PlanetSentry

Methodology

How the monitoring surface is assembled

PlanetSentry pulls from public scientific and emergency-management sources, normalizes the data server-side, and keeps imagery and alert layers explicit so users can interpret them responsibly.

Primary event backbone

NASA EONET is the broad catalog of record for many environmental events. Dedicated feeds such as USGS earthquakes and NOAA tropical storms are layered in where they improve specificity or freshness.

Normalization boundary

Provider-specific quirks are handled in server-side adapters before data reaches the UI. This keeps list views, event pages, API responses, and social previews in sync even when upstream payload shapes drift.

Imagery interpretation

Satellite and overlay layers are not all photographic. Some are false-color, analytical, or model-based. PlanetSentry exposes legends and layer descriptions so the map communicates meaning instead of just visual drama.

Operational boundary

The site supports monitoring and context, not official action. Users should leave the dashboard and consult the authoritative agency whenever a situation becomes personally or operationally relevant.

Current source families

  • NASA EONET for broad natural-event catalog coverage.
  • USGS for earthquake-specific event detail.
  • NOAA NHC and NOAA SWPC for tropical and space-weather context.
  • GDACS for alert severity context via RSS / GeoRSS.
  • NASA GIBS, RainViewer, and Open-Meteo / CAMS for supporting overlays.