analysis
7 articlesWhat Nighttime Lights Tell Us About Cities (And What They Don't)
VIIRS nighttime radiance data is a powerful proxy for human activity, but it has real limitations. This post covers practical applications, common pitfalls, and how to extract meaningful insights from nocturnal satellite observations.
2026-01-08 · 6 min read
Open Data Cube: Managing and Analyzing Satellite Time Series at Scale
How the Open Data Cube framework organizes analysis-ready satellite data for efficient time series queries. Covers architecture, indexing, and practical use cases in national-scale monitoring systems.
2025-11-11 · 6 min read
Geological Mapping from Space: Iron Oxide and Clay Mineral Detection with Sentinel-2
SWIR bands on Sentinel-2 can detect mineral absorption features invisible to the naked eye. This guide covers iron oxide and clay indices for geological exploration and environmental assessment.
2025-07-25 · 5 min read
Snow and Ice Monitoring from Space: How NDSI Maps the Cryosphere
The Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) exploits the unique spectral signature of snow — high visible reflectance but strong SWIR absorption. This guide explains the physics, practical workflow, and common pitfalls.
2025-07-14 · 7 min read
Satellite Image Difference Analysis: A Step-by-Step Practical Guide
Difference analysis compares two satellite images from different dates to reveal what changed. This guide walks through the complete workflow — from selecting images to interpreting results — with tips for avoiding common mistakes.
2025-07-02 · 6 min read
MNDWI and NDWI Explained: Mapping Water Bodies from Space
What is MNDWI? MNDWI = (Green - SWIR) / (Green + SWIR) separates water from built-up land better than NDWI. This guide covers both water indices — formulas, Sentinel-2 bands, and when to use each.
2025-06-09 · 7 min read
EVI vs NDVI: When NDVI Isn't Enough for Vegetation Analysis
NDVI is the most popular vegetation index, but it saturates over dense canopy and is sensitive to soil background. EVI and SAVI solve these problems. This guide explains when to use each index.
2025-06-03 · 6 min read