Satellite images
Through the National Point of Contact for Satellite Images (NPOC), customers can purchase high-quality satellite images from around the world. On customer’s demand, the NPOC obtains new images or provides suitable products from existing archives. During the entire processing of the order, specialists are at the disposal of the customer to give advice.
Satellite images for all: 40 years of National Point of Contact
For 40 years, the National Point of Contact has been providing satellite image data from the European Space Agency to Swiss customers in a low-threshold and cost-neutral manner. Find out here why this link between space and Earth was established in 1981.
Sentinel-2 mosaics 2017-2020 of Switzerland and its surroundings
The NPOC has created freely available satellite image mosaics of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 of Switzerland and its surroundings from Sentinel-2 data (ground resolution 10m). For more information:
The rapid availability, the possibility of large-scale images with high resolution and the overall very good image quality make satellite images an attractive product. Swisstopo operates the NPOC together with the Remote Sensing Laboratories RSL of the Department of Geography, University of Zurich. NPOC offers optical satellite image data distribution, processing, support and consulting to Swiss stakeholders for any region in the world.
The NPOC as a reseller of satellite images
As Switzerland does not operate own Earth Observation satellites, NPOC acts as a reseller of satellite imagery and derived products to public and private entities. For this purpose, it maintains reseller contracts with all important image producers. Satellite image data and digital elevation models (DEMs) can be obtained through existing catalogues and archives or, in case of need, new acquisitions can be acquired in function of the client’s specific interests.
The NPOC as a service provider
The NPOC offers processing of the data to the client’s needs. Typical processing steps encompass geometric (e.g. orthorectification) and radiometric (e.g. colour balancing & pan-sharpening) processing. The NPOC advises and supports the client throughout the whole process, from determining the best suited order parameters and processing options to the delivery of the final product.
Research and development of new products
NPOC takes up requests that go beyond presently available products, and forwards them to scientists that may address them in future work. Collaborations between scientists and users are considered vital for further propagation of remote sensing technology.
Link
Federal Office of Topography swisstopo
Seftigenstrasse 264
3084 Wabern