The EO Data Hub: A gateway to the UK's Earth observation data
The EO Data Hub platform is enhancing decision-making processes across sectors by integrating high-quality, space derived data.
Challenge
Earth observation data has enormous potential to support better decisions across government, business, and research – but all of these communities would benefit from a single, flexible and authoritative point of access.
Approach
The National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) is leading the Earth Observation Data Hub: a £13 million initiative funded by NERC through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Earth Observation Investment Package. The Centre for Environmental Data Analysis (CEDA) at RAL Space is overseeing project management, technical direction, and procurement of the core platform, with a portion of its own archive being integrated into the system.
Three applications were built on top of the platform, tailored to the different needs of government, academia, and industry. The consortium includes the University of Leicester, the Satellite Applications Catapult, the UK Met Office, and the National Physical Laboratory.
Now that the datahub is a scalable and user-ready national platform, the team plans to continue operations whilst expanding their user-base and preparing to transition to commercial operations.
The JASMIN supercomputer, managed by the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis and STFC’s Scientific Computing Department. Credit: National Centre for Atmospheric Science
Benefits
The Hub provides a single, federated point of access to the UK’s best Earth observation data, with tangible benefits across sectors. Government departments can share data cost-effectively, improving consistency in policy development and citizen protection. Researchers gain access to extensive time-series datasets and advanced workflows that free them to focus on scientific discovery. Businesses can draw on authoritative environmental data to inform investment decisions, due diligence, and regulatory compliance.
By making Earth observation data more efficient, sustainable, and widely accessible, the Hub is set to support informed, data-driven decisions across the breadth of UK society – from climate monitoring to commercial risk assessment.
