The content in this article is only applicable to HUB users. If you are interested in learning more about HUB or wish to upgrade your account, please reach out to support@skywatch.com.
This article explains how to search for archive imagery and create an order on HUB.
You can follow the steps outlined in this article, or you can follow along with the tutorial video below.
Tasking orders are a request sent to a satellite provider, to specifically increase the probability of capture for an AOI (Area of Interest), over a given date range.
Tasking data has a higher chance of data being collected, and require satellites to change their normal pattern of image capture, therefore is offered at a premium rate and includes a minimum order size.
These are the steps to create a tasking order:
Login onto your HUB account and click on Order New.
Search your AOI using the search bar by entering a Town/City/Country or coordinates (Lat/Long N and W format). You also have the option to draw a polygon directly onto the map using the Draw Polygon Button. If you have a KML/GeoJSON 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 (e.g., ESRI ArcPro or QGIS), Google Earth, or https://geojson.io.
Once you have entered your location, you can select a start and end date for the tasking order.
Note:
The start date you select, a 14 day window will default. You can adjust the window by changing the end date.
To optimize the cost-effectiveness of your tasking, it's advisable to create a polygon that closely approximates 25 km², as this is the minimum chargeable area.
Once you are satisfied with your area of interest you can select your desired resolution, and assign a name to the order.
Note: The default output type for tasking orders is All Optical Bands. To select True Colour or RGB+NiR you must go to Advanced Settings. Under Advanced Settings, you can also select the "Frequency" of your tasking order.
Advanced Settings
HUB users have more options in Advanced Settings to modify the frequency of their tasking order, add tags to organize their orders on monthly invoices, and select option for multiple captures to be mosaicked together.
To open the Advanced Settings, select the drop-down menu arrow.
Tags
HUB users have the option to assign a tag to their orders to organize them in their accounts.
The major benefit of tags is you can organize how the orders are formatted on your organization accounts monthly invoices. If you are working on a particular project and need to know how much was spent on orders related to that project, you can add a tag known as a billing_group.
To use the billing_group tag, you have to set your "Label" to billing_group (make sure this is spelt as presented here. Any modifications will lead to the invoice not reflecting your billing tags). Your "Value" can be any name you wish to assign it. It can be the name of your project, or the region you are monitoring.
When the monthly invoices are generated during the first week of each month, you will see the billing_group and the total amount spent on orders with the billing_group tag assigned.
Image Type
SkyWatch offers HUB users three output types. Users have the option to have the tasking data delivered containing a different array of bands.
All Optical Bands: SkyWatch will deliver the final product containing all of the image bands acquired by the supplier satellite sensor. For example, a 30 cm/pixel Pleiades-Neo tasking capture contains 6 bands. A user would acquire all 6 bands.
True Color Image: SkyWatch will deliver the RGB bands only.
RGB+NiR: SkyWatch will deliver the RGB + the near-infrared (NiR) bands.
Frequency
If you have a project that involves monitoring the changes at a site over a long period of time, you can adjust the frequency of your tasking order to attempt multiple captures.
The default for all tasking orders is a frequency of "One Time". Only one good capture will be attempted and delivered (if successful).
Selecting one of the following options would adjust the frequency at which the satellite will attempt and deliver images:
Daily - one capture will be attempted and delivered each day
Weekly - one capture will be attempted and delivered each week
Every other week - one capture will be attempted and delivered every 2 weeks
Monthly - one capture will be attempted and delivered every month (30 days)
Every other month - one capture will be attempted and delivered every 2 months (60 days)
Quarterly - one capture will be attempted and delivered every 3 months (90 days)
Mosaicking
HUB users have the option to turn on mosaicking to request SkyWatch to stitch together an image comprising several captures acquired a different times.
Off Nadir Angle
Only applicable to VHR and HR tasking orders. The Advanced Setting option "Off Nadir Angle" allows you to select a specific range. If you have a project that requires the satellite to capture the image at a particular angle, this setting will be of importance to you.
The default range for a VHR tasking is 20-30 degrees. The min cannot drop below 20, and the max cannot exceed 30.
The default range for a HR tasking is 0-30 degrees. The max cannot exceed 30 degrees.
Once you have selected all of your tasking settings, the cost per capture your will appear in the left bottom corner. To place the order in your cart, click Add to Cart. To total cost of your order (if 100% fulfilled) will be available in your cart.
You will need to go to your cart to confirm the tasking order. Before you can place the order, you will be prompted in the Order Summary to select what project you would like this order to be charged to. You will be able to view the amount of funds left in the project, how much has been spent, and how much is still processing (active orders).
Under the order details, you will see a message informing you how many images will be attempted.
Important Note: A fulfilled tasking delivery is a capture with a cloud coverage of <15-20%, as defined by our satellite providers. We cannot guarantee a 100% cloud-free capture.