JAXA Earth API: The development and release of an open-source API for efficient and effective applications of Earth-observation satellite imagery

Abstract

JAXA currently operates a total of six Earth-observation satellites: the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 “DAICHI-2” (ALOS-2), the Global Change Observation Mission – Climate “SHIKISAI” (GCOM-C), the Global Change Observation Mission – Water “SHIZUKU” (GCOM-W), the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite “IBUKI/IBUKI-2” (GOSAT/GOSAT-2), and the Global Precipitation Measurement/Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (GPM/DPR). The data acquired by these earth observation satellites are distributed through data delivery systems such as G-Portal.

However, this data distribution is limited to scene-by-scene units, and when long-term data or data from multiple sensors are used in a composite manner, large amounts of data must be downloaded locally; moreover, further pre-processing such as geometric conversion and radiation correction is required. This is a technical hurdle for new users who are not familiar with satellite data.

In order to improve the usability of the data distributed directly by JAXA, we should follow the FAIR (“Findable,” “Accessible,” “Interoperable,” and “Reusable) principles, which are generally referred to as the appropriate release method for open data. In order to properly publish open data based on the FAIR principle, it is important to distribute data as much as possible from the same site, in the same format, and without waste, in order to expand the number of users who use the data across the board.

We have thus developed and released the “JAXA Earth API,” a service that enables easy access and use of JAXA’s various satellite data (open data) through an application programming interface (API). This API enables users who are not aware of satellite data-naming conventions, resolution, format, map projection methods, etc. to immediately acquire, visualize, and use data. Herein we introduce the JAXA Earth API system specifications, the web applications, and the response after its release.