Backend Integration with Google Earth Engine

Project Details
$15.00 – 25.00 USD per hour

Title: Geospatial Backend Developer Needed for Google Earth Engine Integration
Project Description: We have built an interactive web application prototype that serves as a powerful dashboard for geospatial analysis. The frontend is built with Next.js and React, and it currently simulates the display of various satellite imagery layers (e.g., NDVI, Landsat, Sentinel-2) using mock data and static tile URLs.
The goal of this project is to replace these mock integrations with a live, dynamic backend service. We need an experienced developer to build the core data pipeline that will connect our application to real satellite imagery APIs, with the initial focus on Google Earth Engine, and later Planet and Blacksky imagery.
This is the first and most critical phase of moving our application from a prototype to a production-ready tool.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Develop a Serverless API: Design, build, and deploy a robust and scalable serverless API on Google Cloud Platform (GCP), using either Google Cloud Functions or Google Cloud Run.
2. Integrate with Google Earth Engine (GEE): This is the core task. The API you build will receive requests from our frontend and use the Google Earth Engine API (preferably the Python SDK) to perform on-the-fly analysis.
3. Process Imagery Data: The initial API endpoint must be able to:
o Accept parameters from the frontend, including an Area of Interest (as a GeoJSON), a date range, and the type of analysis required (e.g., 'NDVI').
o Use these parameters to query the GEE catalog (e.g., Sentinel-2 or Landsat collections).
o Perform raster calculations within GEE (e.g., image.normalizedDifference()).
4. Return Map Tiles: The API endpoint must return a response containing a dynamic map tile URL template ({z}/{x}/{y}) that our frontend map client (Google Maps API) can use to render the analysis layer.
Required "Must-Have" Skills:
• Google Earth Engine (GEE): You must have proven, hands-on experience building solutions with the GEE API. Please be ready to show and discuss past projects.
• Python: Strong proficiency in Python is highly preferred, as it is our language of choice for the backend and the GEE SDK.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Demonstrable experience deploying serverless applications. You must be proficient with Google Cloud Functions and/or Google Cloud Run.
• API Development: Solid experience in creating and documenting clean, secure, and efficient RESTful APIs.
• Geospatial Fundamentals: A strong understanding of core geospatial concepts, including GeoJSON, raster vs. vector data, and coordinate reference systems.
Great to Have (Bonus Skills):
• Familiarity with Next.js/React, which will help you understand the frontend's needs.
• Experience with other Firebase services (our prototype uses Firestore and Authentication).
• Experience with other geospatial libraries like GDAL or Rasterio.
How to Apply:
To ensure you've read this post thoroughly, please start your application with the words "Geospatial Expert".
In your proposal, please provide the following:
1. A brief description of a past project where you used Google Earth Engine to solve a similar problem.
2. A short outline of the technical approach you would take to build the API described in this post.
3. Your estimated hourly rate and general availability.
We are looking for a long-term partner who can help us build the core data engine for this exciting application. We will begin with a small, paid test project to ensure a good fit. We look forward to seeing your proposals
Skills Required
PHP
JavaScript
Python
Node.js
AngularJS
Google Cloud Platform
RESTful API
API Development
Next.js
GeoJSON