Category: Formats and access
STAC (SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog)
STAC is a standard for describing geospatial data assets so they can be discovered and accessed consistently.
Also known as: SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog
Expanded definition
STAC defines a JSON-based way to describe geospatial datasets, including where they cover, when they were acquired, what assets exist (for example COGs), and what metadata is relevant.
STAC catalogs make it easier to search by time, location, cloud cover, or other properties, and to access data through consistent URLs.
STAC does not change the data itself. It improves discoverability and interoperability, especially when data is stored in object storage and accessed by cloud-native tools.
Related terms
COG (Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF)
A COG is a GeoTIFF organized for fast partial reads over HTTP, enabling streaming access without downloading the full file.
Geospatial Data
Geospatial data is any data tied to a location on Earth, such as maps, satellite imagery, or field boundaries.
Time Series
A time series is a sequence of observations over time for the same location, used for monitoring and change detection.