Getting Started with the Aerial Imagery API
Authenticate once, explore surveys with rich metadata, and stream tiles that are ready for production basemaps or ML pipelines. Built for companies who need reliable, high-resolution coverage fast.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Zoom range | Z14–Z21 |
| Median tile latency | ~ 200 ms |
| Formats | PNG / JPEG |
| Tile size | 256 × 256 px |
Access Models
Both services share the same OAuth2 auth flow and reference the full Near Space Labs catalog.
Tile Service
Best for: Interactive maps · Fast imagery refresh
A standards-based XYZ tile service for both historical and latest mosaics. Filter by area (WKT), capture time, cloud cover, and instantly fetch metadata plus tiles.
- Authenticated XYZ tiles + metadata
- PNG + JPEG support, 256 × 256 tiles
- Designed for web + mobile maps, geospatial analytics
Stratoview
Best for: Geocoded map · Property search · Ready to use interface
Search an address to find if imagery is available.
- Username and Password correspond to NSL ID and NSL SECRET
- Single point on the map at a time
Workflow at a Glance
Every client follows the same three steps:
- Authenticate — Exchange your NSL credentials for an OAuth token
- Discover — Browse surveys, footprints, and coverage by area
- Download — Stream tiles or static images into your app
Follow along in the next pages for detailed instructions and code examples for each step.
Why Surveys?
Imagery ships as surveys: mosaics captured over a short timeframe. They make catalog browsing faster, keep payloads small, and provide a stable identifier.