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Geospatial Industry Trends: Navigating the Future with Modern Satellite Imaging and AI

Written by Kurt Janssen

17 September 2023

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From Raw Data to Analysis-Ready Insights: How the Orbica Geospatial Platform is Leading the Charge in the Digital Landscape.

As satellite imaging, artificial intelligence, and advanced algorithms converge to transform the geospatial industry, it's clear that we’re entering a new era of data utilisation. An era where hoarding mountains of raw data makes way for a more purposeful, insights-driven approach.

This shift is evident in the geospatial industry, where we’re seeing clear user trends and demands. Demands which require a fresh approach to technology – both in terms of its capabilities and in the way it’s adopted across organisations. Considering this shift, old school GIS is no longer fit for purpose: Cumbersome workflows, lacking interoperability, and licensing models that propagate siloes are just a few issues standing in the way of business success.

Let’s take a closer look at some key geospatial industry trends and advancements, and how Orbica’s future-ready Geospatial Platform can help organisations navigate this transformative era of GIS.

Transitioning from Data Consumption to Purposeful Insights

Data for the sake of data? That’s yesterday’s mantra. Today’s data landscape is characterised by a profound shift – from aimlessly trawling datasets hoping to stumble upon insights, to a more purposeful, question-first approach.

Instead of being buried under an avalanche of data, modern analysts now let critical questions drive their data-related endeavors, ensuring relevancy and precision.

With the advent of AI and machine learning, we're now equipped to extract actionable insights from even the most complex data. Moreover, as businesses grapple with pivotal choices affecting everything from sustainability to finance, they're seeking the reassurance that the tools at their disposal are anchored in the very best, most accurate data available.

With the help of AI and machine learning, Orbica’s Geospatial Platform doesn’t just help in managing vast amounts of data; it empowers organisations to glean swift and precise insights from complex geospatial data sets. By integrating multiple data sources, enhancing existing tools, and enabling seamless, cross-functional workflows, the platform ensures that the data at your disposal is not only the most accurate but also the most relevant for critical decision-making.

The Ever-Advancing World of Satellite Imaging

But it’s not just how we use data that is changing. Data acquisition is also undergoing a profound shift – both in terms of data sources and the rate at which it’s being collected. This doesn’t just hold true for AI or user-generated data, but also for remote sensing. Imagine the astonishment of early satellite imagery users if they were told about today’s rapid data acquisition rates. From the bi-weekly revisit windows of Landsat to the daily monitoring capabilities of smaller constellations, satellite imaging has seen remarkable advancements in recent years. This rapid evolution has flung open doors to new possibilities, especially in sectors like environmental monitoring.

However, the revolution doesn't stop at what we can visually discern. Advanced satellite technologies are enabling us to delve deeper, beyond the visible spectrums. We're now exploring the near-infrared, thermals, and more, gleaning insights like plant health, surface temperatures, and water absorption levels, irrespective of the spatial resolution on the ground.

A notable development in this regard is the emergence of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). SAR's brilliance lies in its ability to offer clarity even when faced with challenges such as clouds, smoke, or the darkness of night. Its applications are vast and varied, ranging from tracking elusive 'ghost ships' in the expanses of the ocean to monitoring wildfires in conditions where visibility is significantly compromised. With its ability to discern ground properties with astounding accuracy, SAR is finding its significance growing across diverse sectors.

Yet, again, the value of this data doesn’t lie in the data itself but in the stories it tells. Which requires timely and precise analysis capabilities, as enabled by Orbica’s Geospatial Platform. Being cloud-native ensures that the Platform can scale to handle massive datasets like those that come with the rapid evolution of data acquisition technologies. This ensures that organisations can leverage the full potential of this data without requiring heavy-duty hardware or crashing their IT systems. It also means that data can be processed in real-time, which is crucial for applications that require timely insights, such as monitoring wildfires or tracking 'ghost ships' in the ocean. 

Wrapping Up

In an age where the demand for precise, real-time insights is growing exponentially, harnessing modern technologies has become paramount. From satellite imaging to advanced algorithms, the geospatial industry has transitioned from mere raw data consumption to a purpose-driven approach. This new paradigm emphasises relevance, precision, and the interplay of diverse datasets.

In such a transformative landscape, old-school GIS is no longer fit for purpose; its inherent constraints hamper businesses from extracting the full value from their data. Meanwhile, Orbica’s Geospatial Platform offers a beacon of guidance and support. Our platform is built for the future, with a strong focus on advanced technology, interoperability, ease of use, and collaboration.

By seamlessly integrating diverse datasets and leveraging AI-driven analytics, Orbica empowers businesses to make timely and accurate decisions, achieving unparalleled efficiency in the digital age. With Orbica, the future of data-driven insights is not just about volume, but about value.

To better understand how the Orbica Platform can help you stay ahead of the curve, you can get in touch with us here.