The Satellite Applications Catapult has recently released the Geospatial Innovations in 2020 report detailing some of the most cutting edge projects from the Catapult and touching on the future of the sector.

Peter Beaumont, Director of Geospatial Intelligence, defines the term geospatial as “a myriad of location referenced data such as satellite imagery, digital maps, census data, customer locations, real-time traffic flows and air quality” and notes how industry and governments are recognising the benefits of these kinds of data and analysis to optimise operations. At the Catapult and the regional centres, we bridge the gap between business, government and academic which poises us perfectly to support businesses to maximise their potential with geospatial technologies that previously were too expensive and hard to access. Dan Wicks, Head of Earth Observation at the Catapult, says that the job is to “know what data and information is out there that can be exploited”.

The report focuses, as the Catapult at large does too, on several themes: agriculture, health, finance, transport, extractives and access to space. At the South West Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications (SWCoESA) we focus on a few of those areas in particular; health, which uses space tech to improving efficiency of ambulances and reduce conveyancing, and extractive industries, where satellite data is being used to create operational efficiency, empower communities and monitoring/reducing environmental degradation.

The report includes ten case studies from across all themes including one prime example from the SWCoESA using space tech and satellite data to detect lithium ‘hot-spot’s in Cornwall from space. With demand due to increase 400% globally by 2025, pressure to find sources of Lithium to meet expected demands from electric vehicle and battery manufacturers alike have driven innovation in exploration.

Other case studies that you can find in the report by following the link below include how TCarta Marine have worked with the Catapult to map the bottom of the sea from space using Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB), WILDLABS Tech Hub is developing new solutions to combat wildlife crimes such as poaching, and how French company AgreenCulture are using AI to analyse information derived from satellites to monitor ground conditions enabling precise farming robots to manage 50 hectares of fields without human assistance for an entire agricultural year. More detail on those projects and others ranging from autonomous cargo ships to satellite supported space docking systems and high altitude internet connectivity balloons on: https://mailchi.mp/springwise/y2o6grnjs9

Alice Bird

Solutions Consultant (Mining & Extractive Industries)

South West Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications