Planet superpower: Looking closer to transform carbon and coastal strategies in Asia-Pacific

Earth observation (EO) satellites have revolutionised our understanding of our planet, providing invaluable data for various applications. Satellite data allows organisations to see and monitor change across broad geographies and timescales — and take informed action.

However, sometimes the devil is in the details. In many cases, a more precise view is required. High-resolution satellite imagery can capture images with incredible clarity, revealing features as small as a tree. 

Let’s take a look at how this data allows organisations across private and public sectors to look closer at the areas that matter most.

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High-resolution tasking in practice

By harnessing satellite imagery and advanced analytics, authorities have the ability to monitor and detect illegal activities such as deforestation, illegal mining, wildlife trafficking, and unpermitted vessels entering ports. 

With global, high-frequency data, authorities are able to constantly monitor and identify suspicious behaviour in remote areas, leading to more effective enforcement efforts.

Once the suspected activity is detected, high-resolution images can be easily tasked and received within hours, empowering policymakers and conservation organisations to see with more detail, make more informed decisions and take proactive measures to protect natural resources.

This process of constant monitoring with always-on Earth observation data paired with on-demand high-resolution tasked imagery is called “tip and cue,” and it can be a powerful tool for organisations across industries.

• Environmental monitoring and conservation: For environmentalists and conservationists, high-resolution SkySat imagery is a powerful tool for monitoring changes in ecosystems, tracking deforestation, and assessing the impact of human activity on natural habitats. This data is instrumental in designing conservation and climate mitigation strategies.
   

• Disaster management and emergency response: During natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, or earthquakes, timely and accurate information can save lives and mitigate damage. High-resolution SkySat imagery provides emergency responders and relief organisations with real-time updates on the extent of damage, helping coordinate rescue efforts and allocate resources effectively.

The Forest Management Bureau of the Philippines, with the support of Planet partner Geospectrum, is leveraging satellite data to aid in forest and watershed rehabilitation through the Forestland Management Project (FMP). Co-funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the FMP has invested around PhP 1 billion (U$18M) in forest site development.

Traditional methods of monitoring forest cover were labour-intensive, expensive, and slow, while baseline data was lacking. Geospectrum introduced Planet satellite data as a cost-effective, uniform solution for tracking forest cover changes.

This data is now being used for final reporting on the project's success in site development and rehabilitation efforts.

Additionally, these methodologies are being expanded to other projects, like the National Greening Program, with the potential to incorporate AI/ML for deeper analysis of forest trends and vulnerabilities.

At 50 cm resolution, SkySat Tasking provides organisations with near real-time intelligence to proactively identify blind spots, anticipate events, and have confidence in the next mission-critical decision.

• Precision and detail: High-resolution satellite imagery offers unparalleled detail, allowing users to zoom in and analyse objects as small as vehicles or individual trees. This level of precision is important for applications that require fine-grained insights, such as carbon sequestration or archaeological surveys.
   

• Timeliness and responsiveness: With the ability to task satellites on-demand and rapidly capture high-resolution images, users gain access to near real-time information when they need it most. This agility is particularly critical in emergency response scenarios, where every minute counts in decision-making and resource allocation.
   

• Comprehensive coverage: By complementing high-resolution SkySat imagery with rapid-revisit PlanetScope data, operators can provide comprehensive coverage of vast areas while still capturing important details. This hybrid approach ensures that users have access to both the big picture and the finer details they need to make informed decisions.

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EO data and broad area management

EO data is central to broad area management, which is the practice of monitoring, measuring, and reporting on assets, whether natural or man-made, across broad geographies and timescales. 

And when broad area monitoring is combined with high-resolution tasking, organisations are able to have a comprehensive and detailed view — allowing them to see and understand the unknowns.

Planet provides solutions that support both — PlanetScope Monitoring offers a continuous, daily view of the world; and Planet SkySat Tasking captures images with exceptionally high resolution. Together, they create an invaluable view of activity across the Earth.

Looking closer with Planet

High-resolution SkySat satellite imagery provides the unprecedented ability to look closer at any area of interest. 

This is one of the core superpowers behind broad area management. 

Interested in learning how looking closer can empower your organisation to make better decisions? Join our webinar on “Building a Resilient Future: How Satellite Insights are Transforming Carbon & Coastal Strategies in Asia-Pacific," which will feature regional use cases from the Asia-Pacific region.