Planet Labs Integrates Planetary Variables into Sentinel Hub for Enhanced Earth Observation

Planet Labs Integrates Planetary Variables into Sentinel Hub for Enhanced Earth Observation
by Clarence Oxford
San Francisco FL (SPX) Dec 15, 2023

Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a trailblazer in daily Earth data and insights, has recently announced the integration of its Planetary Variables into Sentinel Hub. This integration marks a significant advancement in the field of Earth observation (EO), bolstering the capabilities of Sentinel Hub following Planet's acquisition of Sinergise in August 2023.

Planetary Variables are a set of pre-processed data feeds that provide critical insights into Earth's surface conditions, including Soil Water Content, Land Surface Temperature, Crop Biomass, and Forest Structure. The integration of these data feeds into Sentinel Hub allows users to effortlessly analyze and generate insights, streamlining the process of accessing and utilizing Earth observation data.

Kevin Weil, President of Product and Business at Planet, emphasized the importance of this integration, stating, "The combination of Planetary Variables and Sentinel Hub will form the foundation of our Earth Data Platform, which we expect will empower a community of partners to build a wave of impactful Earth observation data applications." He further highlighted the potential for innovative, data-driven solutions that could address critical global challenges in security and sustainability.

Sentinel Hub, a renowned platform for its efficient handling of large volumes of satellite data, now enables users to integrate these new data layers with its APIs. This integration facilitates seamless extraction of time series, multi-temporal processing, and streaming of imagery into various applications. The addition of Planetary Variables enhances Sentinel Hub's utility, allowing users to scale their workflows on Planet's cloud infrastructure. This reduces the time and resources spent on managing imagery infrastructure, redirecting focus towards the development of products and solutions for complex problems.

The Planetary Variables offer practical applications across multiple domains. For instance, users can monitor drought and manage water resources more effectively by comparing current and historical Soil Water Content. In agriculture, leveraging Crop Biomass data can optimize agricultural output and detect events like crop harvesting. Additionally, evaluating changes in Land Surface Temperatures can measure heat stress effects on crops or urban neighborhoods, essential for environmental monitoring and urban planning.

Planet Labs, known for its high-frequency Earth imaging capabilities, has positioned itself as a leader in the Earth observation sector. The integration of Planetary Variables into Sentinel Hub, a platform already celebrated for its processing and distribution capabilities, represents a novel fusion of technologies. This integration not only enhances the accessibility of EO data but also expands the possibilities for data analysis and application in various sectors.