The EO DataHub (EODH) has invested £3m (US$3.8m) in simplifying access to Earth observation (EO) data. With this investment, the team plans to award further contracts and welcome new members.
EO DataHub
The EO DataHub is intended to modernize satellite data technologies for the UK for experts and non-experts alike. The overall goal is to develop and operate a new centralized software infrastructure – DataHub – to provide a single point of access to UK and international data offerings from distributed public and commercial sources. The system is expected to provide confidence for users through access to data processing, data quality checks and training from subject experts.
Led by the NERC National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) at the Centre for Data Analysis (CEDA) and the University of Leicester, the team is a combination of UKRI institutes, public-sector establishments and commercial organizations operating in EO data, computing and data quality systems.
The EODH is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council as part of the Earth Observation Investment Package of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in partnership with the UK Space Agency.
Prof. John Remedios, executive director of the National Centre for Earth Observation, said, “The EODH is an ambitious venture that will make a difference to the information available to UK users of EO data. I am delighted to be building services and streaming data in collaboration with industry partners who will add to the skills of our research institutes and public agencies. Our intention is to bring UK EO data to both experts and non-experts alike.”
Philip Kershaw, head of the Center for Environmental Data Analysis, added, “The award of these contracts marks a major milestone for the EO DataHub. I am excited, as with these new partners joining we move into the full implementation phase for the program.”
Application and integration contracts
The three-lot contract focuses on the development of user-driven applications and software integrations utilizing the services and data provided by the EO DataHub Platform: web application, as in combining information from climate observations and projections; web-map application for land surface data; and open-source code integrations and training for GIS practitioners.
These contracts bring data providers into the EODH program to provide users with improved access to public and commercial EO data streams. The new partners are Airbus Defence and Space; Earth-i and Planet; Sparkgeo; Spyrosoft; and Oxidian.
Sparkgeo
Sparkgeo has over a decade of experience developing geospatial software and solutions for some of the world’s largest organizations. It is developing a ‘physical risk and resilience’ web application tool to assess the vulnerability of assets to climate change.
Spyrosoft
Software development and consulting company Spyrosoft will work on a web-map application showcasing land surface data in July. It has extensive experience in developing customized web maps for clients that include the Ordnance Survey.
Oxidian
Oxidian is a software studio specializing in the rapid design and development of products for government research and scientific institutions. It will lead development of open-source code integrations and training, accelerating the use of the Hub Platform capabilities, with a focus on GIS practitioners.
Airbus Defence and Space, Earth-i and Planet
Airbus Defence and Space, and Earth-i in partnership with Planet, will provide access to commercial, very-high-resolution, optical and SAR imagery catalogs via the Hub Platform. This includes intuitive data access via the Airbus One Atlas Living Library, Planetscope and SkySat data, and comprehensive training and support using resources such as Planet’s University.
In related news, the UK Research and Innovation recently invested £5.7m (US$7.15m) in a compute cluster that will reportedly triple the processing power for analyzing atmospheric science data. The cluster will be available for scientists to use by the summer of 2024. Click here to read the full story.