CEOS Analysis Ready Data

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 'Target' requirements for:

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

A Product Family Specification Template has been developed to provide a starting point for future PFS, to ensure commonality in layout, general structure, interpretation and approach. It provides a foundation and common suite of assessment factors for all 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 Working Group on Calibration & Validation (WGCV) has defined formal processes for how these assessments will be carried out, including the peer reviews that will be undertaken by the WGCV.

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	13 May 2022
Polarimetric Radar	Radar	3.5	PDF \| Word	XLSX	13 May 2022
Aquatic Reflectance	Optical	1.0	PDF \| Word	–	23 February 2022

In-progress Product Family Specifications

PFS	Type	ETA
Nighttime Lights Surface Radiance	Optical	Q3 2021
Ocean Radar Backscatter	Radar	Q3 2022
Geocoded Single-Look Complex (GSLC)	Radar	2023
Interferometric Radar (INSAR)	Radar	2023
LiDAR Terrain and Canopy Top Height	Optical	2023