Research aircraft DO 228-212 (D-CFFU) travelling in France and Spain for remote sensing projects (earth/environment)
In June and July, DLR's Optical Airborne Remote Sensing (OpAiRS) user service is carrying out a series of measurement flights for remote sensing of the Earth and the environment with the DO-228 (D-CFFU) research aircraft stationed in Oberpfaffenhofen. On board are the HySpex imaging spectrometer system (DLR - HySpex sensor in Oberpfaffenhofen) and the 3K camera system from the Remote Sensing Technology Institute. DLR researchers use the aerial images from the 3K system with a resolution of a few centimetres in combination with the spectral information from the HySpex system to derive a wide range of information about the atmosphere, urban buildings and transport infrastructure.
For the DLR Impulse Project ELK (EmissionsLandKarte (ELK) | DLR Verkehr), aerial images of motorway sections in France and Spain are being collected to estimate traffic volumes, which will ultimately contribute to the validation and improvement of European traffic models.
As part of the Digital Atlas 2.0 project, measurements are being carried out over Marseille, from which scientists can obtain information about photovoltaic systems installed on roofs in order to determine the solar potential. The aim is to use the methods globally with the help of satellites after they have been tested and further developed using aircraft measurements.
DLR is also investigating methane emissions from two landfill sites near Madrid in cooperation with the University of Heidelberg and the Federal Environment Agency. The aim of the field experiment is to improve existing methods for detecting and measuring methane sources using space-based measuring devices. The combination of airborne and ground-based measurements will contribute to a better understanding of the temporal development of the plumes. The knowledge gained will then be integrated into the evaluation procedures for satellite data in order to improve the quality of the data products generated.