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Data Sources

Our analysis is built upon a foundation of high-quality, open-source data. This commitment to open data ensures our work is transparent, reproducible, and accessible to everyone. Below are the primary data sources we utilize.

Satellite Imagery: Sentinel-2​

For monitoring vegetation health and land use changes, we rely on data from the Sentinel-2 mission, part of the European Union's Copernicus Programme.

  • Provider: European Space Agency (ESA)
  • Resolution: 10-60 meters, depending on the spectral band.
  • Key Use: We use specific bands from Sentinel-2 to calculate the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a key indicator of green space and plant health.

Geospatial Features: OpenStreetMap (OSM)​

OpenStreetMap provides invaluable, crowd-sourced data for physical features on the ground. It's the "Wikipedia of maps."

  • Provider: OpenStreetMap Foundation & Contributors
  • Key Use: We extract data layers such as building footprints, road networks, parks, and water bodies. This allows us to contextualize our environmental analysis within the built-up urban fabric.

Administrative & Planning Data​

To align our work with local governance and planning, we incorporate data from various administrative sources.

  • Provider: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Local Authorities (e.g., Bristol City Council).
  • Key Use: This includes administrative boundaries (wards, districts), census data, and sometimes specific planning designations that help us target interventions more effectively.