Highlights of Closing Remarks from the AOLS Satellite Applications Forum

By J. Hugh O’Donnell BASc; OLS(ret), QLS, Past President OLS

President, J. Hugh O’Donnell and Associates

[Editor’s note: AOLS is the acronym for Association of Land Surveyors of Ontario, a Canadian self-governing organization established in 1892. The Association is responsible for licensing and providing governance to surveying professionals in accordance with the Ontario Surveyors Act and includes as members: Cadastral Surveyors, Geodesists, Hydrographers and Photogrammetrists.]

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Let me begin my remarks by thanking our two respected speakers for their interesting and illuminating presentations today: Dr. Vern Singhroy, Chief Scientist, RADARSAT Constellation Mission, Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation, and Carl Pucci, Founder of EO59. It was an excellent introduction to radar imaging technology, and in particular, to the amazing application potential associated with Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR.)

The theme of this year’s conference is “Manage Your Risk “. With respect to risk and the technology we have heard about today, let me say, “Change can bring risk…and opportunity”. Certainly, change is afoot in the satellite business, and I believe it could have a significant effect - one way or the other - on your business.

In my home province of Quebec after the Second World War, Quebec Land Surveyors (QLS) were preoccupied in doing retracements, mining claims, construction surveys, cadastral work and even opening new town sites in the north – that work was a real cash cow and the focus for the profession continued well into the 1990’s.  But as early as the 1960’s, University programs began looking at urban planning. The Order of Quebec Urbanists got established around that period and by 2009 there were over 7000 members Canada wide.  Sadly, only a few were QLS members. In my opinion an influential role in urban planning was a lost opportunity for the profession.

I see the same potential for another missed opportunity today with satellite application developments.

With the advent of the internet and ever more sophisticated computer technology, we now live in a world of real time results. Add to this the fact that leading entrepreneurs are now looking at space as a “new frontier”. Richard Branson, “the Virgin Everything Man” has the space bug, big time, and he also has deep pockets to match. Says Branson, “The most breathtaking thing about being in space is actually looking back at the earth”. I’d like to reword that in a slightly different way, if I may, by saying: “Space is offering breathtaking opportunities in earth analysis”. And just to underline the point, we, the surveying professionals, are in the business of earth measurement and related data analysis. I suggest to you it’s time to look over your shoulder, mitigate any potential risk, and then pursue this space related opportunity head on.

Don’t just take my advice as blue sky preaching. Let me say that having followed this emerging technology for a while and listening to the presentations from our satellite experts today, I can make three important observations to you, the survey professionals, about what I see happening in the satellite-earth analysis business.

Judge for yourselves how you can take advantage of these developments:

1. Users are demanding access to changing earth data and analysis more quickly - virtually immediately. Whether it’s for analyzing the impacts of rising floodwaters, tracking landslides, monitoring pipeline infrastructure changes or dam movements, or assessing urban and land use changes, etc. The emerging need is for more data and faster data analysis. Better data storage capabilities; bigger pipes to interact with the source and users; and of course, “clouds” are necessary support requirements. This need for data immediacy fostered by improved support infrastructure will change all the traditional rules about taking time to produce huge reports with lots of details in an attractive format. It’s the data that will make the difference, and people will continue to want it faster, in more abbreviated, but decision-punctuated formats – let me use the term “dashboards”.

Satellites generate a lot of data on earth changes as they continuously circle the globe. This huge volume of changing data must be processed very quickly and stored in the cloud for quick access. And this high-speed processing is going on right now: Carl alluded to it in describing ESA’s extensive Copernicus data distribution system. Vern also noted that Radarsat 3 will produce change detection capabilities every 4 days – a major difference from earlier Radarsat satellites which offered repeat location change data every 28 days. Carl talked about the Sentinel satellites offering change detection every 6 days. This is for INSAR analysis. Those data repeat features will create huge amounts of additional data for analysis. On top of that, Radarsat and Sentinel (as well as other satellites) also provide extensive amounts of data in a matter of minutes from daily pass overs.

Turnaround time frames will get even shorter. And satellites will begin to provide specialized application data. We are seeing companies trying to launch more and more satellites to provide specialized data that users want. They are called “small” satellites, not to be confused with the big ones like Radarsat and Sentinel or the wee ones like drones. Planet now has 200 small satellites circling the globe. Elon Musk’s SpaceX, whose Falcon 9 rocket launched Radarsat 3 in June last year, has almost 200 small satellites in orbit now with immediate plans for 1500, and eventually 10,000! One Web, a well-funded start-up working cooperatively with Virgin, Airbus, Maxar, Coca Cola, Qualcomm and others, launched 34 satellites just two weeks ago [February, 7 2020]. They are planning on eventually having a fleet of 650. That’s a lot of potential space junk on the horizon! And massive amounts of data for analysis.

While the big satellites like Radarsat and Sentinel can pump out higher resolution, more diverse info, provide wider coverage and frequent data updates, the smaller satellites will focus on providing location-specific data geared to clients interested in specialized, and even more frequently updated applications, e.g. for insurance companies, oil and gas firms, etc.

Space is where the big technology providers are getting involved. They’re spending billions of dollars on satellites, applications and space related support systems. Google and financial firm Fidelity have invested $1B in SpaceX. Amazon’s hugely profitable cloud provider - Amazon Web Services (AWS) – now provides AWS Ground Stations in partnership with Lockheed Martin to store satellite data and to inexpensively process it for quick and reliable distribution. Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos’s has also created Blue Origin which is planning to deliver cargo to the moon. Big players like Harris Corp, Honeywell, IBM, and host of others are actively involved in space related initiatives. Space is where it’s at right now!

2. The second observation I see is the growth in satellite “software as a service” (SAS) providers for earth data analysis. Carl’s EO59 offering is just that. His application involves establishing applications that will deliver ever-changing cloud stored data in a manner that will allow users to manipulate the data themselves. The software will be app driven, not necessarily through traditional computer-based software packages. This means there could be many types of apps to do what was traditionally done through a single all inclusive (and expensive) package. These relatively inexpensive internet-based apps should allow for easy data manipulation so that customers can determine their own desired results. As you can appreciate, these apps will, like EO59, also need to include a means to ensure data integrity in the background, through Artificial Intelligence or with the assistance of satellite imaging professionals. The app will provide customers with the tools to do their own analysis. Make no mistake, this will be a simple-to-use but sophisticated, accuracy-based industry. According to Geospatial World, “mapping as a service” will be an $8B business by 2025!

3. The third observation I have is that there will be a need to ensure that the “dashboard-type” results provided by apps can be tested to ensure they are real and accurate. This means that any analysis displayed by the app’s “dashboard” must still be reviewed, and if results deemed important, still investigated by qualified land and water analytical professionals. The field measurement work will still be required but to a lesser extent. In my mind, satellite derived data-driven applications offer a powerful adjunct for existing multi-disciplinary engineering firms, environmental and ecological consultants and surveying providers.

For those of you who missed the urban planning opportunity I alluded to, don’t miss this one. Your clients, whether they are end-users, or multi-disciplinary firms, can benefit from services you can offer using INSAR or other satellite-based data applications. And they fit so nicely within the existing services you provide. After all, applications that analyze the movement of land, water and structures is very much a role for surveyors.

Yes, change is afoot in the satellite business. Take advantage of this change, seize the opportunity and integrate it into your own offerings. Now, before it’s too late.

Our guest author, J. Hugh O’Donnell

J. Hugh O’Donnell is a widely respected senior executive with extensive international business development and organization leadership experience. He is a graduate of Laval University in Geodetic Sciences and holds commissions in Ontario and Quebec. Known for his enthusiasm and entrepreneurial vigour, he has held senior management positions in both the private and public sectors. He began his career in the aerial survey industry with Survair in 1969. Later he served as Managing Director of Geomatics with SHL Systemhouse, leading international marketing and sales efforts.

Some of his earlier government positions included Surveyor General and Director Surveys and Mapping for the Ontario Government and Assistant Deputy Minister, Geomatics Canada. Most recently, Hugh served as Chairman and CEO of MMM Group International and a Partner in the parent firm, MMM Group Limited, and is now an Independent Consultant at J. Hugh O’Donnell & Associates.