Getting Ready

To run RAT successfully, it requires three different sets of credentials mentioned here. In this section, detailed and stepwise instructions are provided to get the credentials required for executing RAT 3.0.

AVISO Credentials

Follow the steps to set up AVISO account and its credentials which will be used to access and download JASON-3 altimetry data.

Step 1:
Click here to register for AVISO products.

Step 2:
Fill out the registration form shown below.
Registration form for AVISO Products

Step 3:
Select ‘GDR/IGDR (Geophysical Data Records)’ in the Product Selection section as highlighted in the screenshot below.
Product Selection in Registration form for AVISO Products

Step 4:
Accept the terms and conditions.

Step 5:
Submit the form.

IMERG Credentials

Follow the steps to set up IMERG account and its credentials which will be used to access and download IMERG Late Precipitation product.

Step 1:
Click here to register for IMERG products.

Step 2:
Click on Register (circled in the screenshot below) to open the registration form.
Registration page for IMERG Product

Step 3:
Fill out the registration form shown below. Please make sure to check 'Near-Realtime Products' (circled in the screenshot below).
Registration form for IMERG Product

Step 4:
Click on Save. You will get a confirmation email and use that to complete the process.

GEE Credentials

RAT requires google service account, which is associated with a cloud project and both the project and service account should have access to earth engine api. It is free to create with a google user account (gmail account). Complete the listed tasks by following the instructions to set up a GEE service account.

Task 1 : Create a google cloud project

Step 1:
Click here to create a google cloud project.
Step 2:
Click on 'Create a Cloud project'.
Create cloud project page screenshot Step 3:
Enter a Project name and Click on ’CREATE’.
Enter project details page screenshot

Tip

Project name can be something like ‘RAT-SE-Asia’ or ‘RAT Mekong’.

Note

Please do not close the cloud project window which will open up as it will be used to continue Task-3.

Task 2 : Enable Earth Engine API for the cloud project created.

Step 1:
Click here to enable earth engine API.
Step 2:
Click on 'Enable the Earth Engine API’.
Enable EE API page screenshot Step 3:
Make sure the right project is selected and Click on ’ENABLE’. Enabling EE API page screenshot

Task 3 : Create a service account.

Step 1:
In the cloud project window opened up after completing task 1, make sure the right project is selected and Click on ‘IAM & Admin’ > ‘Service Accounts’.
Cloud project menu list screenshot Step 2:
Click on ‘CREATE SERVICE ACCOUNT’.
creating service account button screenshot Step 3:
Enter 'Service account name' and Click on ‘CREATE AND CONTINUE’. Service Account description screenshot

Tip

  1. Service account name can be something like ‘rat-Mekong-YOUR_NAME’.
  2. Description can be about who will be using this service account and for what.

Step 4:
Choose ‘Earth Engine’ > ‘Earth Engine Resource Admin’ and click on ‘CONTINUE’. After that click on ‘Done’.
Service Account role screenshot Step 5:
Click on ‘Actions’ > ‘Manage Keys’ for the service account you created.
managing service account key screenshot Step 6:
Click on ‘Add KEY’ > ‘Create new key’ and select json.
Adding service account key screenshot

Task 4 : Register the service account to use Earth Engine.

Step 1:
Click here to register the service account created to use earth engine API.
Step 2:
Click on ‘this page’ and select your email address.
Register service account EE screenshot Step 3:
Fill out the form and accept the terms.
Registering user account EE form screenshot Step 4:
Click on submit.
Step 5:
Again click here and repeat step 2 by clicking on ‘this page’. Register service account EE screenshot Step 6:
Enter the created service account’s email address.

Tip

Service account’s email address will look something like “foo-name@project-name.iam.gserviceaccount.com”

Registering service account EE  screenshot Step 7:
Click on ‘REGISTER SERVICE ACCOUNT’.

RAT Credentials

RAT 3.0 requires all the credentials created in the above sections in a single secret file. So, put all the credentials into a file named 'secrets.ini' by following the commands as mentioned here in secrets file section.