Overview Framework Specifications FAQ Resources Datasets CEOS ARD Strategy

CEOS ANALYSIS READY DATA


CEOS Analysis Ready Data for Land (CARD4L) are satellite data that have been processed to a minimum set of requirements and organized into a form that allows immediate analysis with a minimum of additional user effort and interoperability both through time and with other datasets.



Information for:

producersData Producers

distributorsData Distributors

usersData Users

CARD4L Framework


Many satellite data users lack the expertise, infrastructure and internet bandwidth to efficiently and effectively access, preprocess, and utilize the growing volume of space-based data for local, regional, and national decision-making. Furthermore, even sophisticated users of EO data typically invest a large proportion of their effort into data preparation. This is a major barrier to full and successful utilization of space-based data, and threatens the success of major global and regional initiatives supported by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). As data volumes grow, this barrier is becoming more significant for all users.

Countries and international organizations have expressed a desire for support from CEOS to facilitate access to and processing of satellite data into CEOS Analysis Ready Data for Land (CARD4L) products. Systematic and regular provision of CARD4L will greatly reduce the burden on global satellite data users.

The CARD4L Framework has three components:

Definition


The definition of CARD4L is not exclusive or prescriptive. The definition of CARD4L reflects the attributes of fundamental measurement products for the majority of global remote sensing users with land imaging applications, and are the minimum level required to support time series analysis and data interoperability.

Definition >>

Product Family Specs


Detail specific 'Threshold' and 'Target' requirements for:

– General Metadata
– Per-pixel Metadata
– Radiometric and Atmospheric Corrections
– Geometric Corrections

PFS >>

Product Assessments


Assess how well the specific product complies with each of the metadata and calibration criteria in the Product Family Specification. Includes a description of ‘how’ it complies.

The CEOS LSI-VC and Working Group on Calibration & Validation (WGCV) have defined formal processes for how these assessments will be carried out, including the peer reviews that will be undertaken by the WGCV:

Product Assessment Process >>
Peer Review Process >>

Current Product Family Specifications


PFS Type Version Download Metadata Spec Last Updated
Surface Reflectance Optical 5.0 PDF | Word
 – 8 June 2020
Surface Temperature Optical 5.0 PDF | Word – 8 June 2020
Normalised Radar Backscatter Radar 5.5 PDF | Word XLSX 14 October 2021
Polarimetric Radar Radar 3.5 PDF | Word XLSX 14 October 2021

In-progress Product Family Specifications


PFS Type ETA
Aquatic Reflectance Optical H2 2021
Nighttime Lights Surface Radiance Optical Q3 2021
Geocoded Single-Look Complex (GSLC) Radar Q1 2022
Interferometric Radar (INSAR) Radar Q3 2022
LiDAR Terrain and Canopy Top Height Optical 2022

CEOS Analysis-Ready Datasets


The following table summarises all of the satellite EO datasets that have been assessed as CEOS Analysis Ready Data for Land (CARD4L). DOI links are provided for access, along with links to further information, sample products, and the completed CARD4L self-assessment and peer review outcome documents.

Product CARD4L Type PFS Version Agency Mission(s) Threshold Specification Target Specification Access (DOI) Info Self Assessment Peer Review Sample Products
Landsat Collection 2 Surface Reflectance v5.0 USGS Landsat 4, 5, 7, 8
100%
81%		 Landsat 4-5, 7, 8 Link PDF PDF Link
Landsat Collection 2 Surface Temperature v5.0 USGS Landsat 4, 5, 7, 8
100%
83%		 Landsat 4-5, 7, 8 Link PDF PDF Link

Under Peer Review


Product CARD4L Type PFS Version Agency Mission(s) Access (DOI) Info Self Assessment Peer Review Sample Products
Sentinel-2 Level-2A Surface Reflectance v5.0 ESA Sentinel-2A, 2B Link Link TBA TBA TBA
EnMAP Surface Reflectance v5.0 DLR EnMAP TBA Link TBA TBA Link

Under Development / Assessment


Product CARD4L Type PFS Version Agency Mission(s) Access (DOI) Info Self Assessment Peer Review Sample Products
Sentinel-2 Level-2A (E84) Surface Reflectance v5.0 Element 84 Sentinel-2A, 2B TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA
ALOS-2 PALSAR-2 Global Mosaics (RTC) Normalised Radar Backscatter v5.0 JAXA ALOS-2 PALSAR-2 TBA Link Ongoing TBA TBA
Sentinel-1 NRB Normalised Radar Backscatter v5.0 ESA Sentinel-1
(A, B)		 TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA
Sentinel-1 RTC Normalised Radar Backscatter v5.0 Sinergise & Digital Earth Africa Sentinel-1
(A, B)		 Link Link Ongoing TBA TBA
NovaSAR-1 RTC Normalised Radar Backscatter v5.0 CSIRO NovaSAR-1 TBA Link Ongoing TBA TBA


The CEOS Land Surface Imaging Virtual Constellation (LSI-VC) served as the forum for developing the CEOS Analysis-Ready Data definition. CARD4L underpins a large amount of the future data architectures work being progressed within CEOS. The CARD4L definition was endorsed by the CEOS Plenary in 2016.

Background Image #1 Credit: NASA Earth Observatory: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

Background Image #2 Credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.