Satellite services to monitor UK environment
Satellite data services funded by the UK Space Agency will track water pollution, carbon emissions and biodiversity threats.
Ten new projects will use Earth observation tools, satellite tracking and data on population demographics, supported by artificial intelligence, to produce forecasts and models for sectors from agriculture and energy, to finance and insurance.
Each project will receive up to £55k to begin development from September to produce the most up-to-date view of environmental contexts possible. They will use available Earth observation data that includes methane and nitrous oxide emissions, watercourse resilience, biodiversity changes and decarbonising technology infrastructure.
EOLAS Insight Ltd will develop a mapping and reporting service for watercourse resilience, so businesses can understand how global temperatures impact local watercourses and the benefits of mitigation, such as riverside woodlands.
Omanos Analytics will generate social context data about the nuanced impact of climate change issues on different demographic groups.
The total of £530k is the second tranche of investment from the UK Space Agency directly into climate services, following an £85k pot awarded earlier this year.
Other projects include Brighton-based Recycle2Trade to monitor environmental sites, Aberdeen-based TrackGenesis Ltd's Demeter combining Earth observation and Global Navigation Systems to support food production in a changing climate, and Edinburgh-based Trade In Space's project on deforestation and smallholder farms.
