The Complicate Observations and Multi-Parameter Land Information Constructions on Allied Telemetry Experiment (COMPLICATE)

PLoS One. 2015 Sep 2;10(9):e0137545. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137545. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The Complicate Observations and Multi-Parameter Land Information Constructions on Allied Telemetry Experiment (COMPLICATE) comprises a network of remote sensing experiments designed to enhance the dynamic analysis and modeling of remotely sensed information for complex land surfaces. Two types of experimental campaigns were established under the framework of COMPLICATE. The first was designed for continuous and elaborate experiments. The experimental strategy helps enhance our understanding of the radiative and scattering mechanisms of soil and vegetation and modeling of remotely sensed information for complex land surfaces. To validate the methodologies and models for dynamic analyses of remote sensing for complex land surfaces, the second campaign consisted of simultaneous satellite-borne, airborne, and ground-based experiments. During field campaigns, several continuous and intensive observations were obtained. Measurements were undertaken to answer key scientific issues, as follows: 1) Determine the characteristics of spatial heterogeneity and the radiative and scattering mechanisms of remote sensing on complex land surfaces. 2) Determine the mechanisms of spatial and temporal scale extensions for remote sensing on complex land surfaces. 3) Determine synergist inversion mechanisms for soil and vegetation parameters using multi-mode remote sensing on complex land surfaces. Here, we introduce the background, the objectives, the experimental designs, the observations and measurements, and the overall advances of COMPLICATE. As a result of the implementation of COMLICATE and for the next several years, we expect to contribute to quantitative remote sensing science and Earth observation techniques.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Conservation of Natural Resources*
  • Remote Sensing Technology*
  • Telemetry*

Grants and funding

This work is mainly supported by two kinds of projects, the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (Grant No. 2013CB733400) and the National High Technology Research and Development Program ("863 Program") (Grant No.2011AA120400, 2011AA120405, 2012AA12A304, 2012AA12A306). Some work was jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (HiWATER, Grants No. 91125001, 91125002, 91125003, and 91125004). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.