All eyes on Earth observation

Contrary to what one might think, mapping and surveying professionals have so far been making limited use of the data from the hundreds of Earth observation satellites capturing images of our planet, day and night. But that is soon set to change. Thanks to the remarkable technological progress being made in space, EO has the potential to meet the geospatial sector’s future needs.

When it comes to mapping land use or soil types, satellite imagery is just one of a range of Earth observation possibilities alongside radar, multispectral imagery and Lidar. But in a decade in which the space landscape is rapidly changing, with remarkable progress being made in terms of the satellites continually observing and imaging our planet, Earth observation (EO) has the potential to shape the future of the geospatial sector. In fact, I believe that EO deserves more attention than it currently receives – both at the major trade fairs held throughout the year, and also from us at GIM International – in order to keep everyone who uses geoinformation in their work informed about the latest trends and developments. Those developments are moving fast and could lead to unprecedented possibilities for new applications. We just need a little more patience.

Indeed, as Adam Keith – who has worked in the EO sector for over 25 years – wrote in GIM International in 2024: “The [Earth observation] industry probably still needs a couple more years of development and investment before it starts to reach its full potential.” He also pointed out that “if we consider EO’s current position in the growth cycle, apart from a couple of exceptions, I think it is fair to say that the sector is still in the take-up phase. A little perspective is needed.”

So let’s zoom in on EO. To use the words of Adam Keith, there appears to be a kind of ‘chicken and egg’ conundrum. The demand is clear, and EO companies – both new and established – understand what their future customers need. The challenge now is to turn that insight into action.

For many organizations, EO technology could be a valuable addition to their existing geospatial data toolbox. This is already happening in the hydrographic sector, with the Seabed 2030 project as an inspiring example of Earth observation. Besides various mapping methods, the implementation of satellite-derived bathymetry imagery adds a new dimension to this project, enabling large areas of shallow waters and coastal regions to be covered with minimal investment of time and resources.

Today’s next-generation, high-resolution satellites blend innovative and highly advanced technological power to offer better image quality, spectral bands, imaging capacity and latency than the current fleet. One example is Planet’s Pelican-2 satellite, which was launched successfully in January this year, including the latest NVIDIA GPU processor for AI on the edge and satellite-to-satellite communications. Together, this enables Planet to deliver critical data to its customers in minutes rather than hours.

In the years ahead, as satellite-derived data comes increasingly within reach, ever more organizations will incorporate it when capturing geospatial data about the environment – whether mapping the land or surveying underwater, and whether using terrestrial, mobile, portable, drone-based or airplane-based solutions. Earth observation will increasingly be an important piece of the puzzle for addressing the industry’s growing need for high-resolution, high-fidelity information at scale.

In an attempt to shoulder our responsibility for giving Earth observation the attention it deserves, in this year’s Issue 3 of GIM International – to be published in late spring in the Northern Hemisphere – we will present the latest developments in advanced satellite imagery, geospatial data and value-added products supporting effective decision-making. The issue will include vivid examples showing the importance and versatility of the EO sector. Feel free to contact us to discuss article submissions or advertising opportunities: wim.van.wegen@geomares.nl