| About Observing the Earth |  |  | | |
| | ESRIN UET (User Earth Terminal) Antenna, Frascati, Rome, Italy | |
How to get Earth Observation data
How do you go about obtaining ESA Earth Observation data products for your own use? The answer depends on the precise nature of this intended use.
Category-1 proposals
If you intend to use the data for scientific research, applications development, or research and development in preparation for operational use in future, then you can submit what is known as a 'Category-1' proposal to the Agency. Accredited Category 1 users – known as Principal Investigators – will receive Earth Observation products at cost price. The data are delivered over the internet or via CD or DVD-Rom.
To submit a proposal to ESA the Principal Investigator must use the Earth Observation Principal Investigator Portal to supply detailed information about the team involved in their project, the planned use of the data and its scientific background, the requested amount and type of data, and the project schedule.
A group of scientists external to ESA will review the scientific merit of the proposal while ESA performs an assessment of data provision feasibility. The Principal Investigator must sign the Terms and Conditions and confirm availability of funding before ordering data.
They are expected to report on project progress at least twice a year through the Earth Observation Principal Investigator Portal, and may also publish any intermediate results on the Portal.
Announcements of Opportunity
ESA also issues regular Announcement of Opportunity for researchers to make use of Earth Observation data within particular fields. Current Announcements of Opportunity can be accessed via the Earth Observation Principal Investigator Portal.
| | | Bam interferogram with 0.6 m baseline |
Data for operational use
If you require ESA spacecraft data for operational or commercial purposes this is classed as Category-2 use. The Agency has licensed two competing companies - known as Distributing Entities – to resell ESA Earth Observation data and services at market rates. The Distributing Entities are called EMMA and SARCOM, and are represented by Eurimage and Spot Image.
Multi-mission Earth Observation Portal
The Multi-mission Earth Observation Portal functions as an authoritative one-stop access point for a wide variety of Earth Observation resources. It features a directory to locate projects, services and datasets, direct access to satellite data as well as map servers and cartographic material. It also includes material and links concerning airborne remote sensing and ground based spatial data.
Data Products Overview
To learn the full details of ESA Earth Observation products available for each satellite mission, visit the ESA Data Products Overview page. Here, you can browse products by satellite and instrument, or by application and processing level.
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