GREAT
GNSS REflectometry Artificial intelligence-enabled Test-bed
GREAT is a research and development project focused on the design, implementation, and validation of an advanced airborne GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS-R) test-bed, conceived as a technological precursor to the first Italian space mission dedicated to GNSS-R. The project aims to demonstrate the potential of GNSS-reflected signals for high-resolution monitoring of environmental and geophysical parameters over land and sea. GREAT is carried out by a consortium composed of universities and industrial partners, bringing together scientific expertise and engineering capabilities. Academic partners are responsible for the development of GNSS-R algorithms, signal modeling, data processing chains, and the validation of derived geophysical products. Industrial partners lead the design, procurement, integration, and verification of the airborne system, including hardware and software subsystems, on-board processing, and artificial intelligence components. The project foresees dedicated flight test campaigns at multiple altitudes and antenna configurations to assess system performance in realistic operational scenarios. The outcomes include the generation and validation of products such as sea surface wind speed, marine altimetry, soil moisture, and biomass indicators. Through system-level integration and extensive field testing, GREAT aims to consolidate key technologies for future operational and spaceborne GNSS-R missions.