19-21 November 2024

International Science Workshop
on
High-Resolution Thermal Earth Observation



Register

About Workshop

The Indian and French Space Agencies, ISRO and CNES, are jointly developing a state-of-the-art Thermal InfraRed (TIR) - Visible Shortwave InfraRed (VSWIR) Imaging Satellite mission, TRISHNA for high-resolution natural resources assessment and monitoring. The satellite is planned to be launched on-board Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) during 2026 for a duration of 5 years with possible extension of 2 years. The satellite will acquire data for the entire globe in four (4) TIR bands around noon and midnight times as well as in seven (7) VSWIR spectral bands. TRISHNA has a unique specification to offer a spatial resolution of 60 meters with a revisit period of 3 days at equator and more at higher latitudes to the global community. A primary objective of TRISHNA mission is to provide consistent and systematic records of surface temperature, in addition to several biophysical variables, to model the surface energy balance allowing to derive heat fluxes and estimate evapotranspiration. The need for high-resolution thermal observation has been recognized also internationally leading to complementary missions in preparation like Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) (NASA/ASI) and Land Surface Temperature Monitoring (LSTM) (ESA/EC). To reach out to the Indian and global science community and various user agencies/departments for awareness creation and larger involvement in the utilization of TRISHNA data and science products, a 3-day workshop is planned to be organized by ISRO during November 19 - 21, 2024. In preamble of the workshop, tutorials will be conducted on modelling tools for thermal radiative transfer, surface energy balance and evapotranspiration during November 17 - 18, 2024 at Ahmedabad.

About Tutorial

Prior to the workshop, two-day tutorial will be organized at SAC Bopal Technical Campus, Ahmedabad for students and young researchers during November 17-18, 2024 having experience in the field of remote sensing especially with thermal data and surface energy balance models. The tutorial will largely cover basics of thermal remote sensing, radiative transfer models, retrieval, surface energy balance and evapotranspiration modelling. The selection of candidates will be carried out by a designated committee. Faculties for this tutorial are eminent scientists from India and abroad. The detailed schedule of the tutorial will be announced later.

Deadlines

Registration deadline for workshop 30 September 2024
Abstract submission deadline 30 September 2024
Registration deadline for pre-workshop tutorial 7 October 2024
Intimation of acceptance for pre-workshop tutorial 15 October 2024
Intimation of acceptance of abstract 15 October 2024
Presentation upload deadline for workshop 11 November 2024

Objectives

  • Scientific updates on applications of thermal and optical data within Earth system research.
  • Current and planned international high resolution thermal missions for terrestrial and coastal applications.
  • Science products generation, product validation and data dissemination
  • Creating awareness and capacity building for simultaneous use of high-resolution thermal and optical data.
  • Operational applications development for societal benefit areas using high resolution thermal and simultaneously with optical data.
  • Developing international cooperation on product calibration-validation, harmonization and applications.

Workshop Themes

  • A. Earth system research and scientific appraisal
    • Ecosystem stress and water use (i.e. Monitoring of water & energy exchange of the continental biosphere)
    • Coastal and inland waters (i.e. monitoring of meso-scale, sub meso-scale dynamics).
    • Urban (i.e. Monitoring of fluxes of urban surfaces)
    • Solid Earth (i.e. Monitoring of volcanology, sub-surface fire etc.)
    • Cryosphere (i.e. Monitoring of snow-melt run-off, glacier debris, high-altitude lake dynamics)
    • Atmosphere (i.e. Monitoring aerosols, water vapor, cloud type)
  • B. Mission calibration and data validation plans, data quality assurance and uncertainty quantification
  • C. Applications development for societal benefit areas
    • Drought assessment for early mitigation of crop failures
    • Irrigation management through optimal irrigation scheduling based on crop water requirements and improving water use efficiency
    • Crop monitoring and yield forecasting
    • Snowmelt-runoff rate forecast modelling for reservoir operations in summer months.
    • Agromet advisory services for the benefit of farmers
    • Urban heat island dynamic mapping & issuance of heat alerts/ warnings
    • Sub-surface coal fire & thermal anomaly for managing coal fires
    • Coastal and inland water quality and thermal pollution monitoring
  • D. Exploring synergies with other current and future space-based systems (e.g. Landsat, Copernicus Sentinels, LSTM and SBG missions)

Organizing Committee

Patron
 1 S. Somanath Chairman, ISRO & Secretary, Department of Space (DoS)
 2 Philippe Baptiste Chief Executive Officer, CNES
Co- Patron
 1 N. M. Desai Director, Space Applications Center (SAC), Ahmedabad
 2 M. Sankaran Director, URSC, Bengaluru
 3 Shantanu Bhatawdekar Scientific Secretary, ISRO, Bengaluru
 4 Prakash Chauhan Director, NRSC, Hyderabad
Scientific Advisory Committee
 1 Thierry M. Carlier, CNES Member
 2 Philippe Maisongrande, CNES Member
 3 Philippe Gamet, CNES Member
 4 Jean-Louis Roujean, CESBIO Member
 5 Gilles Boulet, CESBIO Member
 6 Benjamin Koetz, ESA Member
 7 Simon J. Hook, JPL/NASA Member
 8 Ferran Gascon, ESA Member
 9 Charles E. Miller, NASA Member
 10 Steffen Dransfeld, ESA Member
 11 Bill Kustas, USDA Member
 12 Martha Anderson, USDA Member
 13 Kanishka Mallick, LIST Member
 14 Sekhar Muddu, IISC Member
 15 Rashmi Sharma, SAC Member
 16 A. M. Nagalakshmi, URSC Member
 17 D. Gowri Sankar, ISRO HQ Member
 18 J. V. Thomas, ISRO HQ Member
 19 S. Bandyopadhyay, ISRO HQ Member
 20 Mehul R Pandya, SAC Member
 21 Pravin K Gupta, SAC Member
 22 P. K. Thapliyal, SAC Member
 23 John Mathew, ISRO HQ Member
 24 K. Chandrasekar, NRSC Member
 25 R. Hebbar, NRSC Member
 26 Pramod Kumar, IIRS Member
 27 Bijay Handique, NESAC Member
 28 Neeraj Agarwal, SAC Member
 29 Bimal Kumar Bhattacharya , SAC Convener

Broad Agenda

Tuesday : 19 November, 2024

  • 1.1 Inaugural/Opening session (Welcome, workshop objectives, addresses, two plenary lectures on Terrestrial Ecosystem & Coastal Water – global & Indian perspectives). (900-1100 Hrs)
  • 1.2 International thermal EO mission initiatives (TRISHNA, LSTM, SBG, Landsat-Next). (1130-1215 Hrs)
  • 1.3 Thermal EO mission initiatives by start-ups / New Space. (1215-1300 Hrs)
  • 1.4 Retrieval algorithm development for surface and atmospheric properties. (1400-1530 Hrs)
  • 1.5 Synergy & Harmonization among international thermal EO. (1600-1700 Hrs)
  • 1.6 Poster session/short talks. (1700-1800 Hrs)

Wednesday : 20 November, 2024

  • 2.1 Agriculture, Natural Vegetation, Evapotranspiration & Water management – Process modelling. (900-1100 Hrs)
  • 2.2 Coastal & inland water – Process modelling. (1130-1215 Hrs)
  • 2.3 Eco-hydrology / Ecosystem & Water Cycle. (1215-1300 Hrs)
  • 2.4 Urban heat island & microclimate. (1400-1530 Hrs)
  • 2.5 Geology & Cryosphere applications. (1600-1700 Hrs)
  • 2.6 Poster session/short talks. (1700-1800 Hrs)
  • Thursday : 21 November, 2024

    • 3.1 Calibration & Validation of Science Products – absolute & vicarious calibration, Airborne / Drone-based campaigns. (900-1100 Hrs)
    • 3.2 Downstream applications. (1130-1215 Hrs)
    • 3.3 User perspectives. (1215-1300 Hrs)
    • 3.3 Recommendations & wrap-up. (1400-1530 Hrs)

    Note:The final agenda and detailed programme schedule of pre-workshop tutorial and science workshop will be given one week before the event

Suggested Accommodation Details

Sr.no Hotel Address Website Approx distance from SAC(km)
1 Hotel Novotel Iscon Cross Roads, Sarkhej -Gandhinagar Hwy,next to Wide Angle Cinema,Ahmedabad,Gujarat 3800115 Click here 2 km
2 Hotel Crowne Plaza Sarkhej- Gandhinagar Hwy,near Shapath V,Prahlad Nagar,Ahmedabad,Gujarat 380015 Click here 2 km
3 Hotel Courtyard Marriott Ramdev Nagar Cross Road,Satellite Rd,Satellite,Ahmedabad,Gujarat 380015 Click here 0.5 km
4 Hotel Pride Plaza Judges Bungalow Rd, off Sarkhej - Gandhinagar Highway,Bodakdev,Ahmedabad,Gujarat 380054 Click here 2 km
5 Hotel Holiday Inn Express 1 Besides, Venus Atlantis, Plot No.38,Prahlad Nagar,Ahmedabad,Gujarat 380015 Click here 3 km
6 Hotel Suba Star Judges Bungalow Rd,next to Akash Towers, Bodakdev,Ahmedabad,Gujarat 380015 Click here 2 km

Note: Contact the Hotel for Accommodation. You may choose any other hotel in the areas of Prahlad Nagar, Satellite Area, SG Highway or Judges Bunglow Road. These areas are within 3 km of SAC.

About SAC

The Space Applications Centre (SAC) is a pivotal research and development arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), headquartered in Ahmedabad. Established in 1972, SAC has been instrumental in harnessing space technology for national development and societal benefit. SAC's core competency lies in designing and developing space-borne and airborne instruments, or payloads, for various applications. These payloads are essential components of satellites, collecting data for communication, navigation, and remote sensing purposes. In the realm of communication, SAC has developed transponders for INSAT and GSAT satellites, enabling services like VSAT, DTH, internet, broadcasting, and telephony. The centre is also at the forefront of India's navigation systems, developing payloads for IRNSS and GAGAN. The SAC is also responsible for designing and developing optical and microwave sensors for satellites. The data collected is processed into valuable information for applications in agriculture, environment, climate change, oceanography, and more. Beyond its research and development activities, SAC plays a crucial role in education and outreach. It conducts postgraduate diploma courses in satellite meteorology and communication and operates in-house and mobile exhibitions to popularize space technology.

About ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India's premier space agency, responsible for the nation's space program. ISRO was founded in 1962 under the visionary leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. ISRO’s mission encompasses a wide spectrum of activities, including satellite design and development, launch vehicle technology, space exploration, and the application of space technology for national development. The organisation has achieved remarkable milestones, such as developing the PSLV and GSLV launch vehicles, successfully launching numerous satellites, and undertaking ambitious lunar and planetary missions. ISRO's contributions extend beyond space exploration. Its technologies have found applications in various sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, telecommunications, and meteorology. With a focus on self-reliance and innovation, ISRO has emerged as a global leader in space technology.

Venue Details

Science Workshop
International Science Workshop on High-Resolution Thermal Earth Observation will be held at Yashpal auditorium of Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Space Applications Centre (SAC) is located at the heart of Ahmedabad city. Ahmedabad is well connected by road, rail and air. Nearest railway station Ahmedabad Junction (Kalupur) is approximately 10 km and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is approximately 15 km from SAC. The Yashpal auditorium, at SAC, has sitting capacity for 500 persons and is well equipped with audio-visual facilities, lounge and conference room.

Pre-workshop tutorial
The pre-workshop tutorial will be conducted at Space Applications Centre (SAC), Bopal Technical Campus, Bopal, Ahmedabad (Opposite to Delhi Public School), Gujarat, India. This campus is approximately 9 km away from the main campus. This campus hosts the training programmes related to Satellite Communication and Meteorology activities of the Centre for Space Science & Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTE-AP) affiliated to the United Nations (UN).

About Ahmedabad

"Ahmedabad, a world heritage site and the largest city in Gujarat". It is located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, 30km from the state capital Gandhinagar. The city is well connected with major Indian cities by air, rail and road. Space Applications Centre (ISRO) is situated at the western part of Ahmedabad city and can be reached by road from Ahmedabad airport (15km), railway station (10km) an Interstate bus terminus (10km).The weather in Ahmedabad remains dry and warm during the month of November with temperature ranging from 20°C to maximum 32°C approximately. An exciting combination of traditions and modernism,Ahmedabad captures all visitors with its diversity of places, religious and ethnic communities. It is interesting to see how Indian atmosphere mix with the colonial British influence, how Hinduism, the world's oldest existing religion develops in the globalising world.

The graphic below shows the connectivity of the venue with airport (15 km) and railway station (10 km). BRTS connectity exists till SAC gate.

Contact Us

  • Agriculture, Forestry and Ecosystem Sciences and Applications Group,
    Earth & Planetary Sciences and Applications Area (EPSA),
    Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad 380015, Gujarat, India
  • 91-79-26914356 / 4020 (Office)
    Availability : 09:30 AM to 05:30 PM IST, on working days
  • thermal_eo@sac.isro.gov.in