11-20, 15:30–15:55 (Pacific/Auckland), WG308 TE IRINGA
Explore how to quickly access and analyze Sentinel satellite data using STAC APIs and the Microsoft Planetary Computer. In this talk, we’ll demonstrate how Python makes it easy to fetch imagery and calculate vegetation indices in just minutes.
Satellite imagery is more accessible than ever—but getting the data you need quickly and efficiently can still be a challenge. In this talk, we’ll explore how STAC (SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog) and the Microsoft Planetary Computer simplify the process of accessing and analyzing Sentinel imagery at scale.
You’ll learn how to use Python and modern geospatial libraries like pystac-client, odc-stac, and xarray to query, filter, and load Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 imagery—no downloading or unzipping required. We’ll demonstrate how to filter scenes by date, cloud cover, and region of interest, and then quickly calculate vegetation indices such as NDVI, EVI, and RVI for environmental or agricultural analysis.
We’ll cover:
What STAC is and why it matters
How the Microsoft Planetary Computer provides cloud-hosted, analysis-ready data
How to build fast, scriptable analysis pipelines using Python
By the end of this session, attendees will understand how to go from a geographic query to insightful raster analysis in just a few lines of code—making remote sensing workflows faster, reproducible, and scalable.
Perfect for data scientists, remote sensing professionals, and developers looking to cut through the complexity of traditional satellite data access.
Krishna Lodha is the founder and director of Rotten Grapes Private Limited, a software development company specializing in open-source GIS solutions. With a strong background in geospatial technologies and a passion for FOSS, Krishna has led the development of several impactful Web GIS applications for clients across forestry, agriculture, water management, and urban planning sectors. Under his leadership, the company has successfully deployed solutions that leverage platforms like GeoServer, OpenLayers, and QGIS, helping government and private organizations optimize their spatial data workflows.
Krishna is also a content creator who shares knowledge through YouTube tutorials and technical blogs focused on open-source GIS development. His work emphasizes practical, scalable solutions using open standards and tools, aiming to make geospatial technology more accessible to developers and analysts alike.
An advocate for community-driven innovation, Krishna regularly mentors students and professionals interested in building careers in geospatial software. He actively participates in open-source projects and contributes to the broader FOSS4G ecosystem.