DLR - Earth Observation Center

Prof. Dr. Stefan Dech
Director DFD, Oberpfaffenhofen

Prof.Dr. Richard Bamler
Director IMF, Oberpfaffenhofen

Earth Observation Center - For Earth into Space

Dear visitors, welcome to the Earth Observation Center (EOC) of the DLR.
The EOC comprises the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) and the Remote SensingTechnology Institute (IMF), at work in Oberpfaffenhofen, Neustrelitz and Berlin-Adlershof. We conduct research in the field of remote sensing, and develop analytic methodologies and customized solutions for issues in environment and climate, mobility and planning, civil security, and prevention and management of natural catastrophes. We operate satellite receiving stations in Germany and abroad, distribute data and information products to users, and safeguard all data long-term. We cooperate closely with other research institutions, universities, public authorities and the private sector. We provide training for students in a number of science and engineering disciplines. Feel free to contact us for more information.

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	Charles Bolden, head of NASA visits the EOC May 07, 2012 In the course of his tour of Germany, the head of NASA, Charles Bolden, visited DLR’s Earth Observation Center EOC. He expressed his appreciation for EOC’s geoscience work: “Only by close cooperation, both in producing valuable data and in dedicated research can we improve living conditions all over the planet.”
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Award for the Project Wildlife Finder: Nature Conservation Prize 2012

April 21, 2012
In recognition of an outstanding contribution toward protecting native species and nature conservation as part of the “Wildlife Finder” project, the Jägervereinigung Oberhessen e.V. awarded the project team its Nature Conservation Prize 2012. In addition to the Remote Sensing Technology Institute of DLR, which had the scientific supervision of the BMBF-sponsored Wildlife Finder project (2008-2011), the other partners honored were CLAAS Saulgau GmbH (project coordination), ISA Industrieelektronik GmbH, and teams in the ultra-high-frequency technology specialty division of Munich Technical University (TUM) and at the Institute of Agricultural Technology at Hohenheim University.

Virtual Observatory launched at the Zugspitze

April 19, 2012
The Schneefernerhaus Environmental Research Station, Germany's loftiest research station at 2650 meters altitude, some 300 meters below the peak of the Zugspitze, has allied itself with Sonnblick Observatory in Austria, the Jungfraujoch/Gornergrat Observertary in Switzerland, and the European Academy EURAC in Italy to form a "Virtual Alpine Observatory."

Successful test flights of HySpex

March 15, 2012
EOC's new hyperspectral sensor system HySpex received airworthiness certification for DLR's research aircraft Cessna C 208B. Operator training by the manufacturer NEO (Norsk Elektro Optikk) and system tests were performed on the subsequent days. Due to perfect weather conditions it was possible to collect a valuable set of hyperspectral image data above DLR's test field in Kaufbeuren. Data analysis has started to assess sensor performance for various sensor settings. All involved persons are enthusiastic about the first results.

obsAIRve - air quality forecasts now online

March 09, 2012
"How clean is my air?" People, businesses and public authorities across Europe can now find this out online – the new 'obsAIRve' service portal provides rolling three-day forecasts and current observations of air quality for places and regions across Europe. All information is presented in a clear and easily understandable way. Smartphone owners can also obtain this information with an 'App'.

Balloon in the Sky: Onset of BHEA measurement campaign to improve climate models

February 24, 2012
The first measurement balloons are in the air, and by April 30, 2012 a total of 90 of these climate probes will be successively launched on a search for data. Starting from Oberpfaffenhofen, their purpose is to record wind velocities and temperatures, especially at elevations from 12 to 30 kilometers. This measurement campaign is being carried out by the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) in cooperation with the Schneefernerhaus environmental research station and subsidized by the Bavarian Ministry of Environment and Health. The BHEA project team is investigating the role of alpine mountain ranges in the transport of energy into the atmosphere.

SCIAMACHY Book Receives Award

February 06, 2012
In March 2002 SCIAMACHY was launched into low earth orbit on board the ENVISAT satellite. Since then the instrument—developed and provided by the space agencies of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium—has led to detailed insights into the earth’s atmosphere and global climate change. With strong support from DLR, the Springer publishing house brought out In January 2011 as part of its Earth Sciences series the book SCIAMACHY – Exploring the Changing Earth’s Atmosphere, which describes all aspects of the SCIAMACHY mission. Atmospheric Science Librarians International (ASLI) has now awarded this book the designation ‘2011 ASLI Choice’ in the fields of meteorology, climatology and atmospheric sciences.

MdB Willsch visits EOC Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information

February 03, 2012
On February 3, 2012 Klaus-Peter Willsch, a member of the German parliament, visited the German Aerospace Center in Oberpfaffenhofen. At DLR’s Earth Observation Center (EOC), the chairman of the parliament’s Aeronautics and Space group was informed about the work of the Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information (ZKI).

Remote Sensing Technology Institute: “Featured Location 2012”

February 03, 2012
DLR’s Remote Sensing Technology Institute (IMF) in Oberpfaffenhofen was selected as a “Featured Location 2012” based on its project “Flying Wildlife Finder.” This makes it one of the winners in the competition “365 locations in a country with ideas” organized by the nation-branding initiative “Germany – A Country with Ideas” in cooperation with Deutsche Bank. Under the patronage of the German president and Deutsche Bank this initiative annually awards a prize to 365 outstanding projects and ideas which are making a lasting contribution toward Germany’s ability to meet the challenges of the future. As an award winner, in 2012 IMF is an ambassador for the country with ideas and represents Germany’s potential for innovation.
In a long sequence of methodological experimentation and prototypes developed by IMF together with its partners in recent years to protect wild animals during the springtime mowing season, the “Flying Wildlife Finder” is a promising new approach.

Exhibition "Viewing Earth from Space": 75 years of research in Oberpfaffenhofen

January 24, 2012
This year Oberpfaffenhofen celebrates its 75th anniversary as a research locality. Commemorations began on January 24, 2012 with a vernissage at the Starnberg district administration offices, where the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Oberpfaffenhofen has assembled a collection of over 50 satellite images presenting an unusual look at Planet Earth. The "Viewing Earth from Space" exhibit was organized together with the business development agency gfw Starnberg mbH.