What is NUPSI?
NUPSI - NUTS Production Storage and Imagery service is a web application designed to provide intuitive access to Copernicus Earth observation data. By focusing on WHAT happens, WHERE it happens, and WHEN it happens, NUPSI combines interactive visualizations with flexible tools for exploring, comparing, and analysing satellite observations over predefined administrative regions and custom Areas of Interest.
The redesigned interface, available on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices, provides an improved user experience and more responsive interactions. Users can explore monthly datasets, create custom visualizations, compare products over the same area, and investigate temporal changes through interactive tools such as Stories.
Open the NUPSI video presentation in a new tab to watch it on YouTube.
|
|
Welcome tour
If it is your first time on NUPSI, follow along the interactive tour to discover the main tools and features.
|
|
To reactivate the interactive tour, click on the Information icon and select “Start tour”.
Area of Interest (AOI) Focus
NUPSI displays Copernicus data over predefined administrative boundaries, specifically European NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics, from National Level to NUTS3 levels), as well as custom AOIs.
The NUTS classification used for the available data depends on the production period. Newly produced 2026 data use the NUTS 2024 classification, while 2025 data remain available under the NUTS 2021 classification.
Application-Driven Visualization
Track changes over time using a monthly timeline
Visualize parameters from multiple perspectives (e.g., vegetation, soil moisture, urban dynamics)
Access pre-processed Sentinel mosaics or request custom data extractions over the selected Area of Interest
Available Pre-Processed Datasets
Sentinel-1 Level-1 IW 1SDV/1SSV GRDH*: Radar monthly mosaics composed through processes that support both ascending and descending orbits
*Produced using Copernicus WorldDEM-30 © DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014-2018 provided under COPERNICUS by the European Union and ESA; all rights reserved
Sentinel-2 Level-2A: Cloudless monthly mosaics (Bands: B02, B03, B04, B08, B8A, B11, B12)
How to select an Area of Interest - WHERE
The NUPSI homepage features an interactive globe with preloaded NUTS boundaries for seamless browsing of European data.
See how to navigate NUTS level and how to select areas of interest by opening the Navigation video tutorial in a new tab.
You can select an Area of Interest in several ways:
NUTS level navigation: Zoom into the map, the displayed NUTS level will dynamically update from country (National Level) to local areas (NUTS3)
There are two different classifications available for the National Level:
National Level NUTS 2021 classification
National Level NUTS 2024 classification extended with Greenland and UK
Search Bar: Use the integrated search bar for European communes (GISCO) to find smaller administrative areas inside NUTS coverage
Freehand drawing: Click the drawing tool icon
and draw a
shape point-by-point (last click on the first point, right-click or
double-click to close it)Currently, it is also allowed to draw polygons spanning multiple countries, making it easier to define custom Areas of Interest across national boundaries.
See more details about the polygon tool by opening the Overview video tutorial in a new tab.
GeoJSON download and upload
Once you have created your freehand section, you can download it as a GeoJSON file using the download icon
See more details by opening the GeoTIFFs download video tutorial in a new tab.
Note: In order to see the download button as active, the user must be logged in. Currently it is possible to download only NUTS level 3 regions or communes, the GeoTIFF is limited to max 5000x5000 pixel.
Upload your own GeoJSON file using the upload icon
to
define custom Areas of Interest. The upload workflow now supports
FeatureCollection objects and MultiPolygon geometries. The following pop-up will appear at the center of the screen.
Browse and Visualize Systematic Data Offer - WHAT
Navigate different levels monthly mosaics. You can visualize each layer along the timeline.
NUPSI offers tools to support data exploration and comparison. It is possible to inspect temporal changes through interactive time-lapse visualizations, compare two products over the same Area of Interest using a movable split view, and customise the rendering of STAC data through the Edit BandMath feature.
See more details about the data selection by opening the Product menu video tutorial in a new tab and the dedicated sections below for instructions on using these tools.
First, select your area. Then, choose a visualization.
NUPSI uses common Sentinel-based visualizations (e.g., S2 TCI, NDVI, NDMI, S1 RGB Ratio Urban, SAR Urban) to support various applications. The data is organized in two menus: “Category” and “Satellite”.
Category Menu
Ideal for non-expert users. Start with an application need (e.g., “Soil Moisture”) and be guided to the relevant data layers (e.g., NDMI).
Each application includes a brief description
Satellite Menu
For expert users who want direct access to specific missions, bands, or indices. This menu provides the same visualizations but organized by satellite mission (e.g., Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2).
Each application includes a brief description
Timeline viewer - WHEN
Navigate through time using the monthly timeline. Use the arrows to scroll through available data and monitor the evolution of your area.
|
|
Use the star icon to save favorite AOIs, visualizations, and time windows.
See more details about favorites lists by opening the Overview video tutorial in a new tab.
Visualization tools
NUPSI provides a set of interactive visualisation tools to customise the rendering of satellite data, assess observation conditions, explore temporal changes, and compare products over the same area of interest. The following sections describe these tools and explain how to use them.
Custom BandMath expressions
The Edit BandMath feature allows users to customise the rendering of STAC data by modifying the RioTiler expression used to generate the visualisation.
To customise a visualisation, select the default product and click on the pencil icon, near to the star for favorites. Modify the expression according to the supported syntax and apply the changes to update the rendered visualisation.
This feature provides greater flexibility when exploring satellite data, allowing users to adapt the visualisation to their specific analysis needs.
The expression affects how the data are rendered and does not modify the underlying source product that can be restored by clicking on “Default”.
Note: In order to edit the BandMath, the user must log in first.
Interactive Stories
To explore the temporal evolution of an area, open the Stories feature from the right toolbar.
Stories present monthly observations over the same Area of Interest as an interactive timelapse. The animation covers the available monthly periods, up to the 12 months preceding the most recent available one.
Use the playback controls to start or pause the animation and observe how the selected area changes over time.
Stories provide a convenient way to identify temporal patterns and investigate changes in environmental and territorial conditions.
Compare products
To compare satellite visualisations, click on the Compare feature and select the two products and/or the two months to display over the same Area of Interest.
The two visualisations are displayed simultaneously and separated by a movable vertical split line. Drag the split line horizontally to reveal more or less of either product and inspect spatial features, patterns, and differences between the two visualisations.
To return to the standard visualisation, exit the comparison mode by clicking again on the Compare button.
Sun Zenith Angle limitations
NUPSI displays information about Sun Zenith Angle (SZA) limitations to help users assess the illumination conditions associated with Sentinel-2 observations.
When applicable, the SZA limitation indicator is displayed alongside the relevant visualisation. It highlights conditions that may affect the suitability of the observations for a specific analysis.
These limitations are provided as a warning and do not prevent the visualisation from being rendered. Users should consider this information when interpreting the displayed data and assessing its suitability for their analysis.
API
NUPSI provides APIs for programmatic access to supported service functionalities, including GeoTIFF generation and download.
NUPSI introduced support for the OAuth 2.0 Device Authorization Grant.
For detailed instructions, request parameters and authentication procedures, please refer to the NUPSI API documentation and Swagger interface (reachable also by clicking the API button in the side bar).
Helper
The Helper page allows logged users to make use of NUPSI’s APIs through a simple interface. Open the Helper in a new tab to interact with it.
