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1-1. Pre-requisites

Before we dive in, a few practical notes to help you get the most out of the sessions. Here is the best bit. The tutorials require:

  • No Earth observation experience.
  • No software development experience.
  • No pre-installed tools or environments on your machine.
  • No detailed technical knowledge.
  • The only requirement is a computer with web browser and internet access.

The tutorials make use of a few key technologies / data formats, in particular: - Cloud Optimised GeoTiff (COG) files - Mapping services, such as WMS / WMTS and XYZ tile services - Vector data in GeoJSON and FlatGeobuf format - SpatioTemporal Asset Catalogs (STAC)

Some basic understanding of these concepts is useful but not essential. Tutorials make use of them but do not aim to teach them.

Tutorial setup

For the majority of tutorials you will be consulting this guide, whilst working with the Geospatial Explorer Configuration Builder.

  • Two monitors are ideal. Keep the Config Builder open on one screen and this guide on the other so you can follow along without switching windows.
  • One monitor is fine too. If you only have one screen, open the Config Builder and this guide in two separate browser tabs and switch between them as you work through each step.
  • Modern browser required. Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari (latest version) will all work. The Config Builder is a single-page web app — nothing to install.

Working through the tutorials

  • Each tutorial is broken into short steps (most are 5 to 10 minutes long).
  • Use the Previous and Next arrows at the bottom of each page to move through the steps in order, or jump around using the left-hand navigation.
  • If you fall behind, don't worry — you can catch up quickly by jumping to the current step.

Export often

The Config Builder holds your work in the browser. Use File → Export config frequently so you don't lose progress if the tab closes or is refreshed.

Tutorial pre-requisites

This is the first tutorial, so there are no previous tutorials to complete.

Tutorials 2 and 3 build directly on this one, and the remaining tutorials assume completion of all core tutorials (1–3) or existing familiarity with the Configuration Builder.

Each tutorial has its own "home" page explaining what it will cover, followed by a pre-requisites step. This tells you which other tutorials we recommend you complete first, and if you have done that, you can keep on using the configuration that you've been working on. If not, and you want to dive straight in to this tutorial, the pre-requisites page will give you a link to a configuration that is an appropriate starting point for the tutorial.

Asking questions at a workshop

Interrupt the facilitator at any time — questions are welcome and usually help everyone. If you get stuck on a step, flag it early rather than falling behind.