EO data. Why is so important?
Nowadays, we talk a lot about the importance of data. In many fields, we even cannot imagine working without the data. But, what about Earth Observation data? Why is it so important for us, and where do we use it? We’ve prepared a quick review of the EO data’s most common applications.
Monitoring marine and aquatic ecosystems
Water covers more than 70% of our planet’s surface, which has a direct impact on our daily lives. Acquiring up-to-date, high-resolution information makes it possible to predict the weather, but it also makes it possible to observe climate change, map the ocean floor, observe coral reefs, or measure tidal heights.
- weather forecast,
- climate change studies,
- ocean floor mapping,
- coral reefs study,
- tide height measurement.
Agriculture support
Surveillance of crops not only allows accurate knowledge of their current phenological state, which allows harvesting at the optimal time, but is also able to detect the beginnings of problems, such as crop diseases. Collecting data from orbit will make it possible to look at fields on a larger scale, at high frequency. Satellite data can be delivered daily, and what’s more, it’s often a cheaper alternative than regularly hiring an airplane to take pictures.
- real-time crop condition monitoring,
- NDVI index survey,
- irrigation advice,
- monitoring changes over time,
- supervising the use of grant funds by governments and organizations.
Urban development monitoring
Comparing data over the years makes it possible to analyze changes in urban areas – the construction of new settlements, roads, but also the clearing of forests for new developments. Urban development is strongly linked to changes in land use, which, with the current climate change, is particularly important. With up-to-date data, scientists are able to draw conclusions and help in the sustainable development of areas. In addition, the data collected can be used to verify the goals set or rules imposed.
- research what percentage of the land is occupied by what type of development,
- monitoring changes in green areas,
- overseeing local rules, such as the need to register new construction,
- detecting illegal construction,
- demonstrating changes in urban areas over the years.
Classification of facilities
Classification of areas makes it possible not only to study changes in cities or to determine their character of development (e.g., single-family housing vs. apartment blocks), but also helps with nature studies – helping to determine changes in the forest cover of areas or to distinguish vegetation types.
- research what percentage of the land is occupied by what type of development,
- monitoring changes in green areas,
- military applications, such as distinguishing between military and civilian facilities.
Natural disasters and climate change studying
Climate change takes place over years and even decades. The ability to compare images taken under the same conditions (made possible by sun-synchronous orbit imaging) makes it possible to monitor changes accurately. The change in ice cover, extent of glaciers, snow, or measurement of other types of data – sea, ocean and even land temperatures – makes it possible to accurately track changes. The ability to provide immediate imaging from disaster areas may be the only option for acquiring data from an area in a timely manner.
- ice extent monitoring,
- monitoring the change in the size of glaciers over the years,
- monitoring the change in the size of forests, such as in the Amazon,
- monitoring fires, detecting unknown outbreaks,
- monitoring floods,
- predefining damageafter disasters in places without communications.
Do you prepare the EO mission for one or a few of the applications? It will be a pleasure for us to become your mission partner and deliver the optical payload. Feel free to contact us anytime and discuss the mission via [email protected]