Category: Foundations
Earth Observation (EO)
Earth observation is the use of satellites, aircraft, or drones to measure and monitor the planet’s surface and atmosphere.
Also known as: EO, Earth observation data, satellite monitoring
Expanded definition
Earth observation (EO) refers to collecting measurements about Earth using remote sensors. Most EO products are based on repeated imaging so changes can be tracked over time, not just viewed once.
EO is used in agriculture, forestry, climate monitoring, disaster response, infrastructure planning, and environmental compliance. Typical EO workflows combine sensor data, geospatial processing, and domain-specific interpretation.
When people say “satellite data” in an operational context, they usually mean an EO product that has already been corrected, georeferenced, and packaged so it can be used in GIS or analytics.
Related terms
Remote Sensing
Remote sensing measures Earth from a distance using sensors that record reflected or emitted energy.
Time Series
A time series is a sequence of observations over time for the same location, used for monitoring and change detection.
Geospatial Data
Geospatial data is any data tied to a location on Earth, such as maps, satellite imagery, or field boundaries.