Aerial Sensing

Thought 32845: The Secret Business Model of Satellite Imagery

Traditional business models involving satellite imagery have not kept up with the times. I know some will disagree with me, but it's true. Here is why I think that is the case.

For as long as I can remember remotely sensed imagery business models have followed one or two pathways. The first involved outright selling of images to interested parties. These parties then analyzed the imagery based on their needs, but the imagery provider really did not know what the imagery was being used for - the idea was to sell imagery.

The second approach, a newer one, involves selling services from the imagery. In some cases the imagery provider established a 'services' department or branch, then processed the imagery and sold the 'intelligence.'  In some ways this is the current model widely in use, although the imagery can be sold to 3rd parties (distributors) who in turn perform the image analysis and transact with the client- more often then not individually.

But there is a third approach. It aligns more closely with communication, interoperable tools, advanced automated processing and capitalises on the fact that satellite imagery often covers 20 square kilometers (or more) - a territory shared by overlapping user needs.

Many times I have talked to farmers who have purchased the same imagery, independently - time and date wise, for example. I have also listened to individuals within cities talk about the same imagery, together in a group - yet unaware they are all using the same imagery.

My point is this: if social tools can bring together individual pools of people on themes of similar nature, or even products like OpenStreetMap - then why not open image use?

In practice GIS servers can now process all this imagery in an automated fashion already. The imagery is there. What is needed is a system of sorts that coordinates user needs, queing up end users from whatever their user needs, then processing imagery collectively for everyone - from the same imagery.

Wait - you mean working together?

Yep.

I wonder if a step like this would not leap frog digital cities ahead more quickly.

Let's say you had to figure out 50 image processing tasks for 10 cities, which would you choose?  How would you go about coordinating customers and end users?

Image once - process once - sell many...

Related Posts

1. Spot Image — The Value of Archived Satellite Imagery
2. Aerial Imagery: Evolving ROI
3. GNSS As a Driver to Satellite Earth Observation
4. Where Does a User First Connect with a GIS?
5. Secret Soviet Maps to Occupy Scotland
6. New Audio Version: Aerial Imagery: Evolving ROI
7. Geospatial ‘User’
8. Thought — Do you think Russia is accurately mapped?
9. Picking Wine Grapes By Satellite Images in Bordeaux
10. How Does a Digital City Model Compare to a Digital Rural Model?

© 2009 Vector One.