As soon as a station receives data from the satellites, it sends them electronically to the Archive and Preprocessing Centre, or CAP.

The full sequence of operations from image reception, inventorying and cloud cover rating to listing in Spot Image's on-line DALI catalogue will now be automatic. Data will then be archived on digital storage media before processing.

The CAP is also responsible for image preprocessing, which involves making radiometric and geometric adjustments to correct systematic errors: for high-resolution products (2.5 metres), image restoration is a very complex process involving some 2,000 operations on each of an image's 24,000 x 24,000 pixels. The CAP at Spot Image is capable of generating 150 to 200 products a day.

Products are checked for quality before being delivered to the customer (mostly on CD-ROM).
To standardize and optimize the system, partner receiving stations will operate standard SPOT data reception terminals derived from the server operating at Spot Image.

More about the Archive and Preprocessing centre
More about standart SPOT5 products