The SARCalNet Initiative
For many years, the CEOS WGCV SAR subgroup has hosted a target database on their webportal (see here). However, this system lacked any standards or requirements, was not curated, had varying degrees of measurement specificity, was incomplete and not continuously monitored, did not track or report calibration results, and did not attempt to catalog SAR acquisitions over the targets. The CEOS SARCalNet initiative and working group were established to evolve this database.
A team of scientists and engineers from different agencies and institutions have been working on documents to establish the requirements for SARCalNet. These documents include guidelines for artificial and natural targets, recommended minimum analysis of the imagery, as well as a handbook that describes SARCalNet submission protocols and procedures (see documents here). The group has also created templates for the submission of artificial and natural calibration targets allowing to collect harmonized information in the SARCalNet database.
A SARCalNet subcommittee will actively curate the reference target submissions and produce an annual summary report. After curation is completed, calibration sites and targets will be labeled with its assigned level of endorsement, which depends on the completeness of provided information (see details here).
The SARCalNet committee is currently chaired by Bruce Chapman, JPL, and has contributors from various agencies (BGS, CAS, CSA, CSIRO, CONAE, DLR, ESA, Geoscience Australia, INTA, ISRO, JAXA, NASA).
