On October 22nd, 2025, as part of the GIST-NASA-MIT Workshop, participants including Professor Dara Entekhabi (MIT) and Dr. Simon Yueh (NASA JPL) visited the GIST-NASA Core Validation Site in Hampyeong, South Korea. This field site serves as one of Korea’s key locations for calibrating and validating satellite-based soil moisture observations, integrating various ground sensors and AI-driven monitoring systems.
Upon arrival, visitors were welcomed by GIST researchers and students who introduced the ongoing field experiments and real-time observation systems. The site will be equipped with ELBARA-III L-band radiometers, GNSS-IR sensors, flux towers, and is equipped with soil and vegetation monitoring stations (TEROS-12, ZL6), which together provide valuable data for validating satellite missions such as SMAP, NISAR, and CYGNSS.
A highlight of the visit was the drone flight demonstration, where GIST researchers showcased the integration of drone-mounted radiometers, LiDAR, multispectral, and thermal cameras for high-resolution soil moisture and vegetation mapping. The live demonstration illustrated how UAV-based remote sensing complements satellite observations, offering flexibility in capturing local-scale hydrological processes.
Both Professor Entekhabi and Dr. Yueh expressed great interest in the site’s multi-scale observation framework and its potential for future collaboration. They also discussed opportunities to link GIST’s field data with NASA mission calibration activities and to develop AI-assisted retrieval methods for future hydrology satellites.
The visit concluded with group discussions and photos, marking a significant step toward strengthening Korea–NASA collaborative research in Earth observation and hydrological science.
