WaPOR Concepts and Validation

Welcome! 

Registration starts on 1st of June, 2023

Course launches on 15th of June, 2023 (In the meantime, we recommend that you follow (and complete) module 1 of the OCW Water Productivity and Water Accounting using WaPOR) 

This course aims to provide a better understanding of the theoretical concepts used to generate remote sensing based data on evapotranspiration and biomass production including their limitations. Specific attention will be given to the WaPOR database and how do a systematic validation of the data. 

Target Group: 

Early and mid-career water professionals with a technical background and a strong interest in new techniques for water use monitoring.

Pre-requisites: 

Preferably a relevant water and/or environmental science (agriculture, remote sensing, geoinformation, geography, or any other relevant) degree; basic working knowledge of remote sensing, spatial data, and analysis techniques.  For fundamentals of remote sensing, the following free online courses are recommended:

• Land in Focus – Basics of Remote Sensing 
  
• ARSET - Fundamentals of Remote Sensing

Recommendation to have finished module 1 of the OpenCourseWare on Water Productivity and Water Accounting using WaPOR before starting this OCW. Good command of the English language is required.

Learning Objectives:

Upon the successful completion of the course, the participants will be able to

1. Explain the principles of thermal remote sensing and surface energy balance concepts 
2. Identify global ET data products and categorize the approaches used for producing them
3. Explain WaPOR methodology and ETLook model
4. Describe spatial and temporal attributes of WaPOR database inputs
5. Explain the quality assurance cycle and the role of data validation
6. Describe validation techniques and steps for WaPOR data products
7. Calculate performance metrics to validate WaPOR data products (PCP, RET, AETI, NPP, biomass)
8. Discuss the limitations and challenges of ET models and WaPOR database products