CEOS-ARD - Optical - Nighttime Light Surface Radiance

 

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Product Family Specification, Optical, Nighttime Light Surface Radiance

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CEOS Analysis Ready Data Definition

CEOS Analysis Ready Data (CEOS-ARD) are satellite data that have been processed to a minimum set of requirements and organized into a form that allows immediate analysis with a minimum of additional user effort and interoperability both through time and with other datasets.

Description

Product Family Specification: Optical, Nighttime Light Surface Radiance (NLSR)

Version: 1.0-draft

Applies to: Data collected by Optical sensors

Background

Data collected with nighttime light sensors operating in the VIS/NIR wavelengths. These typically operate with ground sample distance and resolution in the order of 10-1000m; however, the Specification is not inherently limited to this resolution.

Definitions and Abbreviations

ATBD
Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document
Auxiliary Data
The data required for instrument processing, which does not originate in the instrument itself or from the satellite. Some auxiliary data will be generated in the ground segment, whilst other data will be provided from external sources, e.g., DEM, aerosols.
CEOS-ARD
Committee on Earth Observation Satellites - Analysis Ready Data
CEP
Circular Error Probability, often provided with an additional percentage (e.g. CEP90 for 90% probability)
DEM
Digital Elevation Model
DOI
Digital Object Identifier
GIS
Geographic Information System
NIR
Near Infrared
NLSR
Nighttime Light Surface Radiance
RMSE
Root Mean Square Error
rRMSE
Radial Root Mean Square Error
SI
International System of Units, internationally known by the abbreviation SI (from French Système international d’unités)
UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
VIS
Visible
WGS84
World Geodetic System 1984

Requirements

WARNING: The section numbers in front of the title (e.g. 1.1) are not stable and may change or may be removed at any time. Do not use the numbers to refer back to specific requirements! Instead, use the textual identifier that is provided below the title.

1. General Metadata

These are metadata records describing a distributed collection of pixels. The collection of pixels referred to must be contiguous in space and time. General metadata should allow the user to assess the overall suitability of the dataset, and must meet the requirements listed below.

1.1. Traceability

Identifier: meta.metadata-traceability-sr

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

Data must be traceable to SI reference standard.

Notes:

  1. Relationship to Section “Radiometric and Atmospheric Corrections: Measurement Uncertainty”. Traceability requires an estimate of measurement uncertainty.
  2. Information on traceability should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

1.2. Metadata Machine Readability

Identifier: meta.metadata-machine-readability-optical

Threshold requirements:

Metadata is provided in a structure that enables a computer algorithm to be used to consistently and automatically identify and extract each component part for further use.

Goal requirements:

As threshold, but metadata should be provided in a community endorsed standard that facilitates machine-readability, such as ISO 19115-2.

1.3. Data Collection Time

Identifier: meta.metadata-time-sr

Threshold requirements:

The data collection time is identified in the metadata, expressed in date/time, to the second, with the time offset from UTC unambiguously identified.

Goal requirements:

Acquisition time for each pixel is identified (or can be reliably determined) in the metadata, expressed in date/time at UTC, to the second.

1.4. Geographical Area

Identifier: meta.metadata-geo-area-sr

Threshold requirements:

The surface location to which the data relate is identified, typically as a series of four corner points, expressed in an accepted coordinate reference system (e.g., WGS84).

Goal requirements:

The geographic area covered by the observations is identified specifically, such as through a set of coordinates of a closely bounding polygon. The location to which each pixel refers is identified (or can be reliably determined) with the projection system (if any) and reference datum provided.

1.5. Coordinate Reference System

Identifier: meta.metadata-crs-optical

Threshold requirements:

The metadata lists the coordinate reference system that has been used.

Goal requirements:

As threshold.

1.6. Map Projection

Identifier: meta.metadata-map-projection-nlsr

Threshold requirements:

The metadata lists the map projection that has been used and any relevant parameters required in relation to use of data in that map projection.

Goal requirements:

As threshold.

1.7. Geometric Correction Methods

Identifier: meta.metadata-geometric-correction-methods-sr

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

Information on geometric correction methods should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page, including reference database and auxiliary data such as elevation model(s) and reference chip-sets.

1.8. Geometric Accuracy of the Data

Identifier: meta.metadata-geometric-accuracy-sr

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

The metadata includes metrics describing the assessed geodetic accuracy of the data, expressed units of the coordinate system of the data. Accuracy is assessed by independent verification (as well as internal model-fit where applicable). Uncertainties are expressed quantitatively, for example, as root mean square error (RMSE) or Circular Error Probability (CEP90, CEP95), etc.

Notes:

  1. Information on geometric accuracy of the data should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

1.9. Instrument

Identifier: meta.metadata-instrument-optical

Threshold requirements:

The instrument used to collect the data is identified in the metadata.

Goal requirements:

As threshold, but information should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page with references to the relevant CEOS Missions, Instruments, and Measurements Database record.

1.10. Spectral Bands

Identifier: meta.metadata-spectral-bands

Threshold requirements:

The central wavelength for each band for which data is included is identified in the metadata, expressed in SI units.

Goal requirements:

As threshold, with instrument spectral response details (e.g., full spectral response function) also included or directly accessible using details in the metadata. Central wavelength and bandwidth at full-width half maximum value of the relative spectral response function are provided at least.

Notes:

  1. Information on spectral bands should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

1.11. Sensor Calibration

Identifier: meta.metadata-sensor-calibration-optical

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

Sensor calibration parameters are identified in the metadata or can be accessed using details included in the metadata. Ideally this would support machine-to-machine access.

Notes:

  1. Information on sensory calibration should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

1.12. Radiometric Accuracy

Identifier: meta.metadata-radiometric-accuracy-sr

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

The metadata includes metrics describing the assessed absolute radiometric uncertainty of the version of the data or product, expressed as absolute radiometric uncertainty relative to appropriate, known reference sites and standards (for example, pseudo-invariant calibration sites, rigorously collected field spectra, Rayleigh, DCC, etc.)

Notes:

  1. Information on radiometric accuracy should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

1.13. Algorithms

Identifier: meta.metadata-algorithms-sr

Threshold requirements:

All algorithms, and the sequence in which they were applied in the generation process, are identified in the metadata. For example, these may be available through Algorithm Theoretical Basis documents.

Notes:

  1. Information on algorithms should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.
Goal requirements:

As threshold, but only algorithms that have been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Notes:

  1. It is possible that high-quality corrections are applied through non-disclosed processes. CEOS-ARD does not per-se require full and open data and methods.
  2. Information on algorithms should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

1.14. Auxiliary Data

Identifier: meta.metadata-auxiliary-data-optical

Threshold requirements:

The metadata identifies the sources of auxiliary data used in the generation process, ideally expressed as a single DOI landing page.

Notes:

  1. Auxiliary data includes DEMs, aerosols, etc. data sources.
Goal requirements:

As threshold, but information on auxiliary data should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page and is also available for free online download, contemporaneously with the product or through a link to the source.

1.15. Processing Chain Provenance

Identifier: meta.metadata-processing-chain-prov-nlsr

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

Information on processing chain provenance should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page containing detailed description of the processing steps used to generate the product, the organization that performed the processing, and the versions of software used, giving full transparency to the users.

1.16. Data Access

Identifier: meta.metadata-data-access

Threshold requirements:

Information on data access should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

Notes:

  1. Manual and offline interaction action (e.g., login) may be required.
Goal requirements:

As threshold.

1.17. Overall Data Quality

Identifier: meta.metadata-data-quality-sr

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

Machine-readable metrics describing the overall quality of the data are included in the metadata, at minimum the cloud cover extent, i.e.:

2. Per-Pixel Metadata

The following minimum metadata specifications apply to each pixel. Whether the metadata are provided in a single record relevant to all pixels or separately for each pixel is at the discretion of the data provider. Per-pixel metadata should allow users to discriminate between (choose) observations on the basis of their individual suitability for applications.

2.1. Metadata Machine Readability

Identifier: pxl.metadata-machine-readability-per-pixel-optical

Threshold requirements:

Metadata is provided in a structure that enables a computer algorithm to be used to consistently and automatically identify and extract each component part for further use.

Goal requirements:

As threshold.

2.2. No Data

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-nodata

Threshold requirements:

Pixels that do not correspond to an observation (‘empty pixels’) are flagged.

Goal requirements:

As threshold.

2.3. Incomplete Testing

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-incomplete-testing

Threshold requirements:

The metadata identifies pixels for which the per-pixel tests (below) have not all been successfully completed.

Notes:

  1. This may be the result of missing ancillary data for a subset of the pixels.
Goal requirements:

The metadata identifies which tests have, and have not, been successfully completed for each pixel.

2.4. Saturation

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-saturation

Threshold requirements:

Metadata indicates where one or more pixel in the input spectral bands are saturated.

Goal requirements:

Metadata indicates which pixels are saturated for each spectral band.

2.5. Cloud

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-cloud

Threshold requirements:

Metadata indicates whether a pixel is assessed as being cloud.

Goal requirements:

As threshold, but information on cloud detection should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

2.6. Cloud Shadow

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-cloud-shadow-nlsr

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

Metadata indicates whether a pixel is assessed as being cloud shadow. Information on cloud shadow detection should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

2.7. Land/Water Mask

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-land-water-nlsr

Threshold requirements:

Metadata indicates whether a pixel is land or water.

Goal requirements:

As threshold, information on land/water mask should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

2.8. Snow/Ice Mask

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-snow-ice-nlsr

Threshold requirements:

Metadata indicates whether a pixel is snow/ice.

Goal requirements:

As threshold, information on snow/ice mask should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

2.9. Terrain Shadow Mask

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-terrain-shadow

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

The metadata indicates pixels that are not directly illuminated due to terrain shadowing.

2.10. Terrain Occlusion

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-terrain-occlusion

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

The metadata indicates pixels that are not visible to the sensor due to terrain occlusion during off-nadir viewing.

2.11. Lunar and Viewing Geometry

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-view-angles-lunar

Threshold requirements:

Provide average lunar and sensor viewing azimuth and zenith angles.

Goal requirements:

Provide per-pixel lunar and sensor viewing azimuth and zenith angles.

2.12. Terrain Illumination Correction

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-terrain-illumination

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

Coefficients used for terrain illumination correction are provided for each pixel.

2.13. Moon Illumination Fraction

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-moon-illumination-fraction

Threshold requirements:

Provide average moon illumination fraction.

Goal requirements:

Provide per-pixel moon illumination fraction

2.14. Brightness Temperature

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-brightness-temperature

Threshold requirements:

Provide brightness temperature from thermal bands.

Goal requirements:

As threshold.

2.15. Solar Zenith Angle

Identifier: pxl.per-pixel-solar-zenith-angle

Threshold requirements:

Provide solar zenith angle to support stray-light corrections (see also Section “Radiometric and Atmospheric Corrections: Stray Light Corrections”).

Goal requirements:

As threshold.

3. Radiometric and Atmospheric Corrections

The following requirements must be met for all pixels in a collection. The requirements indicate both the necessary outcomes and the minimum steps necessary to be deemed to have achieved those outcomes. Radiometric corrections must lead to a valid measurement.

3.1. Measurement

Identifier: rac.measurements-measurement-nlsr

Threshold requirements:

Pixel values that are expressed as a measurement of the nighttime light radiance.

Goal requirements:

Nighttime light radiance measurements are SI traceable (see also Section “General Metadata: Traceability”).

3.2. Measurement Uncertainty

Identifier: rac.measurements-uncertainty-sr

Note: In current practice, users determine fitness for purpose based on knowledge of the lineage of the data, rather than on a specific estimate of measurement uncertainty.

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

An estimate of the certainty of the values is provided in measurement units.

Notes:

  1. This is a requirement for SI traceability. See also Section “General Metadata: Traceability”.
  2. Information on measurement uncertainty should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

3.3. Measurement Normalisation

Identifier: rac.measurements-normalisation-nlsr

Threshold requirements:

Not required.

Goal requirements:

Measurements are normalised for viewing conditions (i.e., nadir view angle). This may include radiative transfer modelling.

Notes:

  1. Information on measurement normalisation should be available in the metadata as a single DOI landing page.

3.4. Atmospheric Corrections

Identifier: rac.measurements-atmospheric-corrections

Threshold requirements:

Corrections are applied for atmospheric scattering.

Metadata contains a single DOI landing page with references to:

Notes:

  1. Examples of technical documentation include an Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, product user guide, etc.
Goal requirements:

As threshold.

3.5. Lunar Radiance Corrections

Identifier: rac.corrections-lunar-radiance

Threshold requirements:

Corrections are applied for lunar radiance.

Metadata contains a single DOI landing page with references to:

Notes:

  1. Examples of technical documentation include an Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, product user guide, etc.
Goal requirements:

As threshold.

3.6. Stray Light Corrections

Identifier: rac.corrections-stray-light

Threshold requirements:

Corrections are applied for stray light.

Metadata contains a single DOI landing page with references to:

Notes:

  1. Examples of technical documentation include an Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, product user guide, etc.
Goal requirements:

As threshold.

4. Geometric Corrections

The geometric corrections are steps that are taken to place the measurement accurately on the surface of the Earth (that is, to geolocate the measurement) allowing measurements taken through time to be compared. This section specifies any geometric correction requirements that must be met in order for the data to be analysis ready.

4.1. Geometric Correction

Identifier: gcor.corrections-geometric-sr

Threshold requirements:

Sub-pixel accuracy is achieved in relative geolocation, that is, the pixels from the same instrument and platform are consistently located, and are thus comparable, through time.

Sub-pixel accuracy is taken to be less than or equal to 0.5 pixel radial root mean square error (rRMSE) or equivalent in Circular Error Probability (CEP) relative to a defined reference image.

A consistent gridding/sampling frame is used, including common cell size, origin, and nominal sample point location within the cell (centre, ll, ur).

Relevant metadata must be provided under Section “General Metadata: Geometric Accuracy of the Data” and Section “General Metadata: Instrument”.

Notes:

  1. The threshold level will not necessarily enable interoperability between data from different sources as the geometric corrections for each of the sources may differ.
Goal requirements:

Sub-pixel accuracy is achieved relative to an identified absolute independent terrestrial referencing system (such as a national map grid).

A consistent gridding/sampling frame is necessary to meet this requirement.

Relevant metadata must be provided under Section “General Metadata: Geometric Accuracy of the Data” and Section “General Metadata: Instrument”.

Notes:

  1. This requirement is intended to enable interoperability between imagery from different platforms that meet this level of correction, and with non-image spatial data such as GIS layers and terrain models.

Introduction

This section aims to provide background and specific information on the processing steps that can be used to achieve analysis ready data for a specific and well-developed Product Family Specification. This Guidance material does not replace or override the specifications.

What is CEOS Analysis Ready Data?

CEOS-ARD are products that have been processed to a minimum set of requirements and organized into a form that allows immediate analysis with a minimum of additional user effort. In general, these products would be resampled onto a common geometric grid (for a given product) and would provide baseline data for further interoperability both through time and with other datasets.

CEOS-ARD products are intended to be flexible and accessible products suitable for a wide range of users for a wide variety of applications, including particularly time series analysis and multi-sensor application development. They are also intended to support rapid ingestion and exploitation via high-performance computing, cloud computing and other future data architectures. They may not be suitable for all purposes and are not intended as a replacement for other types of satellite products.

When can a product be called CEOS-ARD?

The CEOS-ARD branding is applied to a particular product once:

Agencies or other entities considering undertaking an assessment process should consult the CEOS-ARD Governance Framework.

A product can continue to use CEOS-ARD branding as long as its generation and distribution remain consistent with the peer-reviewed assessment.

What is the difference between Threshold and Goal?

Threshold (Minimum) requirements are the minimum that is needed for the data to be analysis ready. This must be practical and accepted by the data producers.

Goal (Desired) requirements (previously referred to as “Target”) are the ideal; where we would like to be. Some providers may already meet these.

Products that meet all threshold requirements should be immediately useful for scientific analysis or decision-making.

Products that meet goal requirements will reduce the overall product uncertainties and enhance broad-scale applications. For example, the products may enhance interoperability or provide increased accuracy through additional corrections that are not reasonable at the threshold level.

Goal requirements anticipate continuous improvement of methods and evolution of community expectations, which are both normal and inevitable in a developing field. Over time, goal specifications may (and subject to due process) become accepted as threshold requirements.

References

International Organization for Standardization. 2009. “Geographic information — Metadata — Part 2: Extensions for imagery and gridded data.” Standard. Geneva, CH: International Organization for Standardization.
Mills, Stephen, and Steven Miller. 2014. “VIIRS Day-Night Band (DNB) Calibration Methods for Improved Uniformity.” Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering 9218 (October): 921809. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2060143.
Román, Miguel O., Zhuosen Wang, Qingsong Sun, Virginia Kalb, Steven D. Miller, Andrew Molthan, Lori Schultz, et al. 2018. “NASA’s Black Marble Nighttime Lights Product Suite.” Remote Sensing of Environment 210: 113–43. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2018.03.017.
Ryan, Robert E., Mary Pagnutti, Kara Burch, Larry Leigh, Timothy Ruggles, Changyong Cao, David Aaron, Slawomir Blonski, and Dennis Helder. 2019. “The Terra Vega Active Light Source: A First Step in a New Approach to Perform Nighttime Absolute Radiometric Calibrations and Early Results Calibrating the VIIRS DNB.” Remote Sensing 11 (6). https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11060710.
Wang, Zhuosen, Miguel O. Román, Virginia L. Kalb, Steven D. Miller, Jianglong Zhang, and Ranjay M. Shrestha. 2021. “Quantifying Uncertainties in Nighttime Light Retrievals from Suomi-NPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS Day/Night Band Data.” Remote Sensing of Environment 263: 112557. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2021.112557.