Introduction to Visualisation & Analytics (Perception)

Visualisation & Analytics (Perception) is the PAL’s landing page, where it is possible to explore, find and exploit a range of data and services related to the Earth Observation. Visualisation & Analytics allows users to discover data with advanced analytics by exploiting different type of data such as raster, vector, time series, and volumetric data.

After entering your credentials and signing in, you will see the following interface:

Data discovery

The user can go through all the data collections with the possibility of applying different filters on the metadata:

You can activate the data discovery by just clicking the magnifier lens icon in the top right bar:

After clicking on it, it opens a panel on the right side, with the following entries:

• Catalogue: to access the catalogue(s) of products available.

• My storage: to access products organized in My Bookmarks, Processing outputs, and Uploaded data.

Catalogue

Catalogue provides access to the following three groups:

• Specific initiative products (e.g. ESA MAAP)

• Reference data: containing reference uploaded by users 

• Output products: containing outputs of services generated on Intellect.

Specific initiative catalogues

Specific catalogue initiative metadata are populated dynamically according to the specific collections.

Reference Data

Reference data provides access to user uploaded data (e.g., in-situ data). These can be searched according to the following criteria:

• Collection (required), the collection (or folder) in which the outputs have been grouped.

• Owner (optional), the id of the owner of the product.

• Product date (optional), the date at which the data is valid, e.g. the measurement data for an in- situ measurement, sensing date for satellite product.

• Publication date (optional), the date when this data was uploaded in the catalogue

• Area of Interest (AOI) (optional), this can be drawn directly on the geobrowser (as box or polygon), or using a previously saved area, or by importing a shapefile.

• Identifier (optional), a string identifying the product.

Note that only data which have been made visible (i.e., shared) by their owner will appear in the search results.

Output Products

Intellect produces the products in this group. They can be filtered for according to the same criteria as the Reference Data.

Note that only data which have been made visible (i.e., shared) by their owner will appear in the search results.

My storage

My storage in Visualisation & Analytics provides a quick access to your storage, with the following storage types:

• My Bookmarks.

• Processing outputs.

• Uploaded data

Features, like uploading, downloading or removing data are available in Visualisation & Analytics.

For the other features related to your storage, and further details for each storage type, please refer to Account Management (Awareness).

Data Visualisation and Analytics

Visualisation & Analytics stands out for its visualization and analytics capabilities, transforming complex data into clear and actionable insights. It offers a suite of features, including:

• Shared visualization: Collaborate effectively with your team or other organisations by leveraging pre-built visualizations.

• Customizable views: Tailor your views to suit your needs. Highlight the metrics that matter most to gain a focused view of your data.

Catalogue Results

As a user, you can visualize results from the Catalogue’s searches, depending on the nature of the data. When the data is suitable for visualization, a button Add to map appears within the related card:

A visualisation is also called a Layer, as it is shown as a layer on top of the map.

My storage Content

The data stored in My storage can be visualized on the map and analyzed, when appropriate, using the same tools available for Catalogue results.

Visualization Tools

Workspace

The Add to map button provides a convenient way to incorporate enabled layers into your current workspace.

By clicking this button, you effectively add the selected layer to your ongoing analysis, allowing you to explore and examine its data in conjunction with other map elements. While the addition of the layer to your workspace is not automatically saved, you can easily persist your changes by saving your current project. This feature is especially valuable for those who wish to continue their analysis at a later time, ensuring that their progress is preserved and easily accessible.

Swipe

The swipe tool enables a side-by-side comparison of multiple visualizations, or layers, on the map. By adjusting the Opacity of one or more layers, you can effectively compare them to a selected layer.

Opacity

The opacity tool enables users to adjust the transparency of each layer added to the map, providing greater control over the visibility and blending of different map elements.

Legend

The legend, when available for the layers, provides context for interpreting the data. It offers additional information, such as color scales, which aid in understanding the meaning and relative values of different features on the map.

Time Navigation

The time navigation tool, located at the bottom of the map for enabled time series layers, allows you to explore data over time. This interactive feature is designed for layers that offer a time series, enabling users to visualize and analyze changes in data values over a specified period.

Data Filters (Vector) 

Data filters, available for vector data, provide a tool for refining your analysis and focusing on specific features of interest. By applying filters, you can selectively display data on the map, isolating relevant information and enhancing your understanding of complex datasets.

Analytics

The data analytics tools, accessible through the graph icon for each enabled layer, offer a suite of options tailored to both raster and vector datasets. Explore them in the following sections to discover the analytical capabilities that align with your specific data and research objectives.

TIP: If you’re having trouble locating data analytics tools, try minimizing the discover panel on the right. The tools might be hidden behind it!

Area Statistics (Raster) 

Area statistics calculates key metrics like minimum, maximum, variance, standard deviation, and median for a variable within a defined area. An accompanying histogram visually represents the data’s distribution.

Distribution Analysis (Vector) 

The data distribution analysis tools enable you to examine how data is distributed within a vector product. You can select specific variables to analyze and group the results by another variable.

Data Table (Vector)

Data table provides an organized view of your data in a tabular format, complete with filtering options for easy data exploration.

Map Settings

Adjust your map settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner. This opens a panel on the right side where you can personalize your map experience:

• Map background: Choose from different base layers like Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, Bing maps, or OpenStreetMap.

• Map rendering mode: Switch between a flat 2D view or an immersive 3D perspective.

• 3D Mode: In 3D mode, unlock full rotation freedom around all axes instead of the default vertical axis only.

• Map projection: Select between Geographic and Mercator projections for a map representation that best suits your needs.