Title: Online characterization of planetary surfaces: PlanetServer, an open-source analysis and visualization tool,
Abstract: The lack of open-source tools for hyperspectral data visualization and
analysiscreates a demand for new tools. In this paper we present the new
PlanetServer,a set of tools comprising a web Geographic Information System
(GIS) and arecently developed Python Application Programming Interface (API)
capableof visualizing and analyzing a wide variety of hyperspectral data from
differentplanetary bodies. Current WebGIS open-source tools are evaluated in
orderto give an overview and contextualize how PlanetServer can help in this
mat-ters. The web client is thoroughly described as well as the datasets
availablein PlanetServer. Also, the Python API is described and exposed the
reason ofits development. Two different examples of mineral characterization of
differenthydrosilicates such as chlorites, prehnites and kaolinites in the Nili
Fossae areaon Mars are presented. As the obtained results show positive outcome
in hyper-spectral analysis and visualization compared to previous literature,
we suggestusing the PlanetServer approach for such investigations.