Common Mistakes Businesses Make When Using Earth Observation Data—and How to Avoid Them

Anvita Shrivastava
4 days ago
3 min read

The EO (earth observation) data is rapidly becoming a significant part of many industries. Today, EO data has a broad application base in many sectors (e.g., agriculture; energy; insurance; urban planning; environmental monitoring). Access to EO data in near real-time is possible now due to the rapid development of satellite constellations, cloud-based geospatial platforms and AI-driven analytical tools.

Choosing the Wrong Spatial or Temporal Resolution

The Error

Some companies acquire EO datasets, but don't have a thorough understanding of either their spatial resolution, their temporal resolution, or their spectral characteristics prior to making the purchase. For example, although high-resolution data may be attractive and potentially provide great detail, high-resolution data can be very expensive and put a significant amount of strain on computational resources. In contrast, low resolution data may not provide enough detail and could miss critical information.

How To Avoid It

Start by defining your business question, then determine the resolution that will appropriately answer that question.
Ensure the spatial resolution you select corresponds to the decision making level (e.g., parcel level or region level).
Ensure the temporal frequency of data corresponds with your organization's operational needs (e.g., daily, weekly, seasonally).

Ignoring Data Quality, Accuracy, and Uncertainty

The Mistake

Businesses often assume satellite data is “ground truth.” In reality, EO data can be affected by:

Atmospheric interference
Cloud cover
Sensor noise
Geolocation errors

Ignoring these factors leads to unreliable analytics and poor decision-making.

How to Avoid It

Validate EO data with ground truth or reference datasets
Understand sensor limitations and error margins
Apply proper radiometric and geometric corrections

At GeoWGS84, we emphasize data validation workflows to ensure confidence in EO-driven insights.

Treating EO Data as a One-Time Project

The Mistake

Some organizations view Earth Observation as a one-off analysis rather than a continuous intelligence system. This limits long-term value and prevents trend detection.

How to Avoid It

Build EO into ongoing monitoring pipelines
Use time-series analysis to detect change, anomalies, and patterns
Automate data ingestion and processing where possible

EO data delivers the most value when it supports continuous decision-making, not isolated reports.

Underestimating Data Processing and Infrastructure Needs

The Mistake

Raw satellite imagery is rarely analysis-ready. Many businesses underestimate the complexity of:

Large data volumes
Cloud processing costs
Storage and performance requirements

This leads to slow workflows and unexpected operational expenses.

How to Avoid It

Use cloud-native EO platforms and scalable architectures
Preprocess data into analysis-ready formats
Leverage APIs and managed geospatial services

Smart infrastructure design can significantly reduce costs and speed up insights.

Lack of Geospatial Expertise in the Team

The Mistake

EO data is often handed to teams without geospatial or remote sensing expertise, leading to misinterpretation and misuse of results.

How to Avoid It

Invest in geospatial training for analysts and decision-makers
Partner with EO and GIS experts when needed
Use standardized workflows and documentation

At GeoWGS84, we bridge the gap between raw satellite data and business-ready intelligence.

Not Integrating EO Data with Other Business Data

The Mistake

Earth Observation data is frequently analyzed in isolation, limiting its strategic value.

How to Avoid It

Combine EO data with GIS layers, ERP systems, and business KPIs
Use spatial analytics to enrich existing datasets
Enable cross-functional access to EO-driven insights

EO becomes exponentially more valuable when integrated into enterprise data ecosystems.

Overlooking Legal, Licensing, and Compliance Issues

The Mistake

Using EO data without understanding licensing terms or regulatory constraints can lead to compliance risks and legal exposure.

How to Avoid It

Review satellite data licensing agreements carefully
Ensure compliance with regional data regulations
Track usage rights for commercial and derivative products

Responsible EO usage protects both your business and your customers.

Earth Observation data has the potential to transform how businesses understand the world—but only when used correctly. Avoiding these common mistakes can mean the difference between expensive imagery and actionable intelligence.

At GeoWGS84, we specialize in helping organizations: