Block Data
Block is available exclusively to Enterprise organizations that have been set up for this capability.
This guide explains how to request and manage Block access on the Carbon Arc platform, including browsing datasets, submitting requests, approvals, intake, evaluation period, and team access.
Related documentation
- Block Data Delivery — Connect to delivered data via Polaris (Iceberg REST catalog) or Amazon S3
- Block API (SDK) — Programmatic discovery, requests, status, and S3 ARN management
- Compliance Portal — Compliance-managed accounts only
What is Block?
Block is Carbon Arc's enterprise block data workflow—an automated path that connects your team directly to provisioned data once access is approved, with no manual handoff. It's designed for Enterprise teams who need full, row-level datasets delivered into their own environment (for example, through a connected query engine or file delivery), not only through standard API access.
From the Block page in the platform, you can see which datasets are available to your organization, review details (including the data dictionary), submit an access request, and track progress as your company and Carbon Arc complete review. Once you're approved, you'll complete intake, begin your evaluation period, and transition to your contract after the evaluation period ends if you choose to continue.
About the data you'll see before and during the evaluation period
- The Explore Sample catalog (SQL Editor) uses lagged data so you can understand structure and coverage before you request access. In the platform, sample queries are limited to 1,000 rows per execution; connect via Polaris or S3 for full sample-bucket access in your own query engine.
- Your evaluation period gives you access to live data through your approved delivery path (Polaris or S3) so you can evaluate production feeds before committing to a contract.
- After the evaluation period, continued access moves to your contract on the same delivery path—see Block Data Delivery and the Block API.
If you don't see Block in the menu, your organization may not have Block enabled yet—contact your Carbon Arc account team or your internal administrator.
Platform vs SDK
You can work with Block in the platform UI or through the Carbon Arc Python SDK. Both require an Enterprise organization with Block enabled and a user with Block User or Block Administrator access (API token for SDK).
| Feature | Platform | SDK |
|---|---|---|
| View dataset tearsheets | Yes | Yes |
| View data dictionary | Yes | Yes |
| Access sample data (1,000-row sample) | Yes | No |
| Request evaluation access | Yes | Yes |
| Check status of a request | Yes | Yes |
| Approve / reject requests | Yes | No |
| Manage platform credentials | Yes | No |
| Manage Polaris credentials | Yes | No |
| Pre-approve datasets | Yes* | No |
| Manage S3 ARNs | Yes | Yes |
| Access production Block data | No** | No |
| Download compliance tearsheet | Yes† | Yes† |
| View datasets (in flight, rejected, coming soon, etc.) | Yes | Yes |
* Pre-approve datasets — compliance-managed accounts only; Compliance Administrator in the platform UI.
† Download compliance tearsheet — Compliance Administrators only (compliance-managed accounts).
** Production Block data is accessed via Polaris or S3 after approval (not by downloading full production datasets inside the platform UI). Use Block Data Delivery for connection setup and the Block API for programmatic access and ARN registration.
When to use which
- Platform — Request access, track approvals, complete intake, review tearsheets and samples, administer requests (Block Administrator / Compliance Administrator), manage credentials shown in-product.
- SDK — Automate discovery, submit requests, poll status, register S3 ARNs, and integrate Block workflows into your own tools. Approvals and credential management stay in the platform.
Where to go next
| I want to… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Browse datasets and request access | Requesting Access |
| Query sample data in the SQL Editor | Explore Sample Data |
| Understand roles and team setup | Roles & Access |
| Approve Block requests | Block Administrators |
| Handle compliance review | Compliance Administrators |
| Troubleshoot or find answers | Troubleshooting & FAQs |
| Connect to delivered data | Block Data Delivery |