Increasing availability of high-quality satellite data provides new opportunities to improve environmental decision making and meet evidence needs. JNCC and partners use satellite data for applications including habitat and crop mapping, risk and resilience modelling, natural capital assessment, habitat condition monitoring and change detection.
The Simple ARD Service was set up in 2020 to support use of satellite data for public sector environmental applications in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Commissioned by the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive, the service generates and provides access to Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 analysis-ready data (ARD). To promote use of the ARD, we are providing bespoke training and support materials, as well as working with partners in each country to develop analytical and operational applications.
Two services provided by the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis (CEDA) enable us to deliver the Simple ARD Service. Data processing is carried out on JASMIN, a globally unique data analysis facility. Processed data are then stored and made accessible under an Open Government Licence via the CEDA Archive. The data can be accessed through the index pages or the CEDA Satellite Data Finder interactive map.
For more information about each aspect of the Simple ARD Service, follow the links below.
About the data
Sentinel satellites in the European Space Agency's Copernicus programme provide openly accessible high-resolution data every few days. The Simple ARD Service produces analysis-ready Sentinel-1 (radar) and Sentinel-2 (optical) data.
Find out more about the data.
Support for users
Resources include a user guide and a 90-minute webinar on accessing and using ARD.
Find out more about support for users.
Environmental applications
Developing operational use of Sentinel data for crop mapping, peatland management, illegal waste detection and monitoring wildfire impact and recovery.
Find out more about environmental applications.
FAQs
If you have a question about the Simple ARD Service, please check our list of Frequently asked questions.
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