This article explains how to search for archive imagery and create an order on the EXPLORE application.

You can follow the steps outlined in this article, or you can follow along with the tutorial video below.

Data that has already been captured and stored by one of our data partners is called archive data. Archive data allows you to find information about the past state of your area of interest and monitor change over time.

Depending on whether data was captured on a specific day, archive data may or may not be available over your area of interest. If data is unavailable, try expanding your search parameters to other resolutions, a more tolerant cloud coverage, or allow for a wider date range.

1. Log onto your Explore account and click on Explore Existing.

2. Search your area of interest using the search bar by entering a Town/City/Country or coordinates (decimals, e.g., 43.6708, -79.3885).

You also have the option to draw a polygon directly onto the map using the Draw Polygon Button. If you have a KML/GeoJSON/JSON formatted polygon file, you can upload it by clicking the Upload a Polygon Button on the right. You can create a custom KML or GeoJSON using a GIS Platform, Google Earth, or https://geojson.io.

If you plan to re-use an AOI file or drawing for future order and projects, a new feature available on EXPLORE now allows you to save your AOI onto your account.

Once you have uploaded or drawn your AOI, you will see the option to Save Area, located under the Order Area: x km2.

If you are not signed in, you will be prompted to. Users can only save and access saved AOIs when they are signed in.

Once you are signed in, you can add a name to your saved AOI. Click "Save" once you have entered the name of your AOI.

To load your saved AOI, find the bookmark symbol located in the top right corner of your screen.

A list of your saved AOIs will appear.

Click on the AOI of your choice to load it on EXPLORE.

3. Once you have inserted your area of interest/coordinates, or uploaded your polygon file, archive data will return from your search in the space below the search bar. While the data is returning, you can select the filter button and adjust the following options for your archive search:

You can also sort your archive search results by Date, Price, and Cloud Coverage.

4. Once you have selected your filter options, click "Apply Filters". Once you click "Apply Filters", your archive results will change. If no imagery returns, this will be due to a lack of archive data within selected dates for the area of interest, or with the filter options you set. If there are no results please expand your date range and/or adjust your filter options.

5. Once you have the results returned, a downsampled preview of the image can be made visible by clicking on it.

6. If more information is needed about the image click on the "i" icon in the corner of the product.

Caution: Avoid selecting multiple products that have full coverage of the area, as this will yield only one image. To acquire several products that completely cover the area of interest for different dates, individual purchases are required.

Check BaseMap: If you want to confirm on the area you will receive from the available data product, we recommend using the satellite basemap on EXPLORE. You can turn this on by clicking on the change basemap button.

Grey-Scale Street Basemap

Satellite Basemap

7. Once you are ready to purchase the image, click on the Add to cart button.

8. Then select the Go to Cart button located at the bottom of the list of archive images, or in the top-right corner of your screen.

9. If the order is correct, click on Proceed to Checkout.

10. For orders with a cost, you will be prompted to enter credit card information if you already have not provided it. Once you have, or if it already exists in your account, you will receive an order confirmation.

Note: The output type for ALL archive orders are All Optical Bands. To learn about All Optical Band output types, please review Available Outputs.