{"id":67389,"date":"2017-08-30T22:31:58","date_gmt":"2017-08-30T14:31:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/skywatch-to-improve-access-to-eo-data-with-earthcache\/"},"modified":"2017-08-30T22:31:58","modified_gmt":"2017-08-30T14:31:58","slug":"skywatch-to-improve-access-to-eo-data-with-earthcache","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/skywatch-to-improve-access-to-eo-data-with-earthcache\/","title":{"rendered":"SkyWatch to Improve Access to EO Data with EarthCache"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

Although the global repository of Earth Observation (EO) imagery continues to grow, the means by which developers can turn that data into value are arguably less abundant. To address this demand, young software company SkyWatch <\/strong>has established a new cloud-based system called EarthCache that opens the door for developers to create new applications and products based on remote sensing data.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Via Satellite<\/em>, SkyWatch\u2019s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Dexter Jagula explained that EarthCache targets developers looking for an easier way to access EO data, particularly those who have never leveraged remote sensing data in their respective markets. \u201cThat\u2019s where we believe the true innovation and increase in usage will be realized,\u201d Jagula said.<\/p>\n

Jagula said he has observed demand ramping up for new applications for agriculture and infrastructure projects in particular. \u201cFrom the agriculture standpoint, we\u2019re talking about users that are looking to develop vegetation health indexes,\u201d he said. \u201cA prime use case would be allowing farmers to assess the health of their fields.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the infrastructure side, developers are seeking new ways to monitor the operational efficiency of projects such as new roads and railways, as well as improve emergency response analysis in rural areas, he added.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\"Dexter
Dexter Jagula, SkyWatch COO. Photo: SkyWatch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

As SkyWatch states on its website, the current process for purchasing satellite data can be somewhat lengthy and time-consuming, as commercial satellite operators typically don\u2019t distribute their own data and instead operate through regional and territorial resellers. This paradigm does allow satellite operators to more easily serve localized end-users such as city governments \u2014 but according to a 2014 Euroconsult report on data distribution, some end-user sectors, such as defense, prefer to bypass resellers entirely in lieu of shorter delivery times, additional autonomy in satellite tasking, and continuous data supply.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you can imagine it\u2019s not a very scalable method. This is just the way the industry has offered the data for the last few decades,\u201d Jagula added.<\/p>\n

But there are exceptions. As Jagula pointed out, the industry has started to question the reseller model with the rise of EO juggernauts such as Planet <\/strong>and DigitalGlobe<\/strong>, which have developed their own digital infrastructure through which any of their customers can access their massive data archives. According to Jagula, SkyWatch has followed suit on this trend to recreate this type of infrastructure for the entire industry, but at a lower cost than traditional resellers.<\/p>\n

EarthCache comprises both public and commercial data, coalescing datasets from partners such as NASA, <\/strong>the European Space Agency <\/strong>(ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency <\/strong>(JAXA). The company is currently in talks with some of the prominent satellite operators to integrate their datasets too, Jagula said, as well as younger NewSpace startups looking to field new constellations.<\/p>\n

The biggest draw for commercial companies to link their catalogs with EarthCache is additional visibility for their data. Additionally, SkyWatch offers a means for end users to task satellites on an anonymized basis. \u201cWe believe customers of this type of data don\u2019t really care which satellites are being used,\u201d he said. \u201cWe make this opportunity completely available and transparent to [satellite operators] so it\u2019s on them to try and fulfill that if they have the capability or capacity on the satellite to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Jagula, SkyWatch plans to work closely with companies across the value chain to potentially funnel customers through the same conduit. Leaf Space<\/strong>, which is developing a ground station network to download more than seven terabytes of satellite data per day, is just one example of the kind of companies SkyWatch has formed a relationship with, Jagula said. Satellite operators who want their data downloaded to Leaf Space\u2019s ground stations could then disseminate that data through SkyWatch\u2019s platform, he explained. \u201cAnd then tasking opportunities that are sent by users downstream can be sent directly \u2026 to Leaf Space\u2019s customers as well,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can see how a ground segment company like Leaf Space and SkyWatch go hand-in-hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

While companies such as DigitalGlobe and Planet will continue to distribute their data through their own proprietary platforms, Jagula doesn\u2019t necessarily see it as a threat to the SkyWatch business. One reason is because they can still integrate their data in EarthCache if they choose, but also because he sees new companies building their own distribution platforms as \u201ca waste of resources\u201d if they don\u2019t have one already. \u201cIn cases where companies are still launching, they can use us as a digital infrastructure exclusively \u2026 and save their capital for more important tasks and focus on their core competencies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Although the global repository of Earth Observation (EO) imagery continues to grow, the means by which developers can turn that data into value are arguably less abundant. To address this demand, young software company SkyWatch has established a new cloud-based system called EarthCache that opens the door for developers to create new applications and products […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":66141,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67389"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67389\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}