This is the first post in our Product Series where we show you how, here at SatVu, we are working with partners and customers to help solve real world problems with our unique datasets. This introductory will be followed up by several use case deep highlighting how our products can be most effectively used.
As far as the eye can see, and beyond!
Earth Observation imagery can be used to examine, analyse and monitor features on and near the Earth. Optical bands, like red, green and blue (RGB) are the most common means of capturing that imagery because the information is collected similarly as it would appear to the human eye. Further along the electromagnetic spectrum there are sensors which detect gases and atmospheric composition, but what happens when you’re interested in observing something that is obstructed by something? Like a power generator or reactor housed inside specialised buildings. Or high volumes of oil stored in tanks? RGB bands can’t capture this ‘invisible’ information, but high-resolution thermal sensors can.
However, RGB optical imagery comes with some limitations; if an asset is enclosed within a structure, then the visible light from that object will never reach the camera, making it impossible to capture, and therefore impossible to assess its status. But if that asset produces even a moderate thermal signature, high-res thermal imaging will detect it.
Fundamentally, high-resolution thermal satellite imagery offers a powerful new way to observe activity from space. By detecting emitted heat rather than reflected light, it can reveal insights that traditional optical imaging simply cannot. At SatVu, we’re striving to provide this new class of Earth Observation data via our HotSat constellation, supplying customers across industries with a thermal ‘activity layer’ to complement existing geospatial datasets and help them make more informed decisions.
Actionable intelligence: Yokohama Harbour.
You might be wondering; what can you actually do with our high-res thermal imagery in the real world? What kind of insights can you get? And then, what kind of better decisions can you make?
Consider the image of Yokohama Harbour in Japan, taken by HotSat-1 at the top of this blog.
Immediately you can see that at nearly every part of the port there is something interesting going on so in just one image, our high-res thermal sensor has uncovered 6 different activities taking place in the area.
Why activity matters
Most Earth Observation data is great at telling you what is there — roads, buildings, infrastructure — but not what is happening. Activity, not just presence, is what drives decision-making across industries. Whether it’s identifying operational parts of a refinery, or military base activity, high-resolution thermal imagery can answer questions such as:
All these questions can be answered by the data SatVu collects from our HotSat satellites. At a technical level, our HotSat sensors use a detector operating in the 3.7–5 µm Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) band to detect subtle heat variations at a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 3.5m.
Our technology is also designed to capture imagery both day and night, enabling 24/7 monitoring of thermal activity. And with multiple revisits per week — which will be scaled to multiple revisits per day with the full constellation — customers can track not just where heat is emitted, but when and how it changes.
It’s this combination of these factors which make our satellites unique, and allow our team to build out a constellation of high performance satellites in an efficient manner.
For more information see our technical details Satellite Specification.
Seeing activity in action
Our data is reshaping how we observe and interpret activity across various domains. With these critical insights, we offer decision-makers in our primary market verticals the opportunity to make a big difference.
We’ve already seen fantastic examples of our data having a direct impact for customers and partners in the following domains:
National Security
The following example shows the active facility status of nuclear reactors in Khushab, Pakistan on 3 December 2023. Reactors 2 and 3 are clearly active given the intensity of their thermal emissions.
Economic Monitoring
For example, the images below show a steel production facility in Dunkirk, France on 30 October 2023. The HotSat image on the left indicates heat signatures from waste gas flaring (1), a steel mill (2 & 3), slab storage (4), in addition to the coke ovens and blast furnaces within the facility. When overlaid with an optical image it’s possible to determine which assets are operational.
Climate Resilience
For example, the image below shows Fresno, California on 30 July 2023. The high-density urban areas, displayed in bright orange, retain heat readily. In comparison, the tree-lined wealthy suburbs, in the blue center region of the image, are noticeably cooler.
Ready for your workflow
We’ve made every effort to deliver our imagery in formats familiar to users of optical data, making integration into existing workflows straightforward. So, whether you’re running an automated alert system or a visual inspection workflow, HotSat data can augment your operations.
As we prepare for the launch of HotSat-2 and to expand our constellation, we’ll be releasing further tools and APIs to simplify access, increase automation, and unlock new applications.
Stay tuned for additional installments in our Product Series, we’re introducing our data products and demonstrating how they can be used to solve specific scenarios.
