What are Earth Observation level 3 and 4 products?
The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) provides the following definitions:
Level 3 corresponds to data or retrieved environmental variables that have been spatially and/or temporally re-sampled (i.e. derived from level 1 or 2 products). Such resampling may include averaging and compositing.
Level 4 corresponds to Model output or results from analyses of lower level data (i.e. variables that are not directly measured by the instruments, but are derived from these measurements).

 Can I have access to the products from all DUP/DUE projects?
Ionia provides access to the available products from more recent DUP/DUE projects.
You can check those by using the “Search by Project” tool on the homepage or you can access the whole Product list on the left menu.
The latest product available from Ionia will also shortly be indicated on the left menu of the home page.

 Where does the name Ionia comes from?
Ionia is the name of the Greek School of philosophy (VI-V th century BC) that made the radical step from mythological to scientific explanation of natural phenomena and formulated the theory of the cosmos as constituted by four basic elements: fire, water, air, earth.
The same four elements are now observed from space-born instruments and constitute the main fields of interest for Earth Observation. They have been used as a classification scheme for the Ionia products.

 Can I still get access to the ATSR Fire Atlas products? How?
Yes, the ATSR fire products are available from the World Fire Atlas (WFA) project sheet. The products can be visualized and combined with other data thanks to a Web Map Server dedicated client interface.
There is also a direct link from the left menu to the Fire Atlas data section.

 What is the Data User Element?
The Data User Element (DUE) is a programmatic component of the Earth Observation Envelope Programme, an optional programme of the European Space Agency.
The mission of the Data User Element (DUE) is to encourage the establishment of a long-term relationship between user communities and Earth Observation.
Fore more information, please visit the DUE/DUP website.

 What is the difference between the Data User Element (DUE) and the Data user Programme (DUP)?
The DUP was an optional program subscribed to by 4 ESA member states (Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy). The DUE is a continuation of the Programme on a larger scale, with participation from 14 Member States.

 Can I visualize the products? How?
The products can be visualized by clicking on the “Visualize products” link at the top of the products sheet. This opens a web map server client with a specially configured environment (relevant layers, pertinent geographical scale and time span). Alternatively, you can decide to launch a general Web Map Server client, directly available from the left menu, allowing you to visualize all the layers available from the Map server, and to visualize simultaneously output products from different projects.

 What is a Web Map Server (WMS)?
A WMS is a tool used to produce maps drawn into a standard image format (PNG, JPEG, etc), based on a standard set of input parameters. It allows exploring geographical data from many sources - including data from earth observation satellites.
A number of geographic data sources can be displayed and arranged in layers.

 Can I download the original products?
For some of the products, in addition to the visualization of the products, direct access to the original files is also available. In those cases, a link is provided at the bottom of the products sheet.

 How do I get more information on the projects?
From each product sheet, you will find a link at the top to a more detailed description of the project itself (Project description)