Metrology
for Earth
Observation

Met4EO Training on Uncertainty Analysis for Earth Observation Datasets

• Introducing the principles of uncertainty analysis

  NPL will host and lead the Introducing the principles of uncertainty analysis workshop — a 1.5 day training course introducing the principles of uncertainty analysis, supported by a suite of open-source software tools designed to help participants apply these concepts in practice.

  Kicking off with core fundamentals, participants will be encouraged to complete a free online preparatory course. Registered attendees will receive access details.

  The training will include guided, hands-on exercises using example datasets, and—where feasible—participants will have the opportunity to explore their own data with support from NPL experts.

  The course has been developed as part of the Metrology for Earth Observation (Met4EO) project, an ESA-funded initiative led by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to improve the reliability and interoperability of Earth Observation data through rigorous metrological methods. Met4EO delivers open-source tools, AI-supported sensor intercomparison techniques, practical training, and new frameworks for evaluating uncertainties in products such as land cover maps and radar-altimetry measurements. It also provides the CEOS Calibration Dashboard, enabling satellite operators to assess radiometric performance using international reference sites, supporting ESA’s drive toward high-quality, analysis-ready EO data.

• Related events

  To complement the workshop, a half-day FRM workshop takes place on the afternoon of 20 May (also at NPL), focused on the organisation/analysis of comparison exercises.

  Comparison with peers and or similar facilities are a key mechanism to evidence an achieved uncertainty from Cal/Val activities — and this workshop (via EO-related examples - will tillustrate and discuss comparisons and associated analysis/reporting processes.

  For details and about how to preprare slides for dicussions, see: Comparison Workshop, a space to share how comparisons between satellite datasets and Fiducial Reference Measurements are carried out in practice.

• Location

  IQST, National Physical Laboratory, Bushey Road, Teddington, TW11 0EB, UK

  
• Agenda

  Day	Time	Session
  Thu 21	08:30–09:00	Registration and tea / coffee
  Thu 21	09:00–10:30	Presentations and Q&A • Welcome and context • Key concepts in uncertainty analysis • QA4EO 5 step approach • Error correlation
  Thu 21	10:30–11:00	Break
  Thu 21	11:00–11:30	Practical measurement example using the MetEOC spectrometer system. Proposed example: spectral reflectance of various surfaces vs a Spectralon tile
  Thu 21	11:30–12:30	Breakout group practical workshop: Uncertainty tree diagrams – spectrometer example, plus time to work on your own, compare with others, and ask questions
  Thu 21	12:30–13:30	Lunch
  Thu 21	13:30–14:15	Breakout group practical workshop: Effects tables – spectrometer example, plus time to work on your own, compare with others, and ask questions
  Thu 21	14:15–15:15	CoMet tutorial: Uncertainty propagation methods with punpy
  Thu 21	15:15–15:45	Break
  Thu 21	15:45–16:15	CoMet tutorial: Uncertainty propagation for spectrometer example
  Thu 21	16:15–16:45	Presentation on parameterising error correlation information and UNC standard
  Thu 21	16:45–17:30	CoMet tutorial: Handling error correlation in your datasets with obsarray and UNC
  Thu 21	18:30	Non-hosted dinner at Anglers Pub
  Fri 22	09:00–09:45	Presentations and Q&A • Error correlations in FRMs and comparisons to satellites • Validating uncertainties through comparisons • MetEOR toolkit
  Fri 22	09:45–10:30	Tutorial: Satellite validation using RadCalNet and HYPERNETS
  Fri 22	10:30–11:00	Break
  Fri 22	11:00–12:00	Discussion session, general Q&A, feedback
  Fri 22	12:00	Finish

• Social

  Lunch and refreshments will be provided for participants Wednesday and Thursday. On Thursday evening there will be a non-hosted dinner at the Anglers Pub. For the latter we require an advance payment. More details on selecting menus and the payment of these will be shared with the participants in near future.

  For all NPL events we aim to accommodate specific needs and personal circumstances, but are reliant on individuals sharing this information with us. If you have any specific requirements or adjustments to support your attendance (whether in person or virtual), please do let us know by emailing events@npl.co.uk, so that we can discuss how we can best support you. Any information shared will be confidential and deleted after the event.

• Training materials

  Links to presentations and exercises

  Presentations, exercises, and resources to be accessed during the uncertainty training will be made available here.

  Online training course

  An online training course has been developed in paralell; now accessible via NPL's training platform at: Uncertainty Analysis and Quality Assurance for Earth Observation Datasets.

   

  

  The self‑paced course provides in‑depth background material, practical examples, and supporting resources that underpin concepts covered in the workshop. Completion will enable participants to engage more fully with the in-person training sessions, follow technical discussions with confidence, and arrive prepared with informed questions.