[01] mission concept

Case studies

Phase 0 and performance assessment studies

  • DPAAR
  • SKIM — Phase A

We develop tools and methodologies to assess mission end-to-end system performance under different configuration parameters for micro-wave missions both for Earth Explorer candidate mission studies and future Copernicus feasibility studies. For Sentinel-6 Next Generation, our work evaluates altimeter metrics through retrieval and parametric models to inform early mission design choices. For the ESA pre-selected SKIM mission (Sea surface KInematics Multiscale monitoring), we supported its Phase A feasibility studies.

Nadir altimeter and mission definition

  • tinel-3 Next Generation Topography (S3NG)Sen
  • Sentinel-6 L1 GPP (Poseidon-4)
  • CRISTAL L1&GR GPP (IRIS)
We provide expert support in the conceptualiszation and definition of nadir altimeter instruments for Earth Observation missions, guiding technical development from initial design phases to performance validation. This work involves defining instrument requirements and providing system-level support during Phase A/B1, including variant trade-offs and performance assessment for candidate configurations.

Definition of requirements for new radiometry missions

  • SMOS NG Requirements
We translate scientific and operational needs into technical requirements for future L-band instruments, bridging current user applications with next-generation mission design.

Nadir altimeter and mission definition

  • enVision
We contribute to planetary radar missions, developing methodologies and tools for surface analysis. For ESA’s EnVision mission to Venus, this includes automated surface change detection from SAR imagery, simulation of future radar and subsurface sounder data, and analysis of differences between radar sensors.

[02] instruments

Case studies

Design of radar instruments assessment studies

We design and develop radar payloads for Earth Observation, applying its expertise in microwave remote sensing to build compact, software-defined instruments for small satellite platforms. By favouring modular, reconfigurable architectures over rigid hardware, isardSAT aims to reduce the size, weight, and cost of radar instruments traditionally confined to large satellite missions, opening up high-resolution Earth Observation data to a wider range of small satellite and constellation missions.

Development of instrument simulators

  • CRISTAL L1&GR GPP (incl. SIRS)

We design and develop in-house SAR simulators for multiple scenarios and missions. The CRISTAL System and Instrument Retrieval Simulator (SIRS) supports end-to-end performance assessment and processor verification ahead of launch of the satellite.

Airborne instrument demonstrator

  • CRISTALair
We engineer and assess the performance of radar altimeter airborne systems. CRISTALair generates CRISTAL-compliant L1 products used to validate the CRISTAL L2 processor. Thise airborne demonstrator is built around an interferometric altimeter operating simultaneously in Ku- and Ka-band, alongside a laser scanner and a colour-infrared camera.

[03] Calibration

Case studies

Satellite calibration using passive corner reflectors

  • Calibration with corner reflectors (CRF)
  • S3 MPC — Land
  • Sentinel-6 L1 GPP

We design, develop, and install passive corner reflectors and specific data processing algorithms for periodic radar altimeter performance monitoring. Results show performance comparable to transponder calibration, currently calibrating Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6 satellites.

Corner reflector campaigns

  • Calibration with corner reflectors (CRF) — site pages
  • CRISTALair
We run field campaigns deploying corner reflectors to assess the suitability of reflector sites and to support scientific studies for airborne and satellite altimetry missions, including sites at the Montsec Observatory, Cerdanya, and the Mars Desert Research Station.

Instrumental calibration of altimeters

  • S3 MPC — Land
  • COPAS
We perform instrumental calibration and anomaly investigation for SRAL on Sentinel-3, and calibration monitoring for the Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6 missions.

Processing and monitoring of data over transponders

  • CryoSat-2 TRP Calibration
  • S3 MPC — Land
  • Sentinel-6 L1 GPP
We process and monitor altimeter data acquired over transponders to assess parameters such as range, datation and interferometric phase for ESA and Copernicus missions. Data over transponder sites such as Svalbard, Crete, and Gavdos has fed successive processing baseline improvements across missions including CryoSat-2.

[04] processors

Case studies

Design and development of altimetry processors

  • CRISTAL L1&GR GPP
  • Sentinel-6 L1 GPP
  • CRISTALair
  • CLEV2ER SII
We design Level-1, Level-2, and geophysical retrieval processors for spaceborne and airborne altimeters, including Sentinel-6 and CRISTAL. For CRISTAL, the IRIS processors include Fully Focussed SAR and Swath processing in addition to the classical Delay-Doppler (Unfocussed SAR) and Low Resolution.

Development, maintenance and evolution of operational data processing chains

  • CRISTAL DPs
  • Sentinel-6 PDAP
  • CRISTAL PGF
We develop and maintain operational processing chains for ESA and EUMETSAT missions, including Sentinel-6 and CRISTAL. Our processors deliver data to end users and evolve with each processing baseline throughout the mission lifetime, as with the Sentinel-6 Level-1 and Level-2 processors.

Implementation of radiometer processors

  • EPS-SG LP reengineering
  • EPS-Sterna
We implement and re-engineer radiometer processors for operational use, including the microwave radiometers of the EUMETSAT Polar System Second Generation (EPS-SG) and EPS Sterna mission, turning prototype processors into operational chains.

Processors validation

  • COPAS
  • S3 MPC — Land
  • Sentinel-6 L1 GPP
We verify and validate processors against reference datasets and through commissioning activities, including the development of geophysical retrieval processors with multiple retrackers to confirm performance across processor versions. This includes our participation in the Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6 Validation Teams (S3VT and S6VT).

[05] Scientific Applications

Case studies

Water Management/Agriculture

  • ENFOCAT
  • MARE
  • SMART
  • AEI-Agri
  • ACCWA
We derive soil moisture based indexes from multi-sensor remote sensing, including hydrological drought indicators or root zone soil moisture estimates at daily and parcel scales. These products support crop irrigation management and help water managers assess the impacts of drought and water use impact.

Forest / wildFires

  • ENFOCAT
  • MARE
  • SMART
  • AEI-Agri
  • ACCWA
We derive agricultural indicators from multi-sensor remote sensing, including root zone soil moisture estimates at daily and parcel scales. These products support crop irrigation management and help water managers assess the impacts of drought and water use impact.

Inland Waters

  • HYDROCOASTAL
  • VALERIA
  • TalaALAiA
  • Water-ForCE
We build hydrology services from EO data, covering river and lake levels and morphology, flood mapping, and water quality monitoring. This includes coordinating cloud-based platforms that bring together EO data, models, and user tools.

Ocean and Coastal areas

  • Coastal Change from Space
  • Global Shoreline
  • SARWAVE
  • SwellStats
  • TalaIA
  • HYDROCOASTAL

We derive coastlines and intertidal and bathy-morphology products from long SAR image archives. This supports analysis of coastal erosion and accretion and the vulnerability of coastal defences.

Snow and Ice

  • Arctic+ Snow
  • Arctic+ Ice
  • IMBIE
  • Cryo-TEMPO Swath Land Ice
We collect, homogenise and combine satellite processed data from different sources to estimate ice sheet mass loss. At the basin scale, we provide estimations of snow available water for irrigation reservoirs.