EO·Atlas
Preview build / EO·Atlas v0.9, content still landing
EO·Atlas / Sensors / OLI (Operational Land Imager)
Sensor · Spaceborne

OLI (Operational Land Imager)

Missions → Landsat 8 (Operational)

Multispectral pushbroom optical imager, primary instrument on Landsat 8 (launched 11 February 2013). Built by Ball Aerospace under NASA contract; Ball acquired by BAE Systems on 16 February 2024. NASA owns the space segment; USGS operates the ground segment and distributes data at no cost. 9 spectral bands across visible/NIR/SWIR plus panchromatic and cirrus, 30 m GSD (15 m panchromatic), 185 km swath, 12-bit acquisition. Combined 8-day revisit with Landsat 9 OLI-2 underpins GLAD-L pantropical deforestation alerts and the Hansen Global Forest Change annual dataset.

Sensor

OLI is the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8, a multispectral pushbroom optical instrument with nine spectral bands, 30 m multispectral imaging, 15 m panchromatic imaging, and a 185 km swath.[1][2] Ball Aerospace built OLI for Landsat 8 under NASA's Landsat instrument program.[2] The sensor supports visible, near-infrared, shortwave-infrared, panchromatic, and cirrus observations for land imaging applications.[1][2] USGS distributes Landsat 8 data products for operational land monitoring workflows.[1]

Methodology Evidence Mission Citation
Vegetation-index mapping Demonstrated Landsat 8 [1]
Multisensor spatiotemporal fusion Capable Landsat 8 [3]
Operator pricing

Pricing not publicly listed by operator

Where this fits, supply chain

Compositional position

Landsat 8 ——— this payload
this ——— Landsat 8 (Operational) flies on
Methods this sensor implements
Demonstrated
Capable, undemonstrated
  • Optical sun-glint surface imaging

    Landsat 8 OLI has visible/NIR bands and 15-30 m reflective-band imaging suitable for opportunistic sun-glint exploitation when geometry and cloud conditions cooperate.

Topics this relates to
Sea stateOptical sun-glint surface imaging(capable)marginal
Crop phenologyVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)well suited
Crop stress and yieldVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)well suited
DeforestationVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)well suited
Land cover changeVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)well suited
Pasture and grazingVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)well suited
Urban changeVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)well suited
Vector-borne disease riskVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)well suited
DroughtVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)adequate
Irrigation monitoringVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)adequate
Pest and disease detectionVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)adequate
Power grid and vegetation encroachmentVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)adequate
Urban heat islandVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)adequate
WildfireVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)adequate
Biodiversity and habitatVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Coastal erosionVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Coastal water qualityVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Crop-type mappingVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Disaster damage assessmentVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Forest structure and biomassVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Illegal constructionVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Mineral explorationVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Pipeline integrityVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Solar energy siting and monitoringVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Vessel trackingVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Wind energy sitingVegetation index mapping(demonstrated)marginal
Sources
Cite https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/oli Markdown twin → Field definitions →