How Commercial Imagery Capabilities are Revolutionizing Applications in Defense Intelligence
The capabilities and capacities of commercial Earth observation satellites in the defense intelligence market have consistently evolved, now rivaling those of government-owned satellites. This evolution has transformed the entire space-based intelligence landscape, encompassing privately-owned space-based sensing, machine-aided processing, and shared data storage on common cloud platforms.
The commercial imagery industry, providing significantly improved coverage, revisit rates, and resolution, has expanded into novel capabilities such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR), radio-frequency (RF) mapping, and hyperspectral imaging. These advancements leverage the capacities of commercial entities, fostering a pace of development and innovation that surpasses current government sensing capabilities.
Let’s explore how commercial imagery capabilities are revolutionizing applications in defense intelligence:
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)
The increasing commercialization of the space sector has democratically opened access to high-resolution satellite imageries. Advanced space-based ISR capabilities, once exclusive to superpowers, are now within reach for a growing number of states, reshaping power dynamics in international conflicts.
An illustrative example is seen in the Russo-Ukrainian war, where non-spacefaring nations like Ukraine have effectively employed commercial imagery to augment situational awareness. They have exposed Russian troop movements, identified fortifications, and guided Western-supplied long-range missiles to critical Russian targets. With the assistance of over 200 commercial imageries, Ukraine has mitigated Russia’s conventionally superior military capabilities and countered its significant space prowess, thereby leveling the playing field through access to real-time battlefield ISR.
The strategic and effective use of commercial imagery has emerged as a game-changer, particularly in defensive and counter-offensive strategies in modern warfare.
Maritime Domain Awareness
Traditionally, achieving comprehensive awareness across vast ocean expanses required collecting visual information from ships or aircraft, data from large military satellites, and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data transmitted by commercial vessels. The cost and complexity associated with these top-down surveillance systems have posed challenges for many countries.
The advent of low-cost commercial imagery has revolutionized ocean observation, bringing regular monitoring to a significant portion of the seas. These satellite systems employ various technologies, including optical observation, radio-frequency detection of vessels using radio or radars, and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), a scanning radar that detects reflected light.
Maritime safety authorities now have the capability to integrate AIS data with satellite imagery, enabling the identification of “dark vessels.” These vessels intentionally turn off or manipulate their AIS devices to lower the risk of detection while involved in illicit activities like illegal fishing or drug smuggling. Web-based platforms, including the US’s SeaVision, the EU’s IORIS, and the not-for-profit Skylight, are accessible to users at little or no cost for this specific purpose.
Military Training and Simulation
Military training demands precise and lifelike visual simulations across diverse virtual environments. Integrating high-resolution commercial imagery with various geospatial data, such as elevation data, extracted vectors and features, 3D models, and multispectral material classified maps will facilitate virtual visual simulation training.
The availability of commercial imagery has paved the way for a revolutionary advancement in military training beyond the operational test community. It enables the real-time connection of live and synthetic military assets, allowing the simulation of scenarios with complexities, ranges, and numbers that would be unattainable within the constraints of the real-world.
Disaster Relief and Recovery
Following natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods, accurate and swift tools for damage assessment are vital to ensure the efficient allocation of resources and facilitate recovery processes. Civil defense authorities can now utilize commercial imagery to overcome the limitations associated with ground-based assessments, which are often time-consuming, costly, and potentially hazardous.
Timely, high-resolution imagery of affected areas proves invaluable in comprehending the scale and impact of disasters on both infrastructure and human populations. In Turkey and Syria, both optical and SAR commercial imagery were employed to aid in disaster recovery and evaluate the earthquake’s magnitude using change detection maps. Within a few days, automated damage assessments for buildings throughout the earthquake-affected zone were made available. This swift response played a crucial role in assisting first responders in understanding the extent of damage, identifying navigable roads, and planning their actions effectively.
Despite the rapid development of the commercial satellite imagery industry, there is a concern that defense and intelligence agencies are not embracing commercial products and services at an equivalent pace and scale.
The challenge for the defense and intelligence community lies in deciphering how to utilize these emerging commercial capabilities for military advantage, all while safeguarding national security and ensuring the vitality and competitiveness of companies in the global Earth observation market.
Interested in joining such a discussion? The Geospatial World Forum will host a Defense & Intelligence Summit scheduled to take place in person in Rotterdam from May 15-16, 2024. The Summit will delve into the evolving global security landscape and underscore the significance of establishing a robust GeoIntelligence infrastructure at national and regional levels. Confirmed attendees include subject-matter experts such as:
- Brigadier General Friedrich Teichmann, Director, Geospatial Institute, Austrian Armed Forces, Austria
- Todd Johanesen, Group Chief, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, USA
- Ronda Schrenk, CEO, USGIF, USA
- John Teufert, JISR SL GeoMetOc/GEOINT Branch Head, Communications and Information Agency, NATO
- Sandra Auchter, Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, USA
- Lieutenant General Anil Kumar Bhatt, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Director General, Indian Space Association (ISpA), India
- Martin Cauchi Inglott, Project Director, Critical Maritime Routes Indo-Pacific (CRIMARIO II), Malta
- Patrick O’Keeffe, CDR jg (OF-3) DEU Navy & Staff Officer Space Operations, NATO Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE CSW), Germany
- Wayne Hudson, Geospatial Imagery Engineer, National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI), UK
- Group Captain Dr. Chamnan Kumsap, Director of Knowledge Management and Publication, Defence Technology Institute, Thailand
- Robert Goldsmith, GIS and Mapping Manager, Devon & Cornwall Police, UK
- Mariya Polner, Acting Security Programme Manager Enforcement and Compliance SubDirectorate, World Customs Organization, Belgium
- Colonel Norazlin Binti Pamuji, Deputy Director, Defence Geospatial, Department of Survey and Mapping (JUPEM), Malaysia
- Josef Schroefl, Deputy Director, COI Strategy and Defense, European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, Finland
- Sergio Albani, Head of RTDI Unit, European Union Satellite Centre, Spain
- Ingrid Vanden Berghe, Administrator General, National Geographic Institute, Belgium
- Rajanikanth Muppalla, Delivery Head, Tech Mahindra, India
- Richard Goodman, EMEA Defence Lead, Hexagon, UK
- Nejc Dougan, CTO, FLAI d.o.o., Slovenia
- Gastao De Figueiredo, SVP, GM Geospatial Intelligence, Blackshark.ai, USA
- Martin Pentier, Geospatial Sales Manager, Integrated Space Solutions, Airbus Defence and Space, France
- Matej Michalko, Founder & CEO, Decent Cybersecurity, Switzerland
- Vincent Kessler, General Manager, Synspective SG, Synspective, Singapore
Latest Blogs
-
Ajay K Gupta (HSR health) Apr 04, 2024Health Risks Influence Future Consumer Behaviors
In an increasingly interconnected world, predicting and understanding health risks and consumer behaviors has become important for businesses, public health organizations, the financial services sector, and policymakers. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and the availability of newer and larger datasets, it is now possible to leverage data on social and environmental risk factors, […]
-
Sarah Hisham Feb 20, 2024Why GeoIntelligence Infrastructure Needs Cybersecurity More Than Ever
Geospatial intelligence, or GeoInt, serves as the watchful eyes in the sky, providing invaluable information to safeguard nations.
-
Shivani Joshi Feb 12, 2024Business Intelligence: Revolutionizing the BFSI & Retail Industry
In the contemporary business milieu, global BFSI and retail enterprises face the imperative of understanding their interests and assets across diverse locations. This necessitates a nuanced understanding spanning customer spending patterns, shipping route optimization, facility conditions, and risk assessment. The pivotal role of location data cannot be emphasized enough, it is emerging as a transformative force for businesses aspiring not only to stay relevant but also to sustain a competitive edge in the ever-evolving market.
-
Ruban Jacob Jan 31, 2024Hydrospatial-enabled Ocean Knowledge for the Blue Economy
The World Bank defines the blue economy as the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem”. The blue economy comprises of a range of economic sectors including maritime shipping, fishing and aquaculture, coastal tourism, renewable energy, water desalination, undersea cabling, seabed extractive industries and deep sea mining, marine genetic resources, biotechnology, etc.
-
Palak Chaurasia Jan 15, 2024Unearthing Opportunities: The Crucial Role of Geology and Exploration in Fostering Growth in a Transitioning World
In a world that is undergoing significant economic, social, and environmental transitions, geology and exploration emerge as key players in shaping the future. By responsibly harnessing the Earth’s resources, promoting sustainable practices, and embracing technological advancements, like digital twins, advanced geological modeling, and AI/ML, these fields contribute to fostering growth and development.
-
Anandi Mathur Jan 12, 2024ESG Responsibility: A Light on Necessities
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibility is a shared commitment that extends across customers, companies, and governments. Each stakeholder plays a crucial role in driving positive change and fostering sustainability in various aspects of business and society. Undoubtedly, essential for a sustainable future, it ensures responsible business practices, mitigates environmental risks, improves social equity, and enhances governance transparency.
-
Sarah Hisham Jan 11, 2024
How Commercial Imagery Capabilities are Revolutionizing Applications in Defense Intelligence
The commercial imagery industry, providing significantly improved coverage, revisit rates, and resolution, has expanded into novel capabilities such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR), radio-frequency (RF) mapping, and hyperspectral imaging. These advancements leverage the capacities of commercial entities, fostering a pace of development and innovation that surpasses current government sensing capabilities.
-
Palak Chaurasia Jan 09, 2024Power of Generative AI in Geospatial Mapping
Generative AI certainly presents exciting possibilities for the geospatial industry, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in mapping, analysis, and prediction for different aspects of geospatial technologies. However, it is crucial to approach its integration with a mindful consideration of ethical implications. The Balance between innovation and responsible use will be key to harnessing the true potential of Generative AI for the benefit of future Geospatial Industry.
-
Dr. Shivangi Somvanshi Jan 04, 2024Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) for Global Economy
Geospatial information, technology, and applications have become ubiquitous in modern life, offering businesses a competitive advantage and evolving into a daily necessity for digitally connected individuals. Users in various economic sectors are increasingly integrating geospatial technology and information into their workflows to amplify their sector-specific outcomes and therefore contributing to global economy.
-
Palak Chaurasia Jan 03, 2024How can Digital Transformation help rebuild the Indian Infrastructure?
In the rapidly evolving landscape of India’s infrastructure, digital transformation emerges as a key player in the growth of using geospatial technology efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and timely project execution. As the nation looks to strengthen its foundation for economic growth, technologies like digital twins and geospatial advancements are proving to be transformative tools in rebuilding the Indian infrastructure.