Google Cloud Project Setup

Google Earth Engine now requires all usage to be associated with a Google Cloud project. This guide walks you through the complete setup process.

Why Google Cloud Projects?

As of November 2024, Earth Engine requires Google Cloud projects to:

  • Enable better resource management and monitoring

  • Provide clearer billing and usage tracking

  • Integrate with other Google Cloud services

  • Support advanced authentication methods

Creating a Google Cloud Project

Step 1: Access Google Cloud Console

  1. Visit Google Cloud Console

  2. Sign in with your Google Account

  3. Accept terms of service if prompted

Step 2: Create New Project

  1. Click the project selector dropdown

  2. Select “New Project”

  3. Provide project details:

    • Project Name: Descriptive name (e.g., “Earth Engine Analysis”)

    • Project ID: Unique identifier (auto-generated or custom)

    • Organization: Select if applicable

    • Location: Choose billing account location

  4. Click “Create”

Step 3: Project ID Requirements

Project IDs must meet these criteria:

  • 6-30 characters long

  • Lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only

  • Start with a letter

  • End with a letter or number

  • Globally unique across Google Cloud

Project Configuration

Enable Earth Engine API

  1. Navigate to “APIs & Services” > “Library”

  2. Search for “Earth Engine API”

  3. Click on “Google Earth Engine API”

  4. Click “Enable”

  5. Wait for activation (usually 1-2 minutes)

Set Up Billing (If Required)

Some Earth Engine usage requires billing:

  1. Go to “Billing” in the Cloud Console

  2. Link a billing account or create new one

  3. Verify payment method

  4. Set up budget alerts (recommended)

Configure IAM and Permissions

  1. Navigate to “IAM & Admin” > “IAM”

  2. Ensure your account has necessary roles:

    • Earth Engine Resource Viewer: Basic access

    • Earth Engine Resource Writer: Asset management

    • Project Editor: Full project access

Registering Project with Earth Engine

Method 1: Through Code Editor

  1. Visit https://code.earthengine.google.com/register?project=YOUR-PROJECT-ID

  2. Replace YOUR-PROJECT-ID with your actual project ID

  3. Complete the registration flow

  4. Specify usage type (commercial or non-commercial)

Method 2: Through Python API

import ee

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

Method 3: Command Line

earthengine set_project your-project-id

Project Settings and Quotas

Understanding Quotas

Different quota limits apply based on registration type:

Resource

Non-Commercial

Commercial

Compute seconds/day

10,000

Based on billing

Storage (GB)

250

Based on billing

Concurrent operations

100

Based on billing

Export size (GB/day)

10

Based on billing

Monitoring Usage

Track your usage through:

  1. Cloud Console: Monitoring and billing sections

  2. Earth Engine Code Editor: Resource usage panel

  3. API calls: Built-in usage reporting

Managing Multiple Projects

Project Switching

Switch between projects in your code:

import ee

# Initialize with specific project
ee.Initialize(project='project-1')

# Later switch to different project
ee.Initialize(project='project-2')

Organizing Projects

Best practices for multiple projects:

  • Development: my-org-ee-dev

  • Testing: my-org-ee-test

  • Production: my-org-ee-prod

  • Research: my-org-ee-research

Security and Access Control

Service Accounts

For production applications:

  1. Create service accounts for automated access

  2. Assign minimal required permissions

  3. Use JSON key files securely

  4. Rotate keys regularly

Access Management

Control who can access your project:

  1. Navigate to “IAM & Admin” > “IAM”

  2. Add members with appropriate roles

  3. Use groups for team management

  4. Regular audit access permissions

Troubleshooting Common Issues

API Not Enabled Error

Error: Earth Engine API has not been used in project...

Solution: Ensure Earth Engine API is enabled in your project

Permission Denied Errors

Error: User does not have permission to access project...

Solutions: * Verify you’re using the correct project ID * Check IAM permissions * Ensure project is registered with Earth Engine

Billing Account Issues

Error: Project requires billing to be enabled...

Solutions: * Link a valid billing account * Verify payment method is current * Check billing account permissions

Best Practices

Project Organization

  • Use descriptive project names

  • Implement consistent naming conventions

  • Document project purposes and owners

  • Set up proper IAM hierarchies

Cost Management

  • Monitor usage regularly

  • Set up budget alerts

  • Use resource quotas appropriately

  • Clean up unused resources

Security

  • Enable audit logging

  • Use service accounts for automation

  • Implement least-privilege access

  • Regular security reviews

Next Steps

After completing project setup:

  1. Git Setup with Earth Engine - Configure Git access

  2. Authentication Methods - Set up authentication

  3. Basic Examples - Try basic examples

Note

Project setup is a one-time process per project. Keep your project ID handy for future authentication.

Warning

Billing charges may apply for certain Earth Engine operations, even under non-commercial usage. Monitor your usage carefully.