Choose a Download Path
Use this page to pick the right retrieval path before implementation.
Dashboard vs API
| Option | Best for | Tradeoff | Start here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dashboard download | Ad-hoc, manual exports and small to moderate time-series bundles | Fast to start, not ideal for automation | Dashboard Guide / Download Data |
| API download | Automated, repeatable, or higher-volume pipelines | More setup required, best long-term control | Download with the API |
Practical Decision Rules
- Choose Dashboard when an analyst needs occasional exports, one-off checks, or quick visual QA.
- Choose API when you need scheduled runs, reproducibility, retries, or downstream system integration.
- For large AOIs and longer date ranges, prefer API even if you prototype in the dashboard first.
Shared Requirements
Both paths use processing units and may require attribution pass-through when results are externally shared.