Indonesia believes that satellites could serve as a ‘shared safety net’ for APAC

From the climate crisis, declining biodiversity to global pandemics, these shared challenges do not respect borders. 

Indonesian Space Agency (INASA)’s Executive Director, Erna Sri Adiningsih, explained that earth observation (EO) presents a unique opportunity for countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to collaborate to tackle these challenges and build resilient governance.

EO is the process of gathering information about the earth from satellites and other sources to explore the impact of global events like climate change, urban planning, agriculture and more. 

She was speaking as the government keynote speaker at Planet On The Road – Bali event in Indonesia on September 8. The event was organised by satellite imagery provider Planet, with GovInsider as a media partner. 

“Earth observation is not only about looking at our planet from above, but at the heart of our governance to safeguard our people, resources and shared future,” she said.  

Adiningsih noted that satellites could serve as a “shared safety net” for the region. By working together, countries could share data and expertise and use artificial intelligence (AI) to make EO data more accessible and timely for effective governance. 

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Space as an everyday tool for governance 

Drawing on Indonesia’s experience, she emphasised that technology, combined with citizen impact and effective governance, was the key to achieving resilience. 

When Adiningsih started her space career in 1988, satellites were rare, expensive and used mostly for scientific research. She highlighted how the idea of obtaining daily images of the Earth almost seemed impossible. 

More than three decades later, she witnessed a transformation: EO was no longer just for specialists, but an everyday tool for governments. 

Satellites today are especially important for Indonesia - a country with over 17,000 islands and hundreds of millions of people – and has been critical for monitoring and protecting its vast population. 

For Indonesia’s vast borders, satellite images have been key for the country to monitor its borders, identify changes in land conditions and detect other illegal activities. 

“Satellites are no longer a nice-to-have, they are a critical infrastructure,” said Adiningsih. 

Actionable insights  

Policymakers don’t need pixels, they want answers, she emphasised.  

While satellites could generate a massive amount of raw data, the real challenge is turning the raw data into actionable insights, such as whether a river will flood tomorrow, which farmers need support, and which villages are isolated. 

In her presentation, she highlighted how AI has become a useful tool to analyse big data.

Researchers are currently using AI to analyse massive amounts of satellite images to find out how urban development affects environmental comfort in Jakarta city. 

Adiningsih also highlighted the need for governments to bridge the capacity gaps to effectively tap into satellite technology and EO data. This includes the lack of access to skills, infrastructure and funding.  

Particularly in remote regions, the high cost of internet connection could make it difficult to download EO data.  

Public policy speakers at a separate webinar highlighted the importance of governments building their own space capabilities, which was a process that could take five to 10 years. 

 At the same time, they should work with a diverse range of private companies to avoid vendor lock-in.  

The role of the private sector was also acknowledged by Adiningsih, adding that their expertise could enable governments to harness satellite images for various applications and develop user-friendly platforms to make data more accessible.  

Remove agency silos to enable impact 

Using EO data effectively required collaboration between different government agencies, instead of them working in silos. Adiningsih added that sharing data and expertise requires both strong political will and sustained investment.   

Indonesian Space Agency, for example, falls under the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). 

BRIN is a single, ministry-level agency that consolidates the country’s key research, innovation and technology bodies. This helps strengthen national coordination and allows the space program to advance more quickly and strategically, she noted. 

Additionally, BRIN works across ministries. Another example was their collaboration with the National Narcotics Agency and the National Police to combat illegal cannabis cultivation.  

Adiningsih’s team has developed monitoring systems that use remote sensing satellite data to detect and track illegal activities, particularly in remote areas that are difficult for law enforcement to reach.  

She noted that governments in the APAC region face a dual challenge to sustain economic growth while protecting their people and resources. Moving forward, space technology and international cooperation would become even more vital. 

She cited an example of how when an earthquake strikes a remote Indonesian island, telecommunication satellites and satellite phones became the only lifeline when ground networks fail.  

Additionally, navigation and positioning satellites have been essential for transport, logistics and security, particularly for busy waterways like the Malacca Strait, keeping global shipping moving safely.