In this guide, we’ll walk you through every step—from searching for your location to adding your desired image strip to the cart. Whether you’re new to satellite imagery or just need a refresher, we’ve made this process as simple and conversational as possible.

1. Search for Your Location

The journey begins with finding the exact place where you want to obtain satellite images. Follow these steps to reach your destination:

  • Enter Coordinates or Place Name: You can type in geo-coordinates (latitude and longitude) or simply enter the name of the place in the search bar.
  • Recent Searches: The system will also show you a list of recently searched locations, so you can quickly re-select a place you’ve looked at before.
  • Drag the Map: Use your mouse to click and drag the map, moving in any direction until you reach your desired location.

Once you’re happy with the location, you can close the search bar and move on to the next step.

2. Define Your Area of Interest (AOI)

After pinpointing your location, it’s time to define the specific area for which you want imagery. There are two ways to specify the AOI:

  • Draw AOI: Click the “Draw AOI” button and use the drawing tools to create a bounding box around the area.
  • Upload AOI: If you already have a shapefile, GeoJSON, KML, or KMZ file that outlines your area, click “Upload AOI” to load it directly.

The AOI helps filter the satellite images so that only those overlapping your defined area are shown. It ensures you get imagery that’s relevant to your project.

3. Search for Images

Now that your AOI is defined, it’s time to see what imagery is available.

  • Images Panel: As soon as you create/upload the AOI, the system will run a query against our image archive for your selected AOI.
  • Filtering Your Results: You can use filters like date range, collections (e.g. Pixxel TD-01) and cloud cover to refine the results. This helps you quickly zero in on the images that match your needs.

4. Add the Strip to Cart

Once you’ve found an image strip that meets your requirements, you’re ready to add it to your cart.

  • Preview and Validate: Take a moment to preview the image and check that it covers your AOI as expected. Validate the capture details and ensure that any applied filters (like cloud cover) meet your needs. You can also view the image metadata from “View More Info” button in the image block.

  • Add to Cart: Click the “Add to Cart” button to save the image strip for purchase. You can review your cart at any time before finalizing your order.

Using the Pixxel Images Heat Map

If you do not have a well defined requirement and you’d like a broader view of where satellite images are available, try our Pixxel Images Heat Map.

  • Click the heat map icon to zoom out. You’ll see pointers indicating where Pixxel images are available.
  • You can either draw your AOI directly over these pointers or click on a pointer to select that area for further analysis.
  • The heat map is a great tool for quickly identifying regions with abundant imagery, making your search even easier.