Earth observation and satellites are my field, and data analysis is how I cut through them. On ObservationData.com I break down what each provider actually delivers, the sensors, the resolution, the licensing, the real cost, so you can pick the right one without the marketing gloss.
The ground I cover
My focus is the full spread of what flies today, optical imagery from sub-meter detail down to Sentinel-scale coverage, synthetic-aperture radar that works through cloud and darkness, and the hyperspectral, thermal and radio-frequency data that answer more specialized questions. The hard part of buying is rarely the picture on the brochure. It is matching the sensor to the problem.
| Data type | What it is good for |
|---|---|
| Optical | From sub-meter detail down to Sentinel-scale coverage |
| SAR (radar) | Imaging through cloud and darkness |
| Hyperspectral | Telling materials, minerals and crop conditions apart by their spectral signature |
| Thermal | Surface temperature, heat loss, fires and industrial activity |
| Radio frequency | Locating emitters, such as vessels that switch off their AIS transponder |
The commercial side matters just as much, how licensing is scoped and priced, whether you are pulling an archive scene or tasking a fresh collection, and whether the cost lands per square kilometer, by credit, or on a subscription. That is usually where a promising provider turns out to be the right fit, or the wrong one.
How I read a provider
I start from what a provider publishes, then hold it against what its data actually ships and what independent specifications say. Where those disagree, the difference goes into the review instead of getting smoothed over. Where a number simply is not public, I say so rather than guess, because a confident wrong figure does more damage than an honest gap.
What I have written
The clearest read on how I work is the work itself, grouped in three places.
- Provider reviews: one company at a time, each in the same shape.
- Buyer’s guides: ranked shortlists by category and sensor type.
- Use-case guides: how the data earns its keep, industry by industry.
Between them they track the providers worth knowing and the questions buyers keep asking. If any of it looks wrong, the how we review page explains how to flag it.
My passions are Earth Observation and Satellites, and my profession is Data Analysis. I combine both within ObservationData.com to show you the use cases of Earth Observation, to help you find the right provider, and to share your experiences.
