BeiDou-Enabled Remote Sensing Experiment Enhances Ecological Monitoring in Yellow River Delta

A large-scale space-air-ground integrated scientific experiment, part of the "BeiDou-enabled Remote Sensing Application Pilot Program," was carried out from July 20 to August 15 at the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve.

This experiment involved comprehensive data collection from various payloads onboard aerial manned aircraft, high-resolution remote sensing satellites, BeiDou precision positioning buoys, and synchronized ground-based instruments.

Using the Modern Ark 60 remote sensing aircraft, the team integrated four payloads—optical, multi-dimensional SAR, hyperspectral, and LiDAR—to overcome extreme weather conditions like rainstorms, high winds, humidity, and intense heat. The aircraft completed about 10 flights, collecting 28.5 TB of aerial data, and over 2,300 ground samples were collected using synchronized ground-based instruments, including key carbon parameters and soil data. The collected data formed a multi-platform, high-resolution dataset to support precise ecological quality assessments of the Yellow River Delta.

Led by the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the experiment saw participation from numerous institutions such as Beijing Jiaotong University, the Institute of Oceanology, and Tsinghua University, and was supported by the Ecological Monitoring Center of the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, including the Yiqianer, Dawenliu, and Yellow River Estuary Management Stations.

The "BeiDou-enabled Remote Sensing Application Pilot Program", which was launched in 2021, integrates BeiDou navigation satellite system with high-resolution remote sensing applications. Focusing on the core demonstration area of Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, the program addresses the limitations of traditional monitoring methods. It advances the precise monitoring of ecological patterns, carbon sequestration capabilities, and ecosystem health assessments, contributing to improved ecological management and restoration efforts in the region.