10 Years of Airborne Imaging Spectroscopy within EUFAR

Since its creation in 2000, the European Facility for Airborne Research, EUFAR, evolved into the central network for the airborne research community in Europe. From the beginning until 2018, EUFAR has received funding within the different Framework Programmes of the European Commission. In January 2018, EUFAR became an AISBL (international non-profit association under Belgian law) establishing EUFAR as an independent legal structure and ensuring EUFAR’s future. In 2008, the prominence of hyperspectral remote sensing increased due to joining of the former HYRESSA (HYperspectral REmote Sensing in Europe specific Support Actions) consortium. Via EUFAR Transnational Access, different hyperspectral cameras have been made available to European researchers who do not have access to a suitable research infrastructure in their home country. In order that researchers should continue in future to have access to the most appropriate research aircraft and instrumentation to meet their science objectives independently of EC funding, EUFAR is now working to develop principles of Open Access (OA). EUFAR also offers the platform to exchange knowledge and promote best practice in airborne research through Expert Working Groups, of which several relate to issues of hyperspectral remote sensing (e.g. hyperspectral data processing, hyperspectral applications for soil, calibration and validation). Several training courses organized for the next-generation researchers have covered different scientific topics dealing with hyperspectral remote sensing. This presentation will give an overview of EUFAR and its achievements for the hyperspectral research community within the last 10 years