For example, are you asking about:
* Data about planets and other celestial objects? Then the answer might be space telescopes and space probes.
* Data about the Earth's surface? Then the answer might be satellites and aerial photography.
* Data about microscopic surfaces? Then the answer might be electron microscopes and scanning probe microscopes.
Once you clarify what kind of data and surface you're interested in, I can give you a more accurate answer.
