An ontology-based approach for virtual constellation recommendation in remote sensing applications

Using virtual constellations to combine data from multiple satellites has become increasingly important for continuous monitoring of the Earth’s surface and environment. However, there is still a lack of a mechanism to effectively collect and promote these virtual constellations, limiting the applicability and reutilization of remote sensing data sources. This paper proposes an ontology-based approach including providing domain knowledge representation, data standardization, and semantic integration to manage and improve utilization of virtual constellations. Specifically, an ontology for virtual constellation recommendation is presented to represent and reason virtual constellation knowledge, including the composition of virtual constellations, related sensors, satellites, and remote sensing products. The ontology is developed using Protégé and validated through an application example of evapotranspiration. The model can recommend appropriate virtual constellations in specific application scenarios, supporting the reutilization, integration, and sharing of knowledge in the virtual constellation domain.