of variograms, representing the temporal evolution and behavior of the spatial semivariance structure. Furthermore, the ordinary kriging approach is shown to produce more accurate time series than more common, single-index hydrologic transfers. A comparison between topological kriging and ordinary kriging is less definitive, showing the ordinary kriging approach to be significantly inferior in terms of Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiencies while maintaining significantly superior performance measured by root mean squared errors. Given the similarity of performance and the computational efficiency of ordinary kriging, it is concluded that ordinary kriging is useful for first-order approximation of daily streamflow time series in ungaged watersheds.

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences↗
USGS1983

Well yields and chemical quality of water from water-table aquifers in the greater Denver area, Front Range urban corridor, Colorado

Knowledge of the well yields and chemical quality of water from water-table aquifers is useful to State and local officials in making decisions on land use and in locating water supplies in the rapidly urbanizing greater Denver are. This report presents the results of a 2-year investigation to obtain this knowledge and to relate the results to urban planning in the greater Denver area. The report is one of a series of geologic and hydrologic reports prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey to demonstrate the usefulness of Earth-science information in urban planning.

Colorado↗
USGS1983

Depth to the water table (1976-1977) in the Greater Denver area, Front Range urban corridor, Colorado

Knowledge of the depth to the water table is useful to State and local officials in making decisions on land use in the rapidly urbanizing greater Denver are. This report presents the results of a 2-year investigation to determine the depth to the water table, water-table fluctuations and trends, and to relate the results of the investigation to urban planning in the greater Denver area. The report is one of a series of geologic and hydrologic reports prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey to demonstrate the usefulness of Earth-science information in urban planning.

Colorado↗