OpAiRS - Optical Airborne Remote Sensing and Calibration Facility

Since 1995, DLR has been calibrating and operating its own airborne imaging spectrometers and is developing software tools for data processing and evaluation for different application fields. This service, called Optical Airborne Remote Sensing and Calibration Facility (OpAiRS), is ISO certified since 2007 (ISO 9001:2008).

OpAiRS operates different airborne hyperspectral sensors (e.g. ROSIS and HySpex) and field spectrometers, and it runs the Calibration Home Base (CHB) as a facility for the calibration of such sensors. The CHB allows accurate radiometric, geometric and spectral sensor characterisation in the wavelength range from 350 to 2500 nm.

Hyperspectral image data are processed at the automated OpAiRS data processing facility. The pre-processing software consists of modules for system correction, fully parametric orthorectification and geocoding, as well as atmospheric modeling for the conversion of imaging spectrometer data to ground reflectance.

Calibrated field spectrometers are used for the spectral and radiometric validation of airborne sensor data, and to determine the spectral properties of land and water targets and of the atmosphere during field campaigns.

Several national and international campaigns have been organized, co-ordinated and managed by DLR's Earth Observation Center (EOC) covering the system chain from sensor integration/adaptation to various aircraft, system calibration, campaign management, data processing, evaluation, archiving, and distribution.

To request access to the OpAiRS service, please contact OpAiRS, or check the News
for an announcement of opportunity.

last changes: 26.01.2012