Archives: Activities Portfolio

Climate Impact Insights

Objectives of the Product

Climate Platform is an online platform where customers receive key information regarding their exposure to climate risks regarding the crops that they source and/or invest in. When customers access the online platform through password and login, they see their areas of interest in a dashboard, and will receive key information regarding climate risks of the crops of their interest in those areas. The climate risks identified include: droughts, flooding, temperature change, changing seasonality, overheating, frost, and water scarcity. We have chosen these parameters, because these parameters have a great effect on crops which hurt the business of our (potential) customers.

Customers and their Needs

Customers need an online platform that provides consistent and reliable data concerning the exposure of crops to climate risks. Our customers are characterised as multinationals that are active all over the world, who need climate information that they can directly use in their strategies and operations without additional processing. To satisfy those needs, Climate Platform provides multiple data layers and summarizing indicators, and comes with an easy-to-understand user interface.

Targeted customer/users countries

Climate Platform is a global service.

Target customer segments are the food & beverage industry and the financial sector. Potential clients from both segments are involved as pilot users of the service.

Product description

Climate Platform is an innovative service that provides insights regarding the (local) exposure of crops to climate change impact. The provided information has the following features:

  • Global, comparable, up-to-date, and reliable data with predictive power.
  • Scalable and cost efficient.
  • Resulting in a data driven action plan

Climate risk related services currently available in the market have major limitations, including the following:

  • Specialised knowledge is required to access the data.
  • It is often unclear what the data means for the company; it is challenging to translate the data to the business. The risks are generic in the sense that they are not linked to business performance. Example: the increase in temperature is provided, but not what the impact will be of the temperature rise on the client.
  • Some services only use historical data without integrating climate models, which limits their predictive value.
Added Value

Our service provides insights into the impact of climate change on crop production and business performance, which enables the mitigation of companies’ exposure to climate risks.

Example pains that we relieve include:

  • Production sites are forced to close during the dry season for multiple months by the local government to safe water for the agricultural sector.
  • Production sites are faced by high prices of crops that are needed for their production due to failed local harvests (due to higher temperatures for instance).
  • A lower quality of foods and beverages are produced when the crops have lower quality.
  • Shareholders demand more and more from companies to be transparent regarding their exposure to climate risks.
  • Investments in agriculture are lost when climate risks are not taken into account (agricultural lands do not produce the expected volumes).
  • Additional costs to mitigate climate risks of assets when climate risks are not estimated before investments are committed.
  • Shareholders demand more and more from companies to be transparent regarding their exposure to climate risks.
Current Status

A prototype of climate platform is developed. 52impact is working on bringing the prototype to an operational service. The service is discussed with multiple potential customers. The focus is on how to integrate the service into existing processs of the clients.

EODDL-LYNX

Objectives of the Product

The amount of data to be downloaded from Earth Observation (EO) satellites is highly dependent on the type of payload, however the trend is clearly towards an increasing demand of data volumes at the time that the variety of EO payloads and complexity increase. To face this problem, SENER proposes the development of the EODDL-LYNX, which is a new version of the previous existing high-rate data downlink system called EODDL, using the work performed in the EODDL Payload Data Transmitter to integrate it with a built-in active electronically steerable antenna for data downlink on EO satellites in X-band, aiming to increase the data downlink capacity, and at the same time reducing power consumption, mass and cost respect to traditional fix antenna systems. EODDL-LYNX also allows to maximize the data transmission in orbit at low elevations, offers modulation scheme flexibility and growth potencial. In particular, EODDL-LYNX achieves a medium-high data rate, a medium power consumption, a low-medium mass and a medium cost.

Customers and their Needs

The key customers segments targeted by our product are the satellite manufactures of small satellites for the Commercial EO market, although its flexibility makes it a suitable solution for any application in which massive data downlink is required. In particular, EODDL-LYNX is a product targeting the satellite manufactures of Microsatellites and Minisatellites. The identified and approached customers are Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, Maxar, QinetiQ, LuxSpace, OHB-I, OHB-Systems, Deimos, Sitael, Satlantis and Satellogic. For these companies, EODDL-LYNX can represent a suitable choice or a highly convenient replacement of a previous solution initially chosen. Furthermore, six of these companies (Deimos, QinetiQ, OHB-Italy, Satlantis, Sitael and LuxSpace) have shown their interest in EODDL-LYNX by signing a support letter and have been already contacted to analyse their necessities in advance to propose this product. Moreover, it is considered to inform them of the product development advances in order to align it with their necessities as they are changing. The customer segments needs that are covered by the EODDL-Lynx product are the following: a medium-high data rate, a medium power consumption, a low-medium envelope, a medium cost and a low-medium mass.

Targeted customer/users countries

Germany, France, United States, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain and Argentina.  

Product description

EODDL-LYNX is a fully integrated electronically steerable downlink system, which integrates a Payload Data Transmitter with an active electronically steerable antenna. The active antenna system has a pyramidal configuration of five switchable antenna tiles controlled by the integrated electronic box, which implements the antenna beamforming and control function, and the base band modulation for data encoding and transmission. The electronic box also includes the power supply, external I/Fs and frequency conversion stages. The main components of the product are the mother board, the up conversion stage, the RF switch, the antenna tiles and the power supply unit. The proposed data downlink system, with built-in phased array antenna, represents an innovation respect to the available technologies and products, because it increases the amount of data that can be transmitted and at the same time, it reduces the power consumption respect to traditional X-band downlink systems which relay on fixed Isoflux antennas. In comparison with data downlink systems based on mechanically steerable antennas, EODDL-LYNX is a solution much cheaper, more compact and lighter. Our product has distributed amplification, allowing grateful degradation in case of any power amplifier fails, unlike traditional downlink systems,which are based on a unique power amplifier element.

Added Value

EODDL-LYNX presents a compact design of a fully integrated Data Downlink system, with in house developed Payload Data Transmitter and active antenna. This solution provides a maximum integration level for a low mass product. EODDL-LYNX allows to obtain higher data rates at a lower transmitted power,with low consumption comparable with traditional systems based on fix isoflux antenna. The high processing capacity of its electronics embeds a relevant growth potential towards even higher order modulations and more advanced SDR based signal processing. The reprogrammable FPGA allows offering to the end-user a high flexibility to adapt the product to the specific needs of each program. The product has been conceived at start adopting a modular approach, targeting a family of simplified versions of one or three tiles for cost optimization in mission with low data download requirements. This flexibility is offered at the price of a limited customisation cost. Therefore, the EODDL-LYNX product presents a competitive price. This solution also allows to have higher contact time than isoflux based systems and presents a distributed amplification which, in case of a failure in a power amplifier, results in a small impact on the total power transmitted.

Current Status

The EODDL-LYNX project is focused on the design and breadboard of a X-band active electronically steerable antenna as an alternative to mechanically steerable antennas, and on the integration of the antenna and the modem developed in the previous InCubed project in a single box configuration for data downlink on Earth Observation satellites. EODDL-LYNX inherits the experience of SENER producing antennas for satellites including Earth Observation applications. SENER has soundtrack record in the RF and communication system market for space applications, outstanding flight heritage in RF units and well stabilised commercial relationship with the key industrial actors in Europe and America. Thanks to that SENER has well established key resources to successfully complete this activity. SENER has experience on space qualified electronics units in ESA missions and is a leader in Commercial and ESA programs for antennas, RF products and electronics.

SolarEye

Objectives of the Product

The product offers an asset-level global inventory of commercial, industrial, and utility-scale PV installations. It enriches data with generating capacity, installation date, historic land cover, and proximity to protected areas and indigenous lands. This aids in understanding global land-cover patterns and facilitates decision-making regarding renewable energy deployment, considering factors like land use and political acceptability

Customers and their Needs

The product targets various users including policymakers, land planning authorities, and market intelligence companies in the renewable energy industry. Policymakers utilize the data to align renewable energy policies with national goals and ensure effective design. Land planning authorities benefit from detailed maps of installed PV capacity for informed decision-making on land allocation and environmental impact management. Market intelligence companies use the datasets for strategic decision-making and market insights. User needs encompass an asset-level overview, precise location, plant outline for size assessment and land impact evaluation, installation year, and identification of land types utilized for solar deployment. Challenges entail maintaining data accuracy, accessibility, and relevance to diverse user requirements, while addressing market demand and regulatory compliance.

Targeted customer/users countries

Policymakers, market analysts, land developers, land originators, environmental analysts, researchers. Global scope.

Product description

SolarEye applies computer vision on Sentinel-2 imagery to detect commercial and utility-scale solar PV installations on a global scale. By back-tracking Sentinel-2 imagery, SolarEye is capable of enriching the asset-level data with the year of installation and land type replaced in favor of solar PV.

Added Value

SolarEye brings value to users by delivering asset-level data that includes key metadata such as installation date, size, and historic land use.

Current Status

The project is currently half-way in the derisking phase.

Messium Nitrogen Estimator

Objectives of the Product

The Messium Nitrogen Estimator addresses a critical challenge faced by farmers – uncertainty in determining the optimal nitrogen application. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient, playing a critical role in farmers’ ability to influence yield and profitability, accounting for 57% of total fertiliser use and 35% of the average wheat farmer’s costs. Despite this, farmers and agronomists rely largely on guesswork and intuition when determining how much fertiliser to apply and when. Existing technologies are inaccurate, costly, time-consuming and labour-intensive, thus non-scalable.

The Messium Nitrogen Estimator, powered by cutting-edge hyperspectral satellite constellations launched in 2023, is a step-change improvement. The product provides farmers with weekly insights into nitrogen concentration at a high spatial resolution, with insights offered to optimise fertiliser application. By using the tool, farmers can increase crop yields, enhance crop quality, and thus increase their farm revenues. Conversely, if they currently over-apply, the tool will help them reduce their nitrogen use, resulting in significant cost savings, a more profitable farm and less environmental harm. Our SaaS model facilitates quick adoption of the product. Starting in 2025, we offer per-hectare-per-year subscriptions. We gain market access through partnerships with farming groups, fertiliser producers, and agronomists in the UK and beyond.

Customers and their Needs

Our end users are farmers and agronomists who directly interface with the product and its application in their daily activities. Secondary customers, such as farming groups, fertiliser producers, and agronomists, are the intermediaries within the distribution chain. They play a pivotal role in getting the product into the hands of the primary customers, through their well-established sales channels and access to the market. Messium sells both directly to primary customers, as well as to secondary customers through revenue-sharing partnerships.

Farmers and agronomists require visibility of the crop nitrogen concentration and nutritional insights for optimal fertiliser application to ensure neither over nor under application. With nitrogen costs sky high, contributing to over 35% farm costs, and a crackdown by governments on nitrate leaching causing environmental harm, farmers are looking for an intuitive, accurate, frequent and cost-effective solution that necessitates minimal behaviour change.

During this activity, farmers actively participate in the trials we conduct. These farmers play a crucial role as our early adopters, benefiting from discounted subscription costs when the product is launched. Their involvement not only contributes to the refinement of our solution but also establishes a mutually beneficial relationship that fosters trust and loyalty within our user community.

Targeted customer/users countries

United Kingdom, Australia, US & Canada initially.

Product description

Hyperspectral satellites represent a transformative advancement in remote sensing technology, offering a comprehensive and detailed perspective of Earth’s surface. Unlike conventional satellites that capture imagery across a broad spectrum of wavelengths, hyperspectral satellites break down the electromagnetic spectrum into numerous finely spaced bands, allowing for a highly nuanced analysis of materials and environmental conditions. Our innovation utilises cutting-edge hyperspectral satellite technology to assess wheat crop nitrogen status remotely, addressing sub-optimal nitrogen use in farming. Our primary focus is on developing and implementing a novel wheat nitrogen management system, representing a step-change improvement over current approaches. We merge existing and new research to translate imagery data into actionable insights, offering nitrogen concentration and optimal application insights. We’re building the world’s largest spectral library for wheat nitrogen, accounting for various wheat varieties and soil types across growth stages, matching satellite imagery with ground truth through custom data pipelines. Our machine learning models gauge top-of-canopy wheat nitrogen concentration, which is fed into plant nitrogen calculations and nutritional insights. The project yields actionable nitrogen concentration insights (quantity & timing) and early warning alerts for when crops are becoming nitrogen deficient via an intuitive, live, customer-facing frontend solution hosted on the Messium website. These outputs empower farmers to optimise nitrogen use, cut costs, and meet regulatory and environmental demands, addressing the need for efficient nitrogen management in agriculture.

Architecture Diagram

Added Value

The Messium Nitrogen Estimator drives significant nitrogen cost savings for farmers, with annual potential savings or yield boosts in their tens of thousands for most farms. These savings empower farmers to allocate funds more effectively, whether investing in productivity-enhancing technology, increasing employment or addressing personal financial goals.

From an environmental perspective, Messium stands to make substantial contributions to reducing toxic nitrous oxide emissions and mitigating nitrate runoff into drinking water sources. With targeted and precise applications, Messium can maximise nitrogen use efficiency and minimise nitrogen leakage and loss. This aligns closely with governmental regulations being introduced across Europe to better manage nitrate run-off and nitrous oxide emissions.

Compared to other solutions, our product is:

  • More accurate – hyperspectral is a step-change improvement over existing multispectral or NDVI-based solutions.
  • More frequent – hyperspectral constellations offer weekly data refresh, versus monthly for existing satellite-based solutions.
  • Less labour-intensive – data retrieved remotely, requiring little to no farmer input, critically necessitating minimal behaviour change to existing operations.
  • More cost-effective – the cost per hectare is less than the amount they are able to generate or save using the product
Current Status

The Messium Nitrogen Estimator activity was kicked off on Thurs 30th November 2023. The work is currently in progress, focusing first on further developing the requirements of the product, including the creation of the first version of UI designs, and starting the initial infrastructure and development setup. The next milestone, Requirements Review, is scheduled to take place on 31st Jan 24.

ATR4PAZ

Objectives of the Product

Extracting intelligence from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery is challenging and time-consuming. ATR4PAZ is an AI-driven toolbox designed for PAZ SAR satellite imagery, overcoming these hurdles. This toolbox swiftly analyzes high-resolution SAR imagery, providing valuable information about objects of interest within minutes. Rigorous testing, involving real and simulated SAR imagery, ensures the accuracy and viability of this novel approach, combining cutting-edge AI models with SAR data.

ATR4PAZ addresses the limitations of traditional interpretation processes, enabling SAR-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (IMINT) to reach optical imagery standards. The successful implementation of ATR4PAZ not only meets current challenges but also opens avenues for scalable product development. This approach can evolve to detect and classify new types of objects of interest, marking a significant advancement in SAR-based IMINT capabilities. ATR4PAZ represents an efficient solution for rapid and accurate intelligence extraction from satellite imagery, with potential for broader applications in the future.

Customers and their Needs

In general, the ATR4PAZ product targets governmental customers working in intelligence and security that employ satellite imagery such as MoDs, intelligence agencies, police, customs, etc.

The main identified needs they have in relation to the use of SAR satellite imagery are:

  • Automation of EO information extraction process in order to support rapid decision-making and mapping.
  • A tool that can be adapted for automatic detection & classification of different objects of interest found in SAR imagery.
  • The tool can also to be extended to include new types of objects.
  • The tool must be accurate and can be improved with the assitance of photointerpreters.

Currently, the spanish MoD follows this activity in order to first hand know the accuracy of the results.

Analytics companies (EO downstream) who generates IMINT for Security & Intelligence users (as contractors). They have similar needs to the governmental customers

Targeted customer/users countries
  • MoD/SATCEN, Spain
  • NGA, USA
  • Value adder and analytics, USA
  • Nato countries
  • EU countries
Product description

The main goal of the application is the sucessful detection and classification of objects that can be of interest to govermental customers in the framework of intelligence and Security. The picture below describes the overall ATR4PAZ tool that can be directly operated by a customer or used in the provision of a service where the customer receives only IMINT reports (avoiding the need of messing with complex SAR imagery).

The tool automatically proccess SAR PAZ imagery generating reports with the results, which can be supervised by the operator. This supervision of results is the key for retraining of the AI models.

Supported by a SAR simulator for training AI models, new objects of interest can be added in different scenarios, making ATR4PAZ expandable to cater for new IMINT customers.

Added Value

The proposed de-risk activity aims to develop an operational tool for Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) using AI algorithms and PAZ satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. Currently, AI techniques in ATR are limited due to the scarcity of large image datasets. The innovation lies in adapting a SAR simulator to generate realistic synthetic images from 3D object models, addressing the shortage of real satellite imagery. This approach offers significant advantages, including cost and time savings in acquiring training data.

Notably, there is a lack of successful and generalized ATR with SAR images in existing Earth Observation commercial software. While literature explores ATR with real images of specific objects, the proposed activity takes a pioneering step by combining synthetic and real SAR images to train AI algorithms. If successful, this approach would mark a significant milestone in SAR application development, demonstrating the feasibility of using simulated data in conjunction with real imagery for ATR training—an unprecedented achievement in the field.

Current Status

The project is closing in the its first milestone (RR), apart consolidating the technical requirements, the work is focusing in setting up the SAR-AI training workflow. Activities are moving in two main fronts:

  • PAZ SAR Image object labelling and AI model traning. Different performance assessements are currently on-going in relation with the SAR image pre-processing required for AI models and types of AI networks.
  • SAR simulation/preprocessing. Guided by the inputs of the AI experts, upgrades in SAR simulation to generate PAZ like imagery is on-going. Added features such as object shadowing and SAR pre-processing techniques are also being assesed (data scalling, multilook).
  • Identification of objects of interest in 3D CAD models for the simulation.

agriKOPA

Objectives of the Product

Currently, many farmers are unable to access credits to buy inputs such as seed and fertilisers. Women and young people are particularly disadvantaged. With the agriKOPA service, agriBORA creates a credit score which provides more objective access to loans.

Working together with our agriHUBs, agriBORA already provides farmers with inputs, as well as linkage to the markets through contracts with agri-processors. We provide farmers with advice throughout the season, based largely on satellite EO data. But access to credit is generally acknowledged to be a major problem for farmers, negatively affecting their ability to make a living.

Since agriBORA’s major revenue stream comes from commission charged on transactions which take place over our platform, farmers’ lack of access to credit is also a problem for agriBORA.

The agriKOPA product produces a credit-score which enables Financial Service Providers (FSPs) to lend with confidence. In addition, during the growing season, EO-based yield forecasts help the lenders to constantly monitor their risk.

Customers and their Needs

We have three main customer groups for our product: smallholder farmers, agriHUBs and FSPs.

Smallholder farmers often lack money for high-quality seeds and fertilizers and also for services like ploughing and soil-testing. With our concept of earmarked loans, we provide farmers with financial resources exactly when they need it.

For agriHUBs and their managers, enabling loans means that the farmers have more money to spend on the products and services provided by the hubs. The agriKOPA service helps the agriHUBs retain their customers and build sustainable businesses.

FSPs see the smallholder farmer sector as risky and inefficient to service. Obtaining the basic data before even considering a loan is difficult and costly. Estimating the creditworthiness is a problem, with women particularly disadvantaged. FSPs also need information on the development of the harvests in regions where they have granted loans, in order to monitor their risks.

The picture below shows an agriBORA “agriHUB”, being visited in connection with the requirements definition phase of the project.

Targeted customer/users’ countries

The agriKOPA product will be first introduced in several of counties in Western Kenya. Thereafter, the product will be made available throughout Kenya, with expansion into other African countries also in the planning.

Product description

The agriKOPA product is innovative in many aspects. The application of EO data and the compilation of immutable transaction histories using information stored in the agriLEDGER is ground-breaking in the agricultural sector in Kenya. With EO data, agriKOPA monitors crop development and can give timely insights to banks and farmers regarding problems arising. The farmer interacts with this software-as-a-service platform through a phone, via a USSD-code menu, removing the need for a smartphone.

With banks, the interaction will be through an API interface, connecting agriKOPA’s software to the software of the bank. The diagram below shows the service to allow FSPs to monitor their risks.

Added Value

AgriKOPA’s main competitors provide farming inputs and services at different types of farmer service centres. They provide credit, often linked to insurance policies. Credits are financed directly by the company, or in cooperation with banks.

We bring added value through our innovative credit scoring algorithm and field monitoring which is enabled by Earth observation, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

AgriBORA is the only company which provides a true end-to-end service, ensuring that contracts are in place with agri-processors, thereby providing a guaranteed access to market. This in turn greatly reduces the risk of bad debts for FSPs.

Current Status

The final presentation took place online in October 2024 and was attended by over 30 people from a variety of different organisations interested in the project results. The final validation of the agriKOPA processes and the systems that support them revealed, in general, a high level of satisfaction among the different stakeholders (farmers, agriHUBs and the bank).

AgriBORA learned a number of vital lessons during pilot operations and validation, which we would not have learned without the agriKOPA project. This has led to some changes to the processes surrounding both lending and repayment.

As a next step, agriBORA plans to run agriKOPA during the long rain season in Kenya, starting in March 2025, involving substantially more farmers and agriHUBs, the first step in a planned rapid upscaling.

The most important lesson learned from agriKOPA was that many farmers are reluctant to sell directly after harvesting, since prices are generally lower. Instead, they store the product on their own premises, which usually leads to considerable loss. Harvest loss is a recognised problem in Kenya and the government has introduced a Warehouse Receipt System as a countermeasure. AgriBORA is now planning to open the first private sector-run warehouse in the country, in the Uasin Gishu County (December 2024), with support from the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, the Agricultural Finance Corporation of the Kenya Government and the Warehouse Receipt System Council.

I*STAR

Objectives of the Product

The overarching objective of I*STAR is to minimize latency time between an event occurrence and the submission of a feasibility request. Leveraging advanced artificial intelligence techniques, I*STAR demonstrates the ability to:

  • Build User Profiles: Aggregating user preferences on data and acquisitions, I*STAR creates comprehensive user profiles to understand better individual needs.
  • Automatic Monitoring of Near-Real Time Events: Using artificial intelligence algorithms, I*STAR autonomously monitors near-real-time events, ensuring timely responsiveness.
  • Data Discovery: Identifying data of potential interest for users, I*STAR enhances the availability of pertinent information.
  • Automatic Gap Filling: Employing automation in the ground segment, I*STAR seamlessly fills programming gaps with new acquisitions tailored to user interests.
  • Cost Minimization: I*STAR minimizes operational costs in the ground segment, introducing efficiency and reducing manual intervention.

By applying artificial intelligence algorithms, I*STAR models user preferences, encompassing satellite platforms, themes, areas of interest, types of acquisitions, and suggested events. This enables to offer tailored recommendations, aligning precisely with users’ business needs. The specific outputs include suggestions for suitable catalogue products for download and intelligent mission programming.

The intelligent tasking capabilities not only optimize missions by utilizing orbit gaps left unused in standard programming but also significantly reduce operational costs through fully automated order scheduling, maximizing satellite capacity utilization. This adaptable solution can be delivered either as a full platform or as a service, offering flexibility to cater to diverse user requirements.

Customers and their Needs

Targeting EO constellation operators, I*STAR aims to streamline user interaction with the mission ground segment, optimize on-board resource utilization, reduce mission planning times, and enhance automation. With a focus on providing data and value-added services, I*STAR seeks to maximize data sales volumes for its customers. The primary challenges faced by I*STAR include unsaturated constellation capacity and missed opportunities for tasking. I*STAR proposes revenue growth by offering users tailored data through its monitoring services, tightly integrated with intelligent feasibility, thereby unlocking higher commercial opportunities for mission providers.

Targeted customer/users countries

Target customers are EO constellation operators who:

  • lack mission planning skills.
  • Need mission planning time optimization.
Product description

I*STAR is presented as an as-a-service application, aiming to enhance the capabilities of end-user platforms such as ground segments or any service platforms acting on behalf of users. The primary objectives include elevating user experience by suggesting relevant archived products and potential new acquisitions, automating end-user platform operations to reduce operational costs, improving mission efficiency by recommending new acquisitions to fill gaps in the planning process, and leveraging information from social and institutional portals to address acquisition needs based on events like floods or earthquakes.

To meet these objectives, I*STAR focuses on several key capabilities:

  • Collecting user and mission operator preferences to build personalized user profiles.
  • Gathering relevant events from social networks and institutional services within the earth observation domain.
  • Discovering archived data of potential interest for users.
  • Automatically filling programming gaps with new acquisitions tailored to user interests.

The as-a-service configuration of I*STAR provides access to functionalities and integrates with external entities, such as the Control Ground Segment, through APIs. It is designed for instantiation in a multi-tenant environment, allowing each Ground Segment to have a dedicated instance of I*STAR. Each instance is multi-mission, meaning that if a Ground Segment hosts multiple missions, all satellite platforms will be managed by the same I*STAR tenant in a multi-mission operating mode.

Added Value

To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no comparable solution on the market. Presently, each mission relies on a dedicated solution for satellite tasking, lacking a comprehensive view of satellite acquisition to effectively meet customer needs. I*STAR addresses this gap by introducing a unique data access pattern in Earth Observation, a novel approach not previously deployed for satellite data acquisitions. By guaranteeing a unified data access pattern to mission providers and usersh, I*STAR ensures the delivery of products and acquisitions tailored to user profiles, highly reducing the need for specific expertise on individual missions. This streamlines activities and delivers significant value to both service providers and end-users.

Notably, our solution is inherently mission and sensor agnostic, allowing easy configuration to support various missions and data sources. The adaptability of our AI algorithms ensures they automatically adjust to diverse needs, avoiding the need for specific development for a particular class of products or acquisitions. I*STAR adopts a micro-services architecture, packaged as Docker Containers, and is designed to run on Kubernetes or equivalent platforms. This “as-a-Service” infrastructure can be seamlessly instantiated and operated on any cloud provider or platform, providing flexibility and scalability for users.

Current Status

The project has reached a successful conclusion and is now accessible both as a standalone service and integrated within EASE-ground, a digital ground segment product within the Telespazio digital portfolio. This milestone marks the availability of the project to users in various deployment options, providing flexibility in choosing the most suitable approach based on their specific needs and preferences. Whether accessed independently as a service or seamlessly integrated into the comprehensive EASE-ground platform, the project aims to cater to a diverse range of users within the emerging New Space Economy.

SKAISEN

Objectives of the Product

Earth Observation missions generate a vast amount of data. Particularly, missions with hyper/multispectral cameras commonly collect hundreds of gigabytes per day. Up to 70% of this data consists of cloudy pixels lacking any added value and thus cannot be further utilized by the end users. SKAISEN addresses this challenge by helping Mission Owners, System Integrators, Payload Developers and Mission Operators mitigate these financial losses by identifying cloudy pixels directly onboard the satellites before the downlink costs occur. By leveraging the AI-driven SKAISEN solution, customers can significantly reduce their costs associated with the ground segment infrastructure while maximizing the valuable data downlink. SKAISEN is designed to be highly reusable and independent of the sensor and processing unit selected for the mission. This ensures its availability for any Earth Observation mission and its highly competitive price.

Customers and their Needs

The key customer segments targeted by SKAISEN are Mission Owners, System Integrators, Payload Developers and Mission Operators.

The main pains of these customers in data access are:

  1. Data downlink is wasted with unusable data instead of actionable information
  2. Wasted downlink resources increase latency and delay the access time to valuable data for end-users
  3. Undesired high costs for ground segment infrastructure caused by unusable data transfer
  4. Lower profit for data providers caused by downloading noisy data, which cannot be sold and has no added value
  5. Long lead times and high prices for custom onboard data processing solutions, since there is a low number of COTS options
  6. Time and cost-consuming data analysis by a mission operator

SKAISEN aims to bring a customer-friendly solution for acquiring valuable data only, reduce mission costs and increase mission profits.

Targeted customer/users countries

Mission Owners, System Integrators, Payload Developers and Mission Operators all over the world, focusing on Earth Observation missions.

Product description

The product SKAISEN is an onboard software solution designed to estimate cloud coverage on EO imagery. The key components of the product are:

  1. Dataset – composed of open and commercial data as well as data from the target mission (if available)
  2. Cloud screening model(s) – to predict cloud pollution
  3. On-board software – software or hardware implementation of the cloud screening model optimised for the specific embedded processor or FPGA target

The role of SKAISEN in the context of the overall satellite system is a pluggable onboard software integrated into the data pipeline of the satellite, with the aim to provide additional information to the platform and mission operator. The product has no impact in terms of data modification or deletion. This decision remains with the mission operator or other responsible person.

Added Value

The principle of how SKAISEN works is described in the picture below. After collecting imagery by the satellite, SKAISEN processes the data and extracts valuable data only, which is then transported to Earth. This approach optimizes downlink by minimizing unnecessary data transmission.

There are several views on how to optimize data transfer to Earth. The most common approach is processing data before transportation. There are already available onboard data processing products in the market. The difference between them and SKAISEN lies in their reusability.

SENSOR INDEPENDENCE: While the existing products are operable, e.g., in the visible spectrum, SKAISEN is sensor independent, regardless of whether the optical sensor operates as monochromatic, RGB, multispectral or hyperspectral. The flexibility in choosing the right camera for the mission remains for the customer.

DPU INDEPENDENCE: Whether a single software solution or the entire payload is needed, SKAISEN offers both. SKAISEN is available in three different configurations, and there is no limitation in choosing the hardware part.HERITAGE: Operating in the space segment means understanding the emphasis placed on flight heritage. SKAISEN demonstrated its first capabilities during the VZLUSAT-2 mission in the summer of 2022. Additionally, three confirmed missions for SKAISEN are scheduled for 2024

Current Status

The activity kicked off in November 2023.

Tri-Band Monopulse Antenna

Objectives of the Product

EO and RS applications for collecting an ever-increasing volume of data from images and sensors, or in the event of natural hazards and disasters, have become extremely important for emergencies caused by global warming, pollution, continuous erosion, and destruction of the natural environment.

To monitor real weather or land surface conditions in near real time, national emergency services, private utility companies, governments need high resolution visual imagery.

This results in a huge volume of data requiring broadband for transmission to the receiving earth station gateways.

These wide bandwidths can no longer be provided by traditional X-band even when both polarizations are exploited, and the remedy for this limited bandwidth is to exploit K- or Ka-band.

Most antennas on the market operate in one or two frequency bands at a time, and even Dual-Band antennas that typically operate in the X and S bands have bandwidth and data rate limitations for new services, which can be managed by Banda Ka. The ITZ-TBMA-1.0 represents the development of one of the most advanced products in terms of flexibility of satellite bands on a single antenna (S – X – Ka), data reception capacity and bandwidth for EO – RS – IoT and compactness.

Customers and their Needs

The target customer who is also a strategic partner for this project is Telespazio. It has shown interest in the product (as have other users) as it is interested in the expected performance of the antenna system with reference to ground stations and more specifically in the expected capacity to fully satisfy the demand for an ever-increasing need for data reception volumes for EO-RS-IoT from satellites. Telespazio was involved in the project by assigning fundamental tasks such as the validation of specifications in accordance with market needs as well as the final verification of the product.

Targeted customer/users countries

Italy, Finland, and Germany.

Product description

The project represents the development of a Tri-Band (S-X-Ka) antenna with S-band that supports Rx/Tx mode for TT&C and X and Ka bands in receive mode. The design includes Monopulse tracking techniques for unprecedented precision, which is critical for receiving high-bandwidth data across all frequencies. The Telespazio customer has the task of validating the technical specifications of the product in accordance with market needs and verifying the final product.

Added Value

The proposed solution brings numerous and substantial advantages as it allows first of all to reduce the number of antennas by concentrating multiple bands in the same antenna, to offer new service scenarios as well as accuracy in satellite tracking and pointing thanks to the use of multiband monopulse satellite tracking and guarantees optimized management of latest generation compact multiband antennas and systems.

Compared to the identified competitors, the proposed solution is more advantageous because it offers a tri-band for antennas up to 13 m (7m, 9m, 11m, 13m). Thanks to the experience gained over the years, we can offer a wide range of equipment such as antennas, feeds, tracking receivers, antenna control units and therefore we are able to offer modular solutions up to a complete solution.

Furthermore, we can adapt our solutions to existing antennas. Unlike large companies that offer standard products, we tailor to customer needs and provide a customized solution

Current Status

During the first months of activity, thanks to a market analysis, consultation with stakeholders as well as the collaboration with the partner (and first customer) Telespazio, the product requirements were identified and subsequently translated into technical specifications. Based on the specifications, the preliminary design of the RF and the mechanical parts is starting.

Illegal construction detector

Objectives of the Product

Countries where high real-estate taxes exist also have issues with illegal constructions, because some people try to avoid paying the respective tax. The solution helps municipalities find owners who are not properly paying real-estate taxes by detecting buildings from satellite images.


Based on satellite data, the solution identifies new construction activities in an area. It filters out unlawful activities based on building registry data, enabling the automatic filtering of illegal activities from all detected construction activities. The web application not only detects constructions not paying the (proper) real-estate tax but also helps municipalities to contact the real-estate owners so they can start paying the tax properly.


We provide this solution by recognising buildings from high-resolution satellite images. To do so, we utilise machine learning algorithms on satellite data, to recognise construction activities and combine this data with building register data for our target use case.

Customers and their needs

Municipalities face substantial issues with undeclared constructions, resulting in lost tax revenue. The main issues include unpermitted swimming pools and extensions in private properties. Apart from the financial issue, illegal constructions also create a security problem, especially with pools that can be very dangerous when built on higher floors. In this case, they could potentially damage the structure of the building. Such cases are also more difficult to discover through manual inspection because officials have limited access to buildings.


Current methods, such as relying on citizen complaints and manual inspections, are inefficient and labor-intensive. Municipalities recognise the income loss from manual systems and are seeking more efficient methods.

Target customers/ users’ countries

Target customer: local municipalities
Primary focus: Spain

Product Description

The core of the product is the capability to detect objects of interest (buildings and pools) from 30 cm-resolution satellite data with sufficient precision and recall to support our business logic. Detections are compared with information on registered buildings to identify unregistered and misregistered buildings.


From the customer’s perspective, detections will be served to the client via a web application that has supporting features for follow-up actions regarding misregistered buildings (such as sending notices).

Added Value

Several companies in the market offer solutions for infrastructure monitoring based on data from satellites. One aspect, that sets our offering apart from the companies already operating in the market, is that our solution foresees integration with building registers, which enables automatic filtering of illegal actives from all detected construction activities.

Current Status

The following tasks were covered in the de-risking activity:

1) validation and improvement of the requirements specification.


2a) utilisation of machine learning algorithms on satellite data, with sufficient precision and suitable to offer construction surveillance services in Spain.


2b) combination of satellite data with building register data for our target use case.

The Product Development phase will most likely continue, where the web application of the product will be developed.