NextGEOSS
Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) which can potentially be derived using Earth Observation (Remote Sensing-enabled EBVs – RS-EBVs) have been selected, prioritized and specified by SKIDMORE et al., 2015 and PETTORELLI et al., 2016. Within these RS-EBVs, the fractional vegetation cover, especially when split into the classes of vital photosynthetically active vegetation (PV), dry or dead non-photosynthetically active vegetation (NPV) and bare soil (BS), directly provides valuable information regarding Ecosystem Structure (land cover, distribution of vegetation patches and fragmentation), also contributing to the Ecosystem Function (above-ground biomass) and other EBVs.
DLR’s FCOVER processor will provide the means to derive these RS-based EBVs as a contribution to the NextGEOSS Pilot “BIODIVERSITY”. Together with additional EBVs (incl. LAI, vegetation phenology etc.) as inputs, the FCOVER processor generates additional information layers for the subsequent Habitat Monitoring processor.
NextGEOSS, the European Commission’s contribution to Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), is funded by the H2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 730329. NextGEOSS project consortium is currently working in the development of the data hub and platform, and promoting pilot activities towards innovative GEOSS powered applications.