10 FREE Satellite Imagery Data Sources
Most GIS and remote sensing specialists are not aware of the abundance of websites offering free quality satellite imagery. I bring you valuable and sought-after sources of free satellite imagery, provided by some space agencies around the world.1. NASA Earth Observations (NEO)
NASA's Earth Observations (NEO) strives to make global satellite imagery very accessible to all users. It's the best way to access our local environment every day from space with over 50 global datasets about atmosphere, energy, earth, life, oceans and more.
2. USGS Earth explorer
The USGS Earth Explorer remains an extremely rich source of image data, from the most isolated to the most urban, anywhere in the world. For a number of reasons, the USGS stands out for its abundance of free satellite images. With more than forty years of knowledge of the land, their reputation is unmatched as long as access to Landsat data is concerned. You can easily familiarize yourself with the global elevation models of the NASA ASTER and Shuttle missions radar survey missions. USGS gives you full access to NASA's terrestrial data products and services, such as Hyperion hyperspectral data, dispersed radar data, and MODIS & AVHRR surface-area reflection factor. It is not empty to say that USGS has been the best source of free satellite imagery for a very long time. Use this link to explore unlimited and unrestricted access to USSG data.
The USGS Earth Explorer remains an extremely rich source of image data, from the most isolated to the most urban, anywhere in the world. For a number of reasons, the USGS stands out for its abundance of free satellite images. With more than forty years of knowledge of the land, their reputation is unmatched as long as access to Landsat data is concerned. You can easily familiarize yourself with the global elevation models of the NASA ASTER and Shuttle missions radar survey missions. USGS gives you full access to NASA's terrestrial data products and services, such as Hyperion hyperspectral data, dispersed radar data, and MODIS & AVHRR surface-area reflection factor. It is not empty to say that USGS has been the best source of free satellite imagery for a very long time. Use this link to explore unlimited and unrestricted access to USSG data.
3. ESA’s Sentinel Satellite data
It can be said that the official headquarters of the Sentinel satellite data download from the European Space Agency, the Sentinel Scientific Data Center, is next to the USGS. The reason is that Sentinel -2a and 2b are also free satellite images for all bands with more spectral bands (12) and a sharper resolution. With the addition of Sentinel -1, a world-wide C-band synthetic aperture radar is just a click away. In addition, the soon to be launched ESA Copernicus program, where five more Earth Observation satellites made possible by the Sentinel-2 toolbox further enhances the remote data acquisition source of the ESA. We can only stop this opportunity back by this link.
It can be said that the official headquarters of the Sentinel satellite data download from the European Space Agency, the Sentinel Scientific Data Center, is next to the USGS. The reason is that Sentinel -2a and 2b are also free satellite images for all bands with more spectral bands (12) and a sharper resolution. With the addition of Sentinel -1, a world-wide C-band synthetic aperture radar is just a click away. In addition, the soon to be launched ESA Copernicus program, where five more Earth Observation satellites made possible by the Sentinel-2 toolbox further enhances the remote data acquisition source of the ESA. We can only stop this opportunity back by this link.
4. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Class
NOAA has a separate online data library system, a pool of high-quality, free-of-charge geographic data sets that sets them apart. Nevertheless, USGS Earth Explorer and Sentinel Science Data Hub are more ergonomic. The Comprehensive Large Area Data Management System (CLASS) is truly a class of its own with an abundance of accumulated data from other rich and viable sources such as the Department of Defense's Operational Environment Satellite (POES) United States (DoD), Environmental Satellite (GOES), geostationary, operational NOAA, and other derived data.
NOAA has a separate online data library system, a pool of high-quality, free-of-charge geographic data sets that sets them apart. Nevertheless, USGS Earth Explorer and Sentinel Science Data Hub are more ergonomic. The Comprehensive Large Area Data Management System (CLASS) is truly a class of its own with an abundance of accumulated data from other rich and viable sources such as the Department of Defense's Operational Environment Satellite (POES) United States (DoD), Environmental Satellite (GOES), geostationary, operational NOAA, and other derived data.
5. Terra Populus
Terra Populus' ability to integrate demographic and environmental data from more than 160 countries around the world makes it unique. It combines spatio-temporal data covering population counts and surveys, satellite imagery of land cover, meteorological station data, and land use data. These data can be accessed from several domains encouraging research in all disciplines.
Terra Populus' ability to integrate demographic and environmental data from more than 160 countries around the world makes it unique. It combines spatio-temporal data covering population counts and surveys, satellite imagery of land cover, meteorological station data, and land use data. These data can be accessed from several domains encouraging research in all disciplines.
6. NASA Reverb
Just like the NOAA class, it takes a little patience to navigate the NASA reverb. However, NASA's Reverb Data Hub is simply the best choice for satellite data. NASA Reverb communicates with a multitude of satellites such as NASA DC, GPS satellites, SMAP, JASON, METEOSAT, ALOS, TRMM, Aura, Aqua and much more. This tutorial will help you get easy access to the NASA Reverb Hub.
Just like the NOAA class, it takes a little patience to navigate the NASA reverb. However, NASA's Reverb Data Hub is simply the best choice for satellite data. NASA Reverb communicates with a multitude of satellites such as NASA DC, GPS satellites, SMAP, JASON, METEOSAT, ALOS, TRMM, Aura, Aqua and much more. This tutorial will help you get easy access to the NASA Reverb Hub.
7. Earth Observation Link (EOLi)
Although this source of satellite imagery is quite late and slow because it has become obsolete, it is easily accessible because users can download the JAVA application on their PC. Despite its slowness, it is possible to access Earth observation data from a number of sources such as ALOS, SPOT, IRS, IKONOS, Envisat, ERS, to name just a few examples. Earth Observation Link (EOLi) is the European Space Agency's client for the Earth Observation Catalog and Control Services. In practice, just select the desired search from fewer satellite collections, for example 10. Select "Search Catalog" and click Add. Afterwards, you download and order.
Although this source of satellite imagery is quite late and slow because it has become obsolete, it is easily accessible because users can download the JAVA application on their PC. Despite its slowness, it is possible to access Earth observation data from a number of sources such as ALOS, SPOT, IRS, IKONOS, Envisat, ERS, to name just a few examples. Earth Observation Link (EOLi) is the European Space Agency's client for the Earth Observation Catalog and Control Services. In practice, just select the desired search from fewer satellite collections, for example 10. Select "Search Catalog" and click Add. Afterwards, you download and order.
8. National Institute for Space Research (INPE)
The INPE Image Catalog is a source of combined satellite imagery from Brazil and China, which allows you to download free satellite image data from their remote image catalog. In addition to their own terrestrial resources (CBERS-2, CBERS-2b), they also operate satellites from the United States, the United Kingdom and Indian satellites (Landsat, CBERS, Aqua, S-NPP). Access to this source of satellite imagery is, however, limited to users in South America and Africa. Simply translate to the language of your choice, create an account, select a satellite and sensor, add it to your cart and click "Go ahead" to download it.
The INPE Image Catalog is a source of combined satellite imagery from Brazil and China, which allows you to download free satellite image data from their remote image catalog. In addition to their own terrestrial resources (CBERS-2, CBERS-2b), they also operate satellites from the United States, the United Kingdom and Indian satellites (Landsat, CBERS, Aqua, S-NPP). Access to this source of satellite imagery is, however, limited to users in South America and Africa. Simply translate to the language of your choice, create an account, select a satellite and sensor, add it to your cart and click "Go ahead" to download it.
9. JAXA’s Global ALOS 3D World
The ALOS 3D world was invented by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). It is a 30 meter digital spatial resolution (DSM) surface model recently made available to the public. Its high accuracy in global altitude data using the Advanced Earth Observation Satellite "DAICHI" (ALOS) - the PALSAR L-Band makes it quite unique. It is necessary to register online via the ALAX link of JAXA Global to access this valuable and reliable DSM for download.
The ALOS 3D world was invented by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). It is a 30 meter digital spatial resolution (DSM) surface model recently made available to the public. Its high accuracy in global altitude data using the Advanced Earth Observation Satellite "DAICHI" (ALOS) - the PALSAR L-Band makes it quite unique. It is necessary to register online via the ALAX link of JAXA Global to access this valuable and reliable DSM for download.
10. NOAA Data Access Viewer
At NOAA Data Access Viewer, you can not only find and download definitive datasets, you can also customize it, all for free. However, downloads from this source, formerly known as the NOAA Aerial Photo Control System, are rather tedious.
Sayed Ait, this is an interesting list. I'd like to know more about how you ranked each data set.
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DeleteThere is a second part.
Thanks! Very helpful.
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