The House Space, Science, and Technology Committee recently advanced legislation to officially authorize NASA to acquire commercial satellite data for the use of “the scientific, operational, and educational requirements of the Administration, and other Federal agencies.”
With the proliferation of satellites in orbit over the past decade, the scope of data available is extraordinary–supporting military missions, agriculture production, disaster preparedness and response, and a wide range of scientific research.
In 2017, NASA established a program to leverage this commercial innovation. It has been nothing short of a success–with data now being sourced from 15 commercial vendors. Congress can, and should, act to permanently authorize it. That is what the ASCEND Act does.
But acquiring the data is one thing. Understanding what it all means is a different ballgame.
That’s where companies like SkyFi come in. SkyFi is an “earth intelligence platform” that has set out to “democratize access to satellite imagery.” Kate van Dam, the company’s Head of Strategic Markets told us. “Whether you are an individual, municipality, or the largest mining and agriculture companies in the world, everybody can and should be using satellite imagery.”
How it works
How it works
Kate explained that to access satellite data you have to “download this insanely large GeoTIFF file because it’s not just about the image — the real information is in the metadata. Then you have to go into something called ArcGIS, download it, and then work on it. You absolutely have to be a geospatial person to be able to do it.“
SkyFi takes out this complexity. Within its mobile and web app you can task a satellite or pull imagery that has already been taken, and then receive answers to the questions or problems you are encountering.
SkyFi takes out this complexity. Within its mobile and web app you can task a satellite or pull imagery that has already been taken, and then receive answers to the questions or problems you are encountering.
“We have built the storefront for the largest commercial satellite companies in the world.“
SkyFi in Action
SkyFi in Action
As mentioned, this satellite data is not only valuable to federal agencies, it supports farmers, ranchers, and local communities.
SkyFi in Action
As mentioned, this satellite data is not only valuable to federal agencies, it supports farmers, ranchers, and local communities.
“After the Los Angeles fires, we have a company that went out the moment the smoke cleared and people started pulling up different images, either of their houses, lots, or infrastructure,” Kate told us.
The company is also actively supporting government customers in mission sets around the world. And while collaboration between government and private innovators is not without its challenges, the efforts of both SkyFi and the House Science committee here show that real progress is being made to close the gap.
