We are proud to celebrate Benjamin Page, an ESTS employee working alongside the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), who recently presented his latest research at the Ocean Optics XXVII conference in Ghent, Belgium (September 13–18, 2026).
Ben presented a poster highlighting vital progress toward establishing a fully operational, systematically generated aquatic reflectance dataset for the Landsat mission record.
Research Spotlight
- Poster Title: Toward Operational Readiness for a USGS Landsat Aquatic Reflectance Product
- Presenter: Benjamin Page (ESTS / USGS)
- Event: Ocean Optics XXVII (Ghent, Belgium | Sept 13–18, 2026)
Advancing Landsat Aquatic Reflectance for Collection 3
As the USGS prepares for its Collection 3 archive reprocessing planned for later this decade, Ben’s research focuses on transitioning Landsat Aquatic Reflectance (AR) from an on-demand, provisional capability into a fully operational, systematically generated Level 2 dataset.
Building upon the Landsat Operational Land Imager (OLI) 30-meter visible-to-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) data record, this operational transition will deliver routine, global-scale water-leaving reflectance measurements across the entire Landsat archive.
Strategic Impact & Community Standards
By integrating advanced atmospheric correction, cloud masking, and land/water delineation algorithms, the operational product leverages the long-term continuity, global reach, and radiometric stability of the Landsat program.
- CEOS ARD Alignment: Metadata structures are being developed in alignment with the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Analysis Ready Data (ARD) Product Family Specification (PFS) for Aquatic Reflectance to ensure full traceability, transparency, and community-wide interoperability.
- Environmental & Climatological Applications: The resulting standardized measurements will significantly enhance end-users’ ability to monitor surface water quality, evaluate coastal and inland ecosystem shifts, and analyze long-term climatological trends.
Congratulations, Ben!
Please join us in celebrating Ben for representing ESTS and the USGS on the global stage, contributing directly to the future of operational satellite aquatic remote sensing!
