This is an intermediate-level course that covers tools and techniques for working with climate and earth observation datasets using a modern cloud-native approach. With the growing ecosystem of cloud native data formats, open data catalogs and powerful open-source packages – remote sensing practitioners can build open and vendor-agnostic cloud-based data processing workflows.
This class provides a structured introduction to Python-based tooling (XArray, DuckDB, STAC, and Dask) for cloud-native workflows with best practices and hands-on examples.
Duration
18 Hours (Typically conducted in 6 sessions of 3 hours each over 2 weeks)
Prerequisites
- Familiarity with remote sensing concepts
- Good working knowledge of Python (Python Foundation for Spatial Analysis or equivalent)
Learning Outcomes
- Knowledge of cloud native data formats and data stores.
- Understanding of best practices for processing large datasets with cloud computing.
- Ability to implement scalable Python workflows with XArray, Dask, DuckDB, and STAC.
Course Outline
- Course Pre-work (Self-study)
- Introduction to Remote Sensing
- Module 1: Cloud Native Geospatial Fundamentals
- XArray Basics
- STAC and Dask Basics
- DuckDB Basics
- Creating a Median Composite
- Module 2: Remote Sensing Fundamentals
- Calculating Spectral Indices
- Masking Clouds
- Extracting and Processing Time-Series
- Module 3: Computation and Data Processing
- Calculating Area
- Computing Zonal Statistics
- Interoperability with Google Earth Engine
- Module 4: Machine Learning and AI
- Supervised Classification with Embeddings
- Unsupervised Clustering
- Module 5: Computation Environments
- Running Computation on Your Hardware
- Scaling Analysis in Cloud with Coiled
- Assignments
- Assignment 1: Create a Landsat Composite
- Assignment 2: Extract a Temperature Time-Series
Certification
Upon successful completion of all the live online sessions and completing the assignments, participants will be issued an employer-verifiable certificate from Spatial Thoughts. Learn more.
Learning Mode
All of our courses are available for free for self-study via our OpenCourseWare site. We also offer the courses as cohort-based online classes with certification and support.
| Self Study | Live Classes | |
|---|---|---|
| Instruction method | Text-based Materials | Live Instructor-led Zoom Sessions |
| Certification | ❌ | ✅ |
| Lifetime Technical Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| Mentoring | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cost | Free | Cost: US $175 / INR ₹12500 |
| Start Learning ↗ | Sign-up For a Class ↗ |