IPL-HRTM
IPL Contribution to the Scientific Exploitation of the High-Resolution Thermal Missions: LSTM, TRISHNA, SBG
Developing algorithms and products from the next generation of high-resolution thermal satellites — providing, for the first time, land surface temperature at ~50 m resolution with a 2-day revisit. Funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science.
Funded by
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación · Plan Estatal I+D+i 2021–2023 · Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento
Contributing to 3 space missions
ESA · Copernicus
CNES · ISRO
NASA · ASI
What we do
Project Structure
IPL-HRTM is organized into 6 work packages covering the full chain from raw satellite data to real-world applications.
WP2 · Surface Temperature Retrieval
- New LST algorithms for LSTM/TRISHNA/SBG at ~50 m resolution
- Atmospheric correction models for the thermal infrared range
- Uncertainty quantification for operational products
- Comparison and cross-validation with Landsat 9 and ECOSTRESS
WP3 · Derived Products
- Water stress indices and evapotranspiration maps
- Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) indices for European cities
- Hotspot detection: fires, volcanic activity, peat fires
- Coastal Sea Surface Temperature (CSST) for Spanish coasts
WP4 · Calibration & Validation
- 6 permanent autonomous stations across Spain (since 2011)
- Intensive field campaigns in Spain, France, Italy, USA, India
- New ICOS-integrated station at La Mudarra (Valladolid, 100 m tower)
- Collaboration with NASA, ESA, CNES, ONERA, King's College London
WP5 · Real-World Applications
- Water management prototype for agricultural areas (ES, IT, FR)
- Thermal comfort mapping in urban areas
- Wheat and rice crop yield estimation from thermal data
- Coastal water quality, algae bloom, and thermal plume detection
Why it matters
Real-World Impact
High-resolution thermal data at 50 m and 2-day revisit enables applications that were simply not possible before.
Water Management
Precision irrigation scheduling from crop water stress maps. Helping farmers use water more efficiently across Spain, Italy, and France.
Urban Heat Stress
Mapping thermal discomfort in cities at field scale. Informing green infrastructure and climate adaptation policies.
Crop Yield Forecasting
Integrating thermal data into models for wheat and rice yield prediction, connected to ground truth from harvesting machines.
Fire & Hazard Monitoring
Near-real-time detection of forest fires, volcanic hotspots, and peat or coal fires critical for emergency response.
Coastal Waters
Detecting algae blooms, thermal plumes, and pollutant discharges along Spanish coastlines.
Climate Adaptation
LST at high resolution and high frequency is a key variable for understanding land-atmosphere interactions in a warming climate.
Who's behind it
Global Change Unit
The GCU is a research group of the Image Processing Laboratory (IPL) at the University of Valencia, with over 25 years of experience in thermal remote sensing. Our PI, Prof. José Antonio Sobrino, has authored 250+ articles (26,000+ citations, h-index 73) and is a member of the ESA LSTM Mission Advisory Group.
Cal/Val Station Network
6 autonomous stations · operating since 2011
International collaborations