The FLEX L2 and FLEX DISC projects: when plant fluorescence helps us better understand our planet
Since 2017, Magellium Artal Group has been actively contributing to the FLEX L2 and FLEX DISC projects of ESA's FLEX mission, from prototyping and developing the processing chains, to monitoring mission operations and performance throughout the FLEX satellite's operational life.
What is ESA's FLEX mission?
As part of ESA's Living Planet program to observe the Earth from space, the FLEX (for FLuorescence EXplorer) mission aims to gain a better understanding of the photosynthesis process by taking global measurements of plant fluorescence.
The FLEX hyperspectral satellite, designed specifically for the mission, will produce global maps to quantify photosynthesis activity and plant health and stress levels. The aim of the FLEX mission is to better understand how carbon is exchanged between plants and the atmosphere, and how photosynthesis affects the water and carbon cycles. These data are therefore essential for a better understanding of our planet, but also for addressing issues linked to world population growth, agricultural management and food production and safety.
The satellite is currently scheduled for launch in 2026.
The FLEX L2 project at Magellium Artal Group
Thanks to its solid expertise in radiative transfer, ground segment and sensor geometry, since 2017 Magellium Artal Group has been leading the scientific consortium made up of institutions from all over Europe(University of Valencia, Spain, University of Milano-Bicocca and University of Bologna, Italy). This first stage has enabled the prototyping of processing chains, taking charge of radiometric and geometric level 2 (L2) processing tasks, using tools such as MATLAB for algorithmic analysis and C++ for optimal data processing. This includes radiometric and spectral calibration, geometric co-registration, atmospheric characterisation, cloud detection, atmospheric correction, fluorescence signal extraction, biophysical parameter estimation and ortho-rectification.
This work has led to scientific advances that have been the subject of numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. The mission's performance level has been fine-tuned, and the algorithms are now considered mature enough for operational use.
ESA's confidence renewed with FLEX DISC
At the start of 2024, Magellium Artal Group has once again been selected to lead the FLEX DISC consortium for FLuorescence EXplorer Data Innovation and Science Cluster. The consortium comprises 14 European partners: Deimos, GMV (SP, UK, Pol), Finnish Meteorological Institute, JB Hyperspectral Devices GmbH, Forschungszentrum Jülich, University of Leicester, National Physical Laboratory, Serco, Terradue, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente and Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca and Magellium Artal Group. This project is the next step in the FLEX L2 study.
For a period of 6 years, i.e. until the end of the satellite's life, Magellium Artal Group will coordinate the entire project aimed at setting up the operational processing chains and performance center for the FLEX space mission, in order to ensure the performance of the data to be collected.
The project will be carried out in several stages:
- improving algorithms and user products
- development of operational processing chains and validation tools
- in-orbit validation
- routine operations
- performance monitoring
- leading the scientific community
The major effort will be devoted to the development of the Instrument Processing Facility (IPF), the processing chain dedicated to the optimal conversion of raw measurements into scientifically exploitable information. The improvement of algorithms, the development of operational processing chains and validation tools will establish the most efficient possible connection between instrument measurements and the final scientific product.
DISC FLEX is also a performance center bringing together the best European scientists in various fields: radiative transfer, vegetation fluorescence, biophysical parameters, surface temperature... Their aim will be to extract the most robust information from the raw signals to get the best out of the sensor and confirm the value of observing fluorescence from space.
