The Geospatial Commission’s 12-month data pilot programme is being undertaken in an attempt to help reduce the barrier to accessing relevant data, and to level-up actions undertaken in policy areas such as land use, environmental monitoring, and emergency response.

Earth Observation is the gathering and presentation of information regarding planet Earth’s physical, chemical, and biological systems. Through remote sensing technologies, useful data is supplied on the status of the natural and man-made environment.

The Geospatial Commission, which is a part of the UK Government’s Department for Technology, Science and Innovation (DSIT), is the committee responsible for setting the UK’s geospatial strategy and promoting the use of geospatial data in the country.

The data and services for the EO pilot programme will be delivered by Airbus Defence and Space — a division of the Airbus group, and NASA partner, responsible for defence and aerospace products — who’s the winning supplier following a “competitive tender process.”

The initiative will involve up to 35 public sector bodies who will use and test the EO-derived data in myriad use cases.

The pilot programme was announced by Viscount Camrose, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for DSIT. “This government is taking action to unlock the significant potential of fast-developing location technologies,” he said.

“The Earth Observation capability that is being piloted by the Geospatial Commission will test how we can drive innovation in the heart of government service delivery, from effective disaster response to enhancing the science behind our understanding of land use change.”

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The Geospatial Commission’s Director, Thalia Baldwin, added: “Our Earth Observation pilot is aiming to keep the UK in its high geospatial orbit, increasing public sector capability and the demand for market innovation through testing new applications of EO data and technologies.”

Paul Russell, the Head of Intelligence UK for Airbus, also commented, saying: “We are delighted to be working with the Geospatial Commission on this initiative and we look forward to seeing how public sector bodies will work with our satellite data to support the delivery of critical public services.”

Last year, the Geospatial Commission co-funded research alongside the Satellite Applications Catapult which underscored the growing demand for EO data across 154 use cases from 125 organisations.

Further, the research identified the most significant barriers to the public sector’s wider adoption of EO data, such as divergent levels of technical understanding, and the challenges of keeping pace with the offerings from the developing EO market.