tutorial
16 articlesHow to Choose the Right Satellite Index for Your Monitoring Goal
Choosing between NDVI, SAR VV, NDWI, NDBI, NBR, DNB and other indices depends on what you want to monitor. This decision guide matches monitoring goals — vegetation health, floods, urban growth, fires, economic activity — to the best index and satellite sensor.
2026-04-14 · 7 min read
How to Monitor Any Area with Satellite Time Series: A Complete Guide
Area monitoring with satellite time series lets you automatically track changes in any region over weeks, months, or years. Learn how to set up a monitoring zone, choose the right index, and interpret results using Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and VIIRS data.
2026-03-19 · 11 min read
Change Detection from Space: Three Approaches That Actually Work
Not all change detection methods are equal. This post compares image differencing, NDVI time-series, and SAR coherence-based approaches with real-world guidance on when to use each one.
2026-01-22 · 7 min read
Beyond True Color: Sentinel-2 Band Combinations Worth Knowing
Sentinel-2 has 13 spectral bands, but most people only use RGB. This post covers the most practical band combinations for agriculture, water, urban mapping, and geology — and explains why each one works.
2025-12-28 · 8 min read
How to Read a SAR Image: What Bright and Dark Actually Mean
SAR images look nothing like photographs. This practical guide explains what creates bright and dark areas in radar imagery, common patterns you'll encounter, and how to avoid misinterpretation.
2025-12-18 · 6 min read
Mapping Floods with SAR: A Practical Workflow from Search to Analysis
Step-by-step guide to delineating flood extent using Sentinel-1 SAR data. Covers pre-event baseline selection, backscatter thresholding, and common interpretation mistakes to avoid.
2025-12-10 · 7 min read
Understanding NDVI: How to Monitor Vegetation Health from Space
A comprehensive guide to NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) — what it measures, how to interpret values, and practical applications for agriculture, forestry, and environmental monitoring.
2025-12-03 · 5 min read
Getting Started with Sentinel-1 SAR Imagery: A Beginner's Guide
Learn how to access and analyze Sentinel-1 SAR radar data in your browser. This step-by-step guide covers the basics of SAR imagery, how to search for data, and interpret your first radar image.
2025-11-12 · 7 min read
Reference Layers: Adding Geographic Context to Satellite Imagery
Satellite imagery alone doesn't tell the whole story. Basemaps, boundaries, and infrastructure layers provide the geographic context needed for meaningful interpretation. This guide covers how to use reference layers effectively.
2025-08-06 · 7 min read
Sentinel-1 GRD vs RTC: Which SAR Product Should You Use?
Sentinel-1 data comes in multiple processing levels. GRD is the standard product, while RTC corrects for terrain effects. This guide explains the differences and when each product is the right choice.
2025-07-31 · 6 min read
Choosing the Right Colormap for Satellite Data Visualization
The colormap you choose changes what patterns you see in satellite data. This guide explains perceptual principles behind popular colormaps and when to use each one for different types of satellite imagery.
2025-07-20 · 7 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
Multi-Temporal SAR Color Composites: See Change in a Single Image
Assigning different dates to RGB channels creates a single color image where changes pop out in vivid colors. This technique turns SAR's temporal dimension into an intuitive visual tool.
2025-07-08 · 5 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
How to Upload and Analyze Your Own GeoTIFF in the Browser
You don't need desktop GIS to view GeoTIFF files. This guide shows how to upload, visualize, and overlay your own raster data alongside satellite imagery — entirely in the browser.
2025-06-27 · 5 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