CEOS ANALYSIS READY DATA

✱ Survey: Help Shape the Future of CEOS Analysis Ready Data! ✱


CEOS Analysis Ready Data (CEOS-ARD) 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: Data Producers | Data Distributors | Data Users

CEOS-ARD 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 (CEOS-ARD) products. Systematic and regular provision of CEOS-ARD will greatly reduce the burden on global satellite data users.

The CEOS-ARD Governance Framework covers:

Definition


The definition of CEOS-ARD is not exclusive or prescriptive. The definition of CEOS-ARD 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.

Product Family Specs


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

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

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.

Guide to CEOS-ARD Self-Assessments

CEOS-ARD Product Family Specifications


Surface Reflectance
v5.0.1
6 Dec 2023
PDF | Word
Surface Temperature
v5.0
8 Jun 2020
PDF | Word
Aquatic Reflectance
v2.0
29 May 2025
PDF | Word
Nighttime Lights Surface Radiance
v1.0
2 Oct 2022
PDF | Word
Combined CEOS-ARD for Synthetic Aperture Radar


Normalised Radar Backscatter [NRB]
Polarimetric Radar [POL]
Ocean Radar Backscatter [ORB]
Geocoded Single-Look Complex [GSLC]
Interferometric Radar [INSAR]

v1.2
14 Apr 2025
PDF | Word | Metadata Spec

CEOS Analysis-Ready Datasets


The following table summarises all of the satellite EO datasets that have been assessed as CEOS Analysis Ready Data (CEOS-ARD) or which are working towards it (either under development or at the peer review stage). DOI links are provided for access, along with links to further information, sample products, and the completed CEOS-ARD self-assessment and peer review outcome documents.