Category: Time series and analysis
Zonal Statistics
Zonal statistics summarize raster values inside a polygon, such as average NDVI per field.
Also known as: field statistics, polygon statistics
Expanded definition
Zonal statistics compute summaries like mean, median, percentiles, or area-above-threshold for all pixels within a boundary.
This is one of the most common EO workflows because it turns noisy pixel-level imagery into stable field-level metrics. It also reduces speckle and cloud-edge artifacts.
Results depend on CRS alignment, pixel size, how partial pixels are handled, and whether NoData and masks are respected.
Related terms
Polygon
A polygon is a closed boundary used to represent an area such as a field, region, or administrative unit.
Raster
A raster is a grid of pixels where each pixel stores a value, commonly used for satellite imagery and elevation models.
NoData
NoData is a special value that means a pixel has no valid measurement, for example due to clouds or missing coverage.
NDVI
NDVI is a vegetation index that uses red and near-infrared reflectance to approximate vegetation greenness and vigor.