Examples and Tutorials

Comprehensive collection of Google Earth Engine examples from basic concepts to advanced applications.

Learning Path

Our examples are organized into three progressive levels:

🟢 Basic Examples

Perfect for beginners and those new to Earth Engine

Simple image loading and display
Basic calculations and operations
Understanding Earth Engine data structures
Introduction to visualization

🟡 Intermediate Examples

For users comfortable with basics who want to expand their skills

Time series analysis
Image collection filtering and processing
Vector data operations
Multi-temporal analysis

🔴 Advanced Examples

Complex workflows for experienced users

Machine learning applications
Large-scale batch processing
Custom algorithm development
Production-ready applications

Example Categories Overview

Data Access and Visualization

Loading different data types (optical, radar, climate)
Creating interactive maps and visualizations
Exporting data for external use

Image Processing

Spectral index calculations (NDVI, NDWI, etc.)
Image compositing and mosaicking
Cloud masking and atmospheric correction

Time Series Analysis

Temporal data exploration
Trend analysis and change detection
Seasonal pattern analysis

Geospatial Analysis

Vector operations and spatial joins
Zonal statistics and summaries
Distance and proximity analysis

Machine Learning

Classification algorithms
Regression modeling
Feature extraction and selection

Climate and Environmental Applications

Precipitation and temperature analysis
Drought monitoring
Land cover change detection

Prerequisites

Technical Requirements

Authenticated Google Earth Engine account
Python 3.7+ with required packages
Basic programming knowledge
Understanding of geospatial concepts

Recommended Setup

Jupyter Notebook or Google Colab
Git for downloading example code
Text editor or IDE for development

Knowledge Prerequisites

Basic Python programming
Understanding of remote sensing concepts
Familiarity with geospatial data formats
Basic statistics and data analysis

Using the Examples

Running Examples Locally

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/gee-documentation
cd gee-documentation

# Install requirements
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Run an example
python examples/basic/01_hello_world.py

Using in Google Colab

# In a Colab cell
!git clone https://github.com/yourusername/gee-documentation
%cd gee-documentation

# Run authentication
import ee
ee.Authenticate()
ee.Initialize(project='your-project-id')

# Execute example
exec(open('examples/basic/01_hello_world.py').read())

Jupyter Notebook Integration

# Copy example code into notebook cells
# Modify parameters as needed
# Add your own analysis and visualization

Example Data and Assets

Our examples use a variety of datasets:

Satellite Imagery

Landsat Collection 2
Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2
MODIS products
Commercial imagery

Climate Data

ERA5 reanalysis
CHIRPS precipitation
Temperature datasets
Weather station data

Geophysical Data

Digital elevation models
Soil properties
Geological maps
Hydrography

Vector Data

Administrative boundaries
Protected areas
Urban features
Transportation networks

Code Structure and Style

All examples follow consistent patterns:

Standard Template

"""
Example Title
=============

Brief description of what this example demonstrates.

Key concepts:
- Concept 1
- Concept 2
- Concept 3

Prerequisites:
- Requirement 1
- Requirement 2
"""

import ee
import other_required_packages

def main():
    """Main function containing the example logic."""

    # Initialize Earth Engine
    ee.Initialize(project='your-project-id')

    # Example code here

    print("✅ Example completed successfully!")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Error Handling

try:
    ee.Initialize(project='your-project-id')
    print("✓ Earth Engine initialized")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"✗ Initialization failed: {e}")
    return

Documentation Standards

Clear docstrings for all functions
Inline comments explaining complex operations
Variable names that describe their purpose
Step-by-step explanations of the workflow

Contributing Examples

We welcome contributions! Guidelines for adding examples:

Example Quality Standards

Working, tested code
Clear documentation
Follows established patterns
Includes error handling

Documentation Requirements

Purpose and learning objectives
Prerequisites and dependencies
Step-by-step explanation
Expected outputs

Submission Process

Fork the repository
Create feature branch
Add your example with documentation
Test thoroughly
Submit pull request

Common Patterns and Utilities

Authentication Wrapper

def ensure_ee_initialized(project_id):
    """Ensure Earth Engine is initialized."""
    try:
        ee.Initialize(project=project_id)
        return True
    except:
        try:
            ee.Authenticate()
            ee.Initialize(project=project_id)
            return True
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"Authentication failed: {e}")
            return False

Progress Tracking

def track_progress(current, total, operation="Processing"):
    """Display progress for long operations."""
    percent = (current / total) * 100
    print(f"\r{operation}: {current}/{total} ({percent:.1f}%)", end="")

Result Validation

def validate_result(result, expected_type=None):
    """Validate Earth Engine computation results."""
    try:
        if result is None:
            return False, "Result is None"

        info = result.getInfo() if hasattr(result, 'getInfo') else result

        if expected_type and not isinstance(info, expected_type):
            return False, f"Expected {expected_type}, got {type(info)}"

        return True, "Validation passed"
    except Exception as e:
        return False, f"Validation error: {e}"

Next Steps

Choose your learning path:

Beginners: Start with Basic Examples

Learn fundamental concepts
Practice basic operations
Build confidence with simple examples

Intermediate Users: Explore Intermediate Examples

Apply concepts to real problems
Learn advanced data processing
Develop analytical skills

Advanced Users: Dive into Advanced Examples

Implement complex workflows
Optimize performance
Create production applications

All Users: Reference API Reference

Look up specific functions
Understand parameters and options
Find implementation details

Note

Examples are designed to be modular. You can mix and match concepts from different examples to solve your specific problems.

Tip

Start with examples similar to your use case, then gradually explore other applications to broaden your Earth Engine skills.

Warning

Some examples may require significant computation time or have usage quota implications. Start with small test areas before scaling up.