Success Story – LEONSEGS Prototype Release 2: A Milestone Achieved Building the Future of Earth Observation
Success Story - LEONSEGS Prototype Release 2: A Milestone Achieved Building the Future of Earth Observation
The PR-2 prototype of LEONSEGS focused on demonstrating Use Case 100 (UC-100). LEONSEGS provides the capability to request images from external catalogues, which may belong to various Earth Observation (EO) missions such as Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, Landsat, Aistech, Satellogic, or other commercial providers. These external catalogues are managed outside of LEONSEGS and contain EO data from different sources.
While LEONSEGS aims to enhance data retrieval by leveraging semantic technologies for advanced queries in specific catalogues, particularly for semantically enriched optical imagery, this functionality is not yet operational. Currently, the system supports traditional metadata-based searches to retrieve archived images from external catalogues, following the classical EO product retrieval approach.
The PR-2 prototype was tested on February 18, 2025, in an internal GMV environment.
Technical Achievements
Key Features Demonstrated
- Demonstration of UC-100: LEONSEGS’ ability to request images from external EO catalogues.
- Implementation of metadata-based search capabilities in MDSR.
- Seamless integration between SPRH, MDSR, and MMPG for efficient product retrieval and generation.
- Real-time status updates and feedback mechanisms between modules.
- Automated processing chain for EO service products using retrieved imagery.
Technical Challenges Overcome
The main technical challenges were related to the integration of the MDSR subsystem, developed by PLUS, with the rest of the GMV systems. This integration required overcoming differences in architecture and ensuring smooth communication between subsystems.
Concrete examples
In the test, the EO service requested was Vineyard Humidity for a region in Ribera del Duero, Spain, covering a past timeframe from May 3-5, 2023. The system successfully processed the request, retrieved the necessary EO data from Sentinel-2, and delivered the final product to the user.
Impact
Validation of Core Concepts
The PR-2 prototype validated the core concepts of LEONSEGS by demonstrating its ability to retrieve EO data from external sources using metadata-based searches. The integrated workflow between SPRH, MDSR, and MMPG confirmed that the system’s design is capable of executing an end-to-end EO service, fulfilling the predefined requirements and ensuring consistency in the process.
Performance and Efficiency
The prototype also showcased significant improvements in performance. Optimised search and retrieval times led to reduced processing delays, while the automated image processing and dissemination contributed to improved accuracy in EO product selection. Overall, these enhancements have greatly improved the user experience and highlighted the system’s readiness for operational deployment.
Looking Ahead
Next Steps in Development
Immediate efforts will focus on provisioning an EO service that requires planning from an external EO product provider (Aistech). This phase will include the integration of the FMMP subsystem, which is essential for comprehensive mission planning and scheduling.
Future Enhancements
Looking forward, future enhancements will include the integration of semantic search capabilities and the inclusion of additional external catalogues. These improvements will expand LEONSEGS’ data retrieval potential and further refine the overall service offering. This prototype has provided a solid foundation for the continued evolution of LEONSEGS, ensuring its readiness for operational deployment and further enhancements.
