How Imagery is Processed, Stored and Delivered
Processing
Albedo satellite images are processed into end-user data products automatically when either a new image is collected by one of our satellites or when an existing image is recalled from offline storage (more on that below). In keeping with the SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC) model, we call these data products assets. Each new image collected by a satellite is assigned a unique id called the image_id
. Each newly collected image results in the production of several assets. Thus, each image_id
can be linked to several or many assets.
Albedo asset types are designed to fit a specific set of end-user needs. We think of four broad categories of users when designing our asset types. The categories are:
- View Ready: Users wanting to view imagery in a desktop, mobile, or web application. These assets types will start with the prefix
view_ready
- COMING SOON Analysis Ready: Users wanting to analyze imagery. These asset types will start with the prefix
analysis_ready
- COMING SOON Photogrammetry Ready: Users wanting to do their own photogrammetric processing. These asset types will start with the prefix
photogrammetry_ready
Our goal is to provide asset types that are processed, formatted, and accessible in such a way that they seamlessly integrate into end-user processes, workflows and applications. In addition to imagery asset types, Albedo offers various assets containing metadata that are useful to end-users.
Once processed, lbedo assets are catalogued, published to our Data Access API, and optionally delivered to end-users.
Storage and Catalog
Albedo operates two data stores:
- Offline Archive: Holds raw data in long-term, offline storage. All Albedo images permanently reside in our offline archive.
- Online Library: Stores processed assets that can be accessed directly through our Data Access API.
Assets are published to both the online library and the offline archive automatically once new images are collected and remain online for X days if they are not accessed by users. After assets cycle offline, users may recall data from the offline archive back into the online library using the Data Access API.
Online and offline assets are cataloged and searchable by location and time using our search API. Catalog records returned by the search API conform to the STAC item specification.
Updated about 2 months ago
See the following pages for details on specific asset types as well as data formats and protocols we use to store and disseminate assets.