SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTING EARTH OBSERVATION IMAGES

Systems and methods are provided for processing observation data. Processes and capabilities include: obtaining images and metadata associated with the images; encoding the images and the metadata to generate encoded tiles; storing the encoded tiles in an encoded tiles database; receiving a request for a map tile; searching the encoded tiles database and obtaining the encoded tiles that are relevant to the request; merging data from the encoded tiles into the map tile; and outputting the map tile. The images and metadata may be obtained from Earth observation platforms, including satellites or aircraft. The map tiles may include spectral content, data source identification, acquisition date/time, sensor characteristics, sun angles, calibration parameters, a cloud mask, a snow mask, a land mask, a water mask, and a missing data mask.