Category: Processing and quality
Latency
Latency is the delay between when data is acquired and when a usable product is delivered to the user.
Also known as: delivery delay, time-to-delivery
Expanded definition
Latency includes acquisition timing, downlink, processing, quality checks, and delivery. Two products can use the same satellite but have very different latency because of processing choices.
For monitoring and compliance, latency can matter more than spatial resolution. A slightly coarser product that arrives reliably can be more useful than a sharper product that arrives too late.
When comparing services, ask whether the stated frequency is raw acquisition frequency or delivered product cadence with typical latency.
Related terms
Cadence
Cadence is how often a processed product is delivered, which can differ from sensor revisit time.
Temporal Resolution
Temporal resolution describes how often a location is observed, such as a 5-day revisit.
Revisit Time
Revisit time is the typical time between observations of the same location by a sensor or constellation.