Overview

In this article, we explain how you can find the satellite imagery you need. The capture you are looking for may be already available, or you may need to request a new capture.

Keep reading to learn about:

• Area of interest (AOI)
• Archive imagery
• Tasking a new order
• Using image metadata to narrow your search

Start With Your Area of Interest (AOI)

AOI, short for Area of Interest, is the geographic area you need imagery for. On the LandEye platform, you can define an AOI directly on the map by placing points to create a rectangle or other geometric shape.

You can also enter the area coordinates to specify the exact location.

Define your AOI precisely, as it can significantly affect your imagery search. The imagery must intersect the selected area to appear as a relevant result. A large AOI can also return more imagery, making it harder to find the right capture.

Additionally, some imagery may cover only part of an AOI. For these reasons, accurately drawing the AOI or entering the correct coordinates is important when searching for satellite imagery.

What Is Archive Imagery?

Archive imagery is satellite imagery that has already been captured, is available for purchase, and can be received almost immediately. This type of imagery can be useful when you need a capture from a specific location and date, or when you want to find an existing satellite image without tasking a new order.

On LandEye, you can search archive imagery based on your requirements, such as your AOI and date range. If suitable archive imagery is available, there is no need to request a new capture.

What is the Meaning of Ordering a New Capture?

Tasking is the process of requesting a satellite provider to capture new imagery over a specific area. It can be useful when suitable archive imagery is not available or does not meet your requirements.

When submitting a tasking request, you typically specify requirements such as your AOI, desired acquisition window, resolution, imagery type, and acceptable cloud cover. These requirements help the provider determine which satellite and acquisition opportunity can meet your needs.

Tasking depends on satellite and provider availability, as well as acquisition conditions. For example, cloud cover can affect the ability to capture suitable optical imagery. As a result, a tasking request does not guarantee that a capture will be available at a specific time.

Understand the Metadata Behind Each Search Result

Metadata is information about a satellite image that helps users determine whether a capture meets their requirements.

A satellite image may look perfect at a glance, but you may still not know critical details about it by just looking at the capture. In particular, imagery metadata can reveal important information, such as:

• Acquisition date
• Area of interest (AOI)
• Resolution and GSD
• Cloud cover
• Imagery type
• Provider

Simply put, the image preview can show you what the image looks like in general, and metadata can confirm whether the imagery meets the project requirements.

Practical Tips to Refine Satellite Imagery Search

Fully understanding your requirements is the key to narrowing the search and finding suitable imagery faster. The following tips are also helpful:

• Define the AOI accurately and ensure the selected area covers the location you need. As explained, an unnecessarily large AOI leads to more results, which complicates finding the best capture.
• Use specific dates or date ranges, especially if the capture date matters.
• How much detail do you need in the imagery? Choose the GSD according to your needs and narrow the search. A higher resolution may not be necessary for every project and can unnecessarily limit your available options.
• Set a cloud cover filter to remove captures that are unlikely to be useful from results.
• Choose the appropriate imagery type based on the data your project requires.
• Always review the imagery metadata before selecting a capture. Relying on the imagery preview alone would be a mistake.
• Before tasking a new capture, check archived imagery. You may find what you need without waiting for a provider to accept your task and deliver the capture you are looking for.

Overall, the more precisely you define the requirements, the easier it is to narrow the search results and identify suitable imagery.

From Search to the Right Imagery Simply Explained

Given the details covered in this article, a satellite imagery search typically includes these seven steps:

• Specifying the exact area where you need imagery by drawing an AOI on the map or entering coordinates.
• Choosing factors like date, GSD, cloud cover, and imagery type, according to the project requirements.
• Searching among archived imagery to find out whether what you need is already available.
• Reviewing metadata of potentially suitable captures to confirm they match your requirements for the project.
• Compare appropriate results to select the one that is the best according to your needs.
• If no suitable imagery exists in the archive, consider submitting a request for a new capture.
• Add the appropriate imagery to your cart and purchase it after payment.

Satellite imagery search goes beyond simply finding an image of a particular location. The right capture should meet your requirements for location, acquisition time, technical specifications, and image quality.

Conclusion

LandEye brings satellite imagery from different providers together in one marketplace. This is how we make it easier for users to find the capture they need in the platform’s archive or submit a tasking request that matches their project requirements. You can precisely define your area of interest within our platform and clearly specify the characteristics you need in satellite imagery.