Earth observation data analysis in a trustworthy cloud environment

Practical example and current challenges

• Today's Earth Observation (EO) data analysis scenarios often require the download of satellite image sets, which demand a great deal of Internet bandwidth and time due to the size and large number of the images. It can be assumed, that the number of sources (data repositories) to be consulted in each project, will increase over time, even if some of them will be merged. Moreover, the size of the individual repositories will also increase. As an example, the already complete series of Copernicus satellite data repository holds well over 30 PBytes with a daily growth of more than 25 TBytes.
• Subsequently, it will be necessary to design robust, open source solution allowing data providers (data repositories operators) and data users to ‘meet’ and to process the data in a cloud environment. EO Data Federated Access System is the solution for any stakeholder, who wants to contribute or to use satellite products in a one-stop secure direct way, online from ‘one’ comprehensive source. For instance, proposed cloud-based systems will be able to efficiently deliver and process data for Destination Earth tasks.
• The purpose of the use case is to enable federated, stable, comprehensive, efficient, and simple access to EO data for immediate use and further processing for every customer. In addition, the added value of the proposed solution results from the limitation of the carbon footprint through deduplication and retention of data instead of repeated generation if necessary. This maximizes the use of existing resources (there is no need to copy or reprocess data to make it usable). EO products thus become part of an open, transparent digital ecosystem in which data and services can be made available, collected and shared in a trustworthy environment.
• Typical usage example is an application providing EO based products (maps, georeferenced data sets) to users from various communities, like the Digital Twin Earth (DTE) initiative. Functionalities provided in the scope of the use case would enable operators of the DTE Precursors to per-form multitemporal analysis on local to global scale. Therefore, this use case approach is applicable for plenty aspects of the Destination Earth related projects.

What added value does the "Gaia-X project" offer?

• The integration into Gaia-X enables federated, stable, comprehensive, efficient, and easy access to Earth Observation data for immediate use and / or further processing for each customer.
• In addition to the infrastructure, Gaia-X offers a federated catalogue, identity management, and standards for interoperability. The solution is safe and robust, but it should be flexible and open to evolution.
• Due to the Gaia-X influences and their importance, an European alternative will emerge in data access. In addition, it is possible for knowledge and data to remain in Europe. Cloud services can be set up in any domain and do not have to go beyond Europe.

Use Case Team

• Monika Krzyżanowska – CloudFerro
• Piotr Cichocki – CloudFerro
• Sylwia Nasiłowska – CloudFerro