Main concepts

Find out how the UP42 platform works.


Overview

The UP42 platform centralizes access to geospatial data and processing algorithms.

Geospatial data are represented by collections that are acquired by aircraft sensors and spaceborne platforms, while algorithms facilitate the extraction of useful insights from it — for example, ship identification, vegetation health, or change detection. You can access data and algorithms via the console, UP42 API, or Python SDK.

A diagram with main concepts

Get data

Tasking orders

To request a satellite or an aircraft to capture your designated area with certain criteria, such as processing levels and data specifications, place a tasking order. After you choose a collection and place an order, a request will be made to task a satellite to get fresh geospatial data and deliver it to your storage.

Arrow inline-icon To discover different collections, see Tasking collections.

Arrow inline-icon To learn how to create and manage tasking orders, see Tasking.

Catalog orders

To get archive geospatial data that have been captured in the past, place a catalog order. After you choose a scene, specify your AOI, and place an order, the asset will be delivered to your storage between 10 minutes up to several days, depending on the technical specifications of the scene.

Arrow inline-icon To discover different collections, see Catalog collections.

Arrow inline-icon To learn how to create and manage catalog orders, see Catalog.

Storage

To access and organize your geospatial data, use storage. It contains assets from completed tasking and catalog orders that you can download. Assets from storage can also be used as data sources for the analytics workflow.

Arrow inline-icon To learn how to manage assets received from tasking orders, see Manage tasking orders and assets.

Arrow inline-icon To learn how to manage assets received from catalog orders, see Manage catalog orders and assets.

Arrow inline-icon To learn how to use storage assets in a workflow, see Use assets from storage.

Data blocks

Data blocks are part of the analytics workflow and represent an alternative way to get archive satellite images. They can be used to download or stream data.

Arrow inline-icon To discover different data blocks, see Data blocks.

Apply analytics

Projects

To process geospatial data, create a project. A project stores workflows and their corresponding job runs.

Arrow inline-icon To learn how to create and manage projects, see Projects.

Workflows

A workflow is a sequence of data blocks and processing blocks that defines an order for operations. A workflow starts with a data block or a block that lets you use storage assets and is usually followed by one or more processing blocks.

Arrow inline-icon To learn how to create and populate workflows, see Workflows.

Data and processing blocks

A block is a workflow operator that retrieves data or applies analytics.

  • A data block is an operator used to download or stream geospatial data.
  • A processing block is an operator used to apply algorithms to geospatial data.

Arrow inline-icon To discover different data and processing blocks, see Blocks.

Jobs

A job is an instance of a workflow. It delivers geospatial outputs defined by job parameters.

Arrow inline-icon To learn how to configure and run a job, see Jobs.