Workflow components

The Satellite Observations of Plant PHYsiology virtual lab

One of the virtual laboratories (vLab) developed by LifeWatch ERIC - Virtual Laboratory and Innovation Centre (VLIC).
The Satellite Observations of Plant PHYsiology virtual lab (SOPPHY vLab) allows users to map and monitor physiological traits of plant species by combining satellite remote sensing observations with artificial intelligence and data assimilation techniques.

The SOPPHY vLab consists of several workflow components for processing high resolution and multi-spectral satellite imagery (see Figure 1). Users can perform state-of-the-art pre-processing of satellite remote sensing imagery to produce atmospherically corrected reflectance maps. Together with model emulators and neural networks, created from radiative transfer models using machine learning, users can retrieve plant traits (leaf area index, foliar chlorophyll and nitrogen) on a pixel basis. By ingesting species cover maps acquired by an AI spectral classification on high resolution satellite observations, users can disaggregate these into species traits maps.
Users can select various software tools within the different workflow components, depending on their requirements.

  • Satellite remote sensing pre-processing – Standardised Atmospheric correction (SIAC)
  • Machine Learning – training model emulators and neural networks from 1D (PROSAIL) and 3D (DART) radiative transfer models
  • AI spectral classification. Geographical mapping of plant species (through DeepForest & Ailanthus software tools)
  • Retrieval of plant traits. Inversion of radiative transfer models to retrieve leaf area index, foliar chlorophyll and nitrogen as species traits (through the MULTIPLY framework) from multiple satellite observations.
Bulgaria

The Bulgarian National Distributed Centre is represented by the  Agricultural University-Plovdiv.

To know more about how Bulgaria contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Spain

The Spanish National Distributed Centre is supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Regional Government of Andalusia and the Guadalquivir River Basin Authority (Ministry for Ecological Transition-MITECO). Moreover, Spain is the hosting Member State of LifeWatch ERIC, the location of its Statutory Seat & ICT e-Infrastructure Technical Office (LifeWatch ERIC Common Facilities). 

To know more about how Spain contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Slovenia

The Slovenian National Distributed Centre is led by the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU). It focuses on the development of technological solutions in the field of biodiversity and socio-ecosystem research.

To know more about how Slovenia contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Portugal

The Portuguese National Distributed Centre is managed by PORBIOTA, the Portuguese e-Infrastructure for Information and Research on Biodiversity. Led by BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, PORBIOTA connects the principal Portuguese research institutions working in biodiversity.

To know more about how Portugal contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Netherlands

The Dutch National Distributed Centre is hosted by the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam. Moreover, The Netherlands hosts one of the LifeWatch ERIC Common Facilities, the Virtual Laboratory and Innovation Centre.

To know more about how The Netherlands contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Italy

The Italian National Distributed Centre is led and managed by the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and is coordinated by a Joint Research Unit, currently comprising 35 members. Moreover, Italy hosts one of the LifeWatch ERIC Common Facilities, the Service Centre.

To know more about how Italy contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Greece

The Greek National Distributed Centre is funded by the Greek General Secretariat of Research and Technology and is coordinated by the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, in conjunction with 47 associated partner institutions.

To know more about how Greece contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Belgium

The Belgian National Distributed Centre makes varied and complementary in-kind contributions to LifeWatch ERIC. These are implemented in the form of long-lasting projects by various research centres and universities distributed throughout the country and supported by each respective political authority.

To know more about how Belgium contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.