Timeline
Project progress · Updated 27 August 2026
HYDRA-EO roadmap: campaigns, modelling, validation, and transfer
HYDRA-EO is moving from its start-up and first campaign phase into the development of harmonised datasets, RTM-informed trait retrieval, and multi-site validation. This page connects project phases with concrete scientific and dissemination milestones.
Current activities
Late summer 2026 · Multi-country campaigns and the RTM-Suite release are completed or under way. The project is now turning these observations into a harmonised analysis-ready dataset and an operational processing chain.
Hyperspectral processing
Processing and quality control of field, UAV, airborne, and satellite hyperspectral observations, together with thermal and fluorescence products.
Integrated database
Building the project database that connects leaf and canopy measurements, plant physiology, biochemistry, disease assessments, and multi-scale EO data.
Processing & retrieval chain
Creating the reproducible HYDRA-EO pipeline for spectral harmonisation, RTM simulation, trait retrieval, and hybrid RTM-ML stress detection.
Project phases
2026 · Observe & establish
Active
- Scientific requirements and trait-stressor framework
- Field, UAV, airborne, and satellite campaigns
- RTM-Suite consolidation and public documentation
- First simulation libraries and inversion workflows
- Scientific dissemination and partner coordination
2027 · Develop & validate
Next phase
- Harmonised multi-country experimental datasets
- RTM sensitivity and sensor intercomparison
- Hybrid trait retrieval and disease-stress discrimination
- Cross-date, cross-crop, and cross-site validation
- UAV-to-satellite scaling and uncertainty assessment
2028 · Integrate & transfer
Planned
- Integrated HYDRA-EO processing framework
- Operational demonstrations and stakeholder-oriented outputs
- Scientific roadmap for FLEX, CHIME, LSTM, and related EO missions
- Training, open tools, publications, and final dissemination
Milestones in 2026
January-June 2026
Project foundations
Scientific requirements, use cases, crop-stressor priorities, consortium coordination, campaign design, and initial integration of modelling and Earth Observation workflows.
Completed
May-July 2026
Five Lelystad potato UAV campaigns
WU-DES conducted campaigns on 11 May, 16 June, 25 June, 1 July, and 21 July, combining VNIR hyperspectral, thermal, fluorescence/SIF, RGB, disease, and plant measurements. The final campaign supported comparison with the 19 July EnMAP acquisition.
Completed
June-August 2026
First airborne campaign cycle
Campaigns at El Chaparrillo, Valencia, and the Bologna region expanded the project across potato, olive, pistachio, and vineyard systems, including collaboration with CERBERUS, CIAG-IRIAF, IAS-CSIC, and regional plant-health partners.
Completed
9-14 August 2026
Two contributions presented at IGARSS 2026
HYDRA-EO research on forest productivity and early fungal detection was presented in Washington, D.C. The conference papers are available from the project News page.
Completed
27 August 2026
RTM-Suite public release
The R and Python ecosystem now connects leaf, canopy, soil, atmosphere, energy-balance, fluorescence, sensor convolution, and plant-trait inversion with 31 reproducible tutorials and interactive applications.
Released
31 August-5 September 2026
Late-summer campaign at El Chaparrillo
Planned repeat airborne and field acquisitions over olive and pistachio systems, combining VNIR-SWIR hyperspectral and thermal observations with physiological, biochemical, and disease reference measurements.
Upcoming
1 September 2026
Repeat vineyard observations in Italy
Follow-up campaign targeting vineyards affected by Flavescence dorée in collaboration with CERBERUS and Italian research partners.
Upcoming
15-17 September 2026
ICOS Science Conference 2026
José Luis Pancorbo will present accepted contributions on PROSAIL-based estimation of carbon constituents in alfalfa and the integration of PRISMA, Sentinel-2, and ICOS flux towers for ecosystem productivity monitoring.
Upcoming
Work-package status
The ten work packages operate as a connected programme rather than a strictly sequential list. Their current emphasis is summarised below.
Foundations & coordination Active throughout
- WP1 - Scientific requirement consolidation
- WP10 - Project management, reporting, risk, and contractual coordination
Observations & experimental data Primary 2026 focus
- WP2 - Field, UAV, airborne, satellite, and in-situ dataset collection
- WP4 - Experimental EO products, synthetic data, and stress-specific libraries
Models & scientific exploitation 2026-2027
- WP3 - RTM, sensitivity, sensor comparison, inversion, and validation
- WP5 - Trait analysis, stress dynamics, and UAV-to-satellite scaling
Impact, collaboration & roadmap Growing toward 2028
- WP6 - Agricultural relevance and stakeholder transfer
- WP7 - Scientific roadmap and recommendations for future missions
- WP8 - Collaboration with ESA, European projects, and research networks
- WP9 - Publications, conferences, training, open tools, and outreach
2026 observation phase: coordinated field, airborne, and satellite acquisitions.
2026-2027 modelling phase: RTM simulation, sensitivity, inversion, and validation.
Continue exploring
Scientific pipeline 2026 campaign update RTM-Suite tools Project news
© 2026 HYDRA-EO.
HYDRA-EO is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) under the EXPRO+ Tender “Crop Multiple Stressors, Pests and Diseases”. Action 1-12684.
