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In May 2016, 17 CubeSats were released by the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer on the International Space Station. The Dove satellites are part of a constellation designed, built and operated by Planet Labs to take Earth images for humanitarian and environmental applications ranging from monitoring deforestation and urbanization to improving natural-disaster relief and agricultural yields in developing nations.

Unlike traditional satellite missions that carry a significant number of custom-built, state-of-the-art instruments, CubeSats are designed to take narrowly targeted scientific observations, with only a few instruments, often built from off-the-shelf components. The Planet Labs satellites, now with more than 100 in space, fit the CubeSat 3U form factor of 10 by 10 by 30 centimeters and weigh approximately four kilograms.

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by Taylor Soper on May 31, 2016. German chemical and pharmaceutical giant Bayer today inked a memorandum of understanding with Planetary Resources as part of a deal to utilize satellite images collected by the Redmond-based space startup.

Bayer will use information from the crop-specific images to develop agricultural products as part of its Digital Farming Initiative. Bayer said the data can improve how farmers time their irrigation systems or assess their soil’s water-holding capacity, for example. The idea is to optimize how crops are grown, saving both time and money for farmers.

“The sensors from Planetary Resources can become a powerful tool that can provide a new level of information on crops anywhere in the world,” Liam Condon, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and head of the Crop Science Division, said in a statement. “The combination of Bayer’s scientific and agronomy expertise and Planetary Resources’ unique sensor capability will greatly improve our ability to deliver truly practical intelligence to growers anywhere on the planet.”

Planetary Resources, which last week announced a $21.1 million investment round, was founded as an asteroid mining company but has recently turned its focus toward an Earth observation program known as Ceres. By 2019, the company plans to have a constellation of Arkyd 100 microsatellites in low Earth orbit, equipped with thermal infrared and hyperspectral sensors that can track water content, crop growth, oil and gas leaks and forest fires.

“We are currently conducting airborne Research and Development campaigns over a variety of agricultural targets,” Planetary Resources CEO Chris Lewicki said in a statement. “Bayer is interested in supporting these activities with scientific and agronomic expertise in order to accelerate R&D, product validation and creation.”

Financial details of the MOU were not disclosed.

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Sentinel-2 is the optical satellite of the Copernicus programme. It can be compared to Landsat, although it has a better resolution, of 10 to 20 meters. We’ll be using it for crop monitoring with simple vegetation indices.

Overview

Sentinel-2 is the high-resolution optical satellite of ESA and the EU. The images have a resolution of 10 to 20 meters, higher than Landsat, and, as always with the Copernicus programme, the data are free and open.
In this tutorial, we’ll download an image, make it look good, and create maps of vegetation indices to show the general health of crops and other vegetation. This is a basic tutorial, but even for those with experience in remote sensing, it is a good starting point for working with Sentinel-2 data.

Getting the data and the tools
Although all Sentinel-2 data are available on the Copernicus data hub, they are also HUGE – 5 to 6 GB for an image. So in this tutorial we’re using a plugin in QGIS called
“Semi-automatic classification plugin”. It can download tiles of 100 by 100 km, instead of the entire image, plus it processes it for you, and has some nice other tools.

More info

“Source”: http://www.ecopotential-project.eu/

South Africa-based Space Commercial Services Aerospace Group (SCS AG) has acquired the imagery distribution rights for sub-Saharan Africa from UrtheCast. Under the agreement SCS AG provides imagery products from UrtheCast’s two cameras on board the International Space Station (ISS) as well as its two Deimos satellites.

UrtheCast takes high-resolution satellite images and video footage, which are applicable for private sector and government projects. Space Commercial Services Global Information (SCSGi), a subsidiary of SCS AG specialized in imagery and geospatial information solutions, will be the master distributor for the African continent imagery.

“We are looking forward to utilizing the data to support a wide range of applications such as crop assessments, forestry management, environmental protection, insurance risk assessments, infrastructure monitoring, urban and rural development, border control and maritime security. Our image rights acquisition from UrtheCast has increased our capacity to provide customers with value-added information services to the point of decision-making,” said Retief Gerber, CEO of SCSGi.

Original article

Planet OS, the world’s leading provider of online geospatial environmental data, today announced Powerboard, a data intelligence solution that helps wind farm operators and renewable energy service providers to boost power output by up to 30%.

Powerboard provides wind farm operators with a rich, easy-to-use data visualization experience that allows them to significantly streamline daily operations and maintenance, leading to increased profitability and safety. The solution combines real-time operational and industrial data with a growing programmatic catalog of open and commercial data from external data providers into a single cloud-based solution. The result is a visually rich, interactive analysis tool that permits detailed optimization of a wind farm that replaces rooms full of distracting monitors that are not integrated at a software level. Furthermore, Powerboard allows stakeholders from operators, technicians to managers regardless of location to collaborate in planning and operating a wind farm to great effect.

Powerboard provides wind farm operators with a rich, easy-to-use data visualization experience that allows them to significantly streamline daily operations and maintenance, leading to increased profitability and safety. The solution combines real-time operational and industrial data with a growing programmatic catalog of open and commercial data from external data providers into a single cloud-based solution. The result is a visually rich, interactive analysis tool that permits detailed optimization of a wind farm that replaces rooms full of distracting monitors that are not integrated at a software level. Furthermore, Powerboard allows stakeholders from operators, technicians to managers regardless of location to collaborate in planning and operating a wind farm to great effect.

German energy giant RWE has joined forces with Planet OS as the launch partner for Powerboard. RWE International SE, one of the world’s large offshore wind farm operators, plans to use Powerboard on a number of wind farms in their portfolio. “Powerboard provides us with the potential for optimizing operations and increasing renewable energy production from our wind farms,” said Peter Terium, chief executive officer of the RWE Group. “We are currently using Powerboard at Gwynt y Môr, our largest offshore wind farm, to help increase our power output and improve operational efficiency. As we deploy Powerboard to other renewable energy sites, we hope to further improve our competitive position.”

Powerboard is built on the cloud-based Planet OS data infrastructure, which can process all major geospatial and Earth Observation data types and formats, in addition to supporting conventional industrial sensor data. Planet OS is also on a mission to deliver relevant external data by syndicating the world’s largest programmatic database of geospatial environmental data (see http://data.planetos.com) so clients can access a growing catalog of over 800 parameters via one consistent API. The company is a member of the NOAA Big Data Project (https://data-alliance.noaa.gov/) and the White House Open Data Roundtable (http://opendataenterprise.org/open-data-roundtables.html) to make open data more accessible for everyone.

“Uniting the right tools and relevant content together significantly reduces the effort needed by renewable energy companies to compete with coal, and natural gas” said Rainer Sternfeld, Planet OS chief executive officer. “Customers like RWE can leverage Powerboard to have a truly distributed, responsive and aggregated view of all operations on a single screen. Using our products allows renewable energy providers to see deep patterns and monitor performance in a way that allows them to better optimize operations, schedule maintenance and feed timely data to energy traders to perform without delay.”

Planet OS Powerboard is available now to customers around the world, starting with a proof-of-concept and value analysis to validate the implementation for both parties before engaging in a multi-year contractual relationship based on benefits gain-share. Learn more about Planet OS Powerboard at https://planetos.com/powerboard, and/or contact sales@planetos.com to schedule a demo.

About the Company
Planet OS Inc. is an energy-focused geospatial infrastructure data company based in Silicon Valley and Tallinn, Estonia. Founded by recognized Estonian technologists and entrepreneurs, the company develops data infrastructure for geospatial sensor networks, Environmental Intelligence and Earth Observation. Planet OS investors include Intertrust Technologies Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., RWE and notable angel investors from the USA, Norway and Estonia.

rasdaman GmbH is world technology leader in Big Data Analytics on Earth Science data. Its flexible, scalable, open, and cost-efficient raster server technology allows to directly manipulate, analyze & remix any-size geospatial data. The unique true multi-dimensional data model supports all types of raster maps, such as x/y/t image timeseries, x/y/z geo tomograms, and x/y/z/t climate and ocean data.

Since 2003, we offer individual consulting, development, and support for Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs). In the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) we lead geo raster service standardization, being chair of the raster-relevant working groups and editor of the raster standards. In ISO we extend SQL with arrays. As external expert we support the European INSPIRE SDI harmonization. The open-source rasdaman software is included in the OSGeo Live DVD and, hence, branded as particularly recommendable geo database.

Built on the experience of world-leading Big Earth Data experts and the makers of the standards, the rasdaman geo server represents the best of breed for today and tomorrow.

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By Marc Boucher. The European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) has released ESPI Report 50 “Space for Sustainable Development”. The report builds on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015.

From the report introduction: “The new goals place an emphasis on respecting the long-term economic, social, and environmental requirements of the global community, and space will be a pivotal component in achieving these goals. The ESPI Report 59 “Space for Sustainable Development” elaborates on these highly relevant aspects, and it was produced as a collective effort by Stefano Ferretti, Jörg Feustel-Büechel, Roy Gibson, Peter Hulsroj, Andreas Papp and Elisabeth Veit.”

“This report discusses how space has been involved with sustainable development projects in the past, as well as where possible space contributions to development solutions have been underutilised, with an eye towards identifying possible pathways forward for bringing the space and development communities into closer cooperation. After giving an overview of the changes precipitated by the SDGs and current and potential future areas of interaction, the report creates a map of stakeholders relevant for bringing the two fields closer together. It emphasises that demand-side actors, including governments, UN organisations, and NGOs, must be given the driving seat in determining requirements for successful projects. Supply-side actors in the space sector must engage in increased dialogue to foster consensus-building for a unified approach. The report critically analyses existing dialogue mechanisms and identifies practical tools for increasing cooperation between space and development actors. The report concludes by encouraging the creation of space programmes targeting sustainable development.”

“This study aims to inform and provide recommendations to actors within a broad range of fields within the development and space sectors, but is also intended to engage all persons interested in the social impact of space.”

Download the report from the ESPI website

US: Earth imagery provider, DigitalGlobe has signed a contract to provide more World Imagery Map to Esri’s ArcGIS platform. The contract will evolve the partnership between the two companies and will provide access to ArcGIS Data Appliance users’ to current and complete high-resolution satellite imagery mosaics.

The World Imagery Map is foundational to Esri’s vision of connecting people with maps, data, and apps through geographic information systems. The multi-year subscription features DigitalGlobe’s Basemap + Vivid and Basemap + Metro products, which will be refreshed with the latest content throughout the contract term. New imagery will start flowing into the World Imagery Map later this year.

In addition, the two companies will work together over the coming months to explore new ways to connect Esri’s ArcGIS Online and market place to DigitalGlobe’s Geospatial Big Data platform, GBDX, allowing users to perform advanced analytics at scale against a 15-year time-lapse image library to solve complex problems.

“Esri’s global user base can now create even more powerful and effective products that enable decisions to be made with confidence and improve our collective understanding of the world,” said Jeffrey R. Tarr, DigitalGlobe President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We have enjoyed collaborating with DigitalGlobe and look forward to a long-term partnership,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri President and Founder. “Their superior quality imagery will benefit Esri and our users.”

The geospatial industry has been expanding at a breakneck speed with ‘geo’ getting embedded in more and more workflows. As new innovative players enter the game with disruptive business models, existing players have no choice but to go through a transformation to stay relevant. By Anusuya Datta

Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Facebook, the world’s most popular media owner, creates no content. Alibaba, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory. And Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate.

The world is changing. The next wave of Industrial Revolution, also known as the Second Machine Age, is fundamentally changing each and every aspect of our life. It is the power of the World Wide Web and the onset of smartphones that has unleashed a movement which is rapidly destroying the old models. Smart machines can now deliver a pizza on our dinner plates, turn on the AC at our residence as we start off from the office in a driverless car, plough our fields, work out the insurance for us, prepare our business reports and even fly our planes.

All over the world, governments, public institutions and businesses are finding it extremely difficult to keep up with these disruptive innovations. Old school businesses of many years, run by established leaders of many years of experience, are disappearing in a flash, even as new age innovators take the world by storm. And like all industries across the world, the world of geospatial is shaken and stirred.

The ground has never been more fertile

Interestingly, if growth drivers are to be considered, the geospatial industry couldn’t have had it better. The continuing global economic uncertainty has brought an increased focus on productivity. While companies and governments are battening down the hatches, dramatically reducing staff and spending, there are others looking at how they can use the time of uncertainty to advance their business. “For those people, productivity is more important than ever,” emphasizes Chris Gibson, Vice President, Trimble.

Geospatial technologies provide not only the ability to manage and integrate data, but also the analytical tools that sharpen decision making and, ultimately, save time and money, underlines Russ Johnson, Director of Industry Solutions at Esri. Using data in new ways counteracts the forces of a sluggish economy. It helps make organizations efficient and resilient during economic downturns.

No wonder then most developed countries and forward-looking governments are turning into geo evangelists by encouraging the uptake of spatial technologies in work processes. Additionally, the United Nations sustainable development agenda in 2015 also recognized the importance of space-technology-based data, in situ monitoring and reliable geospatial information for sustainable development policymaking, programming and project operations.

On the other hand, the proliferation of the Internet as the primary medium for data publishing and information exchange has seen an explosion in the amount of online content available on the Web. And this holds true for geospatial content too. More so in a world where location is becoming the centre point of almost all decision-making. “Location provides the underlying footprint and fabric upon which we can make smart decisions,” says Mladen Stojic, President, Hexagon Geospatial. “If you don’t know where you are, you cannot make decisions about a given situation. Location is really the lowest common denominator.”

In 2013, a report prepared by Oxera and commissioned by Google found that the global geo services generate $150-$270 billion in revenues. By way of comparison this was broadly equivalent to the $140 billion revenues generated from the global security services industry or about one-third of the global airline industry’s revenue of $494 billion then. According to another report by The Boston Consulting Group, within the US economy alone, the geospatial services industry was estimated to employ more than 500,000 people, generate $75 billion in annual revenues, and have an overall economic impact estimated at $1.6 trillion annually in revenues. That was in 2013, and while no exhaustive study has been done since then, informal estimates at a CAGR of 15-20% would safely put the geo industry at more than $500 billion today. And that is a lot of money.

But then, why is the profitability of the sector hit? Why are the traditional geospatial companies smarting from reduced profits and lowered bottom lines? In short, where is the money?

Read more at Geospatial