The European Space Agency Tender

To Ensure High And Stable Quality Of Sar Data It Is Fundamental To Perform Calibration And Validation (cal/val) Tasks Both At The Early Days Of A Mission, But As Well Continuously During Its Operational Phase. For That, Reliable Reference Data And Consolidated Cal/val Procedures Are Required. Currently, Most Missions Design Their Own Calibration Network And Can/val Procedures Which Are Tailored To Specific Technical And Programmatic Needs. Although Those Procedures Often Rely On Common Principles, There Is No Guarantee That They Are Similar Enough To Support Cross Validation And Cross Calibration Between Different Missions. Even The Use Of Different Terminology Not Only Across Different Missions, But Within Different User Communities Can Jeopardize The Understanding Of Product Quality. This Is Further Complicated By Lack Of A Proper Error Propagation Within L1/l2 Chains And Incomplete Or Lacking Provision Of Pixel-wise Uncertainties. This Activity Goes Towards The Harmonization Of Cal/val Procedures, Terminology And Tools, And The Inclusion Of Metrology And Fiducial Reference Measurements (frm) Principles In Sar Cal/val Guidelines. Moreover, It Intends To Consolidate Sar Error Propagation Methods From Raw Data Up To Geophysical Measurements. It Shall Not Only Provide Theoretical Considerations Butshould Include The Demonstration Of A Multi-mission Harmonized Cal/val Exercise With A Reference Cal/val Tool And The Demonstrationof L1 To L2 Error Propagation