Information Services of Big Remote Sensing Data

With the rapid development of earth-observation technologies, different kinds of remote-sensing data are available, including SAR, multi-spectral optical data and hyper-spectral optical data. Remote sensing is already in an era of big data, which results in great challenges of information services. On the one hand, the potential value behind remote-sensing data has not yet been effectively mined for the thematic applications; on the other hand, for some emergency applications such as quick response of natural disasters (earthquake, forest fires, etc.), remote-sensing data and its derived information should be instantly processed and provided. However, the traditional data service mode of remote sensing is unable to meet the needs of such kind of applications. This paper proposes a concept of information services for big remote sensing data based on the needs of remote-sensing applications. The challenges of a big remote sensing data service are first discussed, and then the concept, framework, and key technologies of information service for big remote sensing data are also addressed.