DEFRA Streamlines Processing of Earth Observation Data with SCISYS Software and Services

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) Digital, Data and Technology Services (DDTS) has chosen SCISYS as its preferred software solution and services provider to underpin the Defra Earth Observation (EO) Data Service. By automatically and centrally processing raw satellite EO data so that it can be analysed the service, currently in Beta, will deliver reliable, timely and easily accessible Analysis Ready Data (ARD) products.

SCISYS is a supplier of specialist software systems, solutions and support services that operates in a broad spectrum of market sectors including: government and defence, media & broadcast, space, and commerce. SCISYS clients are predominantly blue-chip and public-sector organisations.

“The EO Data Service will allow Defra to easily, quickly and cost-effectively monitor environmental change over time and will help to transform the delivery of many of Defra Group Services,” said Dr Gesche Schmid, Head of Data Innovation, DDTS. “It will play a key role in supporting our 25-year environment plan, future farming, water and other related initiatives.”

The SCISYS bespoke software solution, which conforms to Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards, will allow the DDTS to process raw EO data into ARD and then via a central portal, provide easy access to that data for any Defra department and agency.

Without the SCISYS software solution, anyone within Defra wanting to access EO data had to source, download and store raw data, then process it into ARD so they could use it for their specific purpose and then store and share the result of their analysis.

The Defra EO Data Service, underpinned by SCISYS’ software, will automate this process, vastly improving the efficiency and reproducibility. The Service’s central web-based portal, with open APIs, will provide easy and simple access for users crucially enabling the ARD to be cost-effectively re-used and shared across Defra.

Importantly, when accessing the data held within the Defra EO Data Service portal users will be looking at the same data and will therefore experience a consistent view.

“SCISYS was chosen as our preferred software and services supplier because of its proven skill in developing geospatial systems. It was also able to demonstrate a combination of strong IT delivery experience within the UK’s public sector and extensive specialist domain knowledge gained from working with satellite EO data,” said Schmid.

Defra’s Digital, Data and Technical Services (DDTS) is working in collaboration with the Earth Observation Centre of Excellence and SCISYS to deliver the live EO Data Service which is scheduled to be rolled-out later this year.