Data from Above: A Hands-On Introduction to openEO

This hands-on workshop will introduce the openEO API, a powerful tool that allows users to connect to Earth observation cloud back-ends in a simple and unified way. The project, which started a decade ago, has recently achieved significant milestones that underscore its growing importance in the Earth observation community. Most notably, openEO became an official API for the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the primary data provider for all the Copernicus Sentinel missions. Even more recently, it earned recognition as an OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) community standard, solidifying its position as a key infrastructure for modern Earth observation workflows.
Throughout this workshop, we will explore openEO core concepts and practical applications through a carefully structured progression of examples, moving from fundamental operations to more sophisticated use cases. We will use Python as our programming language, leveraging its simplicity and the rich ecosystem of libraries available for Earth observation work. You’ll gain hands-on experience with the API’s key features, including how to discover and access satellite datasets, construct processing workflows, and execute large-scale analyses on cloud infrastructure, all without needing to manage complex infrastructure yourself. Participants will work through real-world scenarios that demonstrate openEO versatility, power, and efficiency in tackling practical challenges.
The workshop is designed for participants with varying levels of experience, whether you’re new to Earth observation or looking to streamline your existing workflows. By the end of the session, you will understand how openEO simplifies access to Earth observation data, reduces the barrier to entry for satellite-based analysis, and enables reproducible, scalable scientific work that can be shared and replicated across research communities.
Beyond the workshop itself, we will equip you with essential resources and pathways for continued learning. This includes guidance on official documentation, community forums, example repositories, and external training materials that will support your ongoing development with openEO. You’ll also learn about the broader ecosystem of tools and services that integrate with openEO, positioning you to build on the foundation established during this workshop.
If you would like to participate in the hands-on exercises, please bring your laptop with internet connection. Whether your interest lies in climate monitoring, land-use mapping, disaster response, or other Earth Observation applications, this workshop will provide you with the knowledge and confidence to leverage openEO as a central tool in your data analysis toolkit.