This new platform aims to enable the analysis and interpretation of large volumes of satellite data in order to better understand the processes causing geohazards, such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.

The ESA SuperSites Exploitation Platform has been developed in collaboration with Interoute and allows on-demand processing of satellite data through Interoute Virtual Data Centre. Providing initial access to 13TB of data, encompassing 50,000 radar scenes from ESA, users of SSEP can choose from a number of algorithms to process the data. The platform also includes a cloud toolbox, which offers virtual desktop resources configured with appropriate software and licenses to analyze and process the data.

To develop this new innovation, ESA used ICT technology to transform the way its satellite data is used, processed and distributed, creating a platform that encourages collaboration using e-Infrastructures such as cloud technology. e-Infrastructures provide the ICT-based infrastructures and services needed to empower the scientific community with easy and controlled online access to facilities, resources and collaboration tools. This enables instant access to data and remote instruments, the setup of virtual research communities, and fosters the emergence of e-Science—new working methods based on the shared use of ICT tools and resources across different disciplines and technology domains. This development required the capability to procure, provision and deploy secure cloud-based ICT infrastructure, making on-demand, scalable processing and storage of large data volumes faster for users who are distributed around the world.