Digital Earth Africa is entirely dependent on what is called Analysis Ready Data. We take open and free data provided by international satellite programs, including Landsat (United States) and Sentinel (Europe), that have been processed according to a set of requirements that allow immediate analysis. The Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS) has been developing ARD specifications since 2016 to allow data to be processed to a more accessible and interoperable level. We use these datasets to create our data products, but we also make the datasets themselves available through the DE Africa platform.
By providing the data in a more accessible format, a larger range of non-specialist users will be able use its valuable information and insights. From simply identifying water resources for greater access to clean water through to the ability to regularly map food crops.
Our Technical Roadmap indicates when these datasets will be available.