Can I trust this platform?

The EODH platform implements the OIDC spec to manage user authentication and authorisation securely. Users log into the platform using third party Identity Providers (IdPs). This brings the benefit of using 3rd party IdPs’ production hardened authentication mechanisms, such as GitHubs MFA functionality, as well as their secure storage of user credentials. Currently only GitHub IdP is integrated with the platform, but other integrations are planned.

User access to workspaces is controlled by group membership. Users cannot access workspaces for which they are not an owner or a member, and workspace group membership is controlled by workspace owners through the platform web UI.

User workspace data is protected by tested platform level authentication and authorisation policies. Where the data store is backed by an AWS resource, such as S3 or EFS, then they are also protected by scoped AWS IAM policies tied to a user’s platform web identity.

The project is currently in a Pathfinder phase (2023-2025) that brings new thinking and experimental developments, resulting in practical services for a variety of users in a short period of time. By the end of the pathfinder phase (March 2025), it is expected that there will be a community of researchers, industry and government users working together to provide and interact with EO data in new and innovative ways.

Funding for the Earth Observation Data Hub project has not currently been extended beyond the Pathfinder phase, ending on 31st March 2025, with applications for extension of project funding ongoing.

The EODH Quality Assurance (QA) Service aims to give users confidence in the quality of the data they’re accessing, as an integral part of the Hub offering.

QA checks consist of both a review of the processes by which data products are created, and quantitative validation. The aim is to ensure that data are fit for purpose and performing at the level they claim.

The QA results are stored as annotations in the product catalogue. When searching for data, the QA annotations can be used in the query parameters so you can find data that fits your needs. Detailed QA information is available on a specific page for a given collection – outlining the results for documentation reviews, when checks were last run and whether they passed.

In the EODH Pathfinder, these checks have been carried out for various satellite data collections from the initial optical missions available on the Hub (Sentinel-2, Planet SuperDove, and Airbus Pléiades).