PRODUCT NEWS - SkyWatch

Announcing SAR Tasking Availability on SkyWatch HUB and EXPLORE

Kelly Winter — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:13:16 +0000

We’re thrilled to announce that synthetic aperture radar (SAR) tasking capabilities have been added to SkyWatch HUB, and both archive and tasking options are now available in SkyWatch EXPLORE. This significant expansion of our platform capabilities empowers users with new tools to access synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, providing enhanced flexibility and precision for geospatial insights.

SAR Tasking in SkyWatch HUB

With this update, HUB users can now task SAR data from Capella Space and Umbra Space constellations, in addition to accessing archive data.

Key Features

Tasking Configurations

Users can configure tasking options to meet specific project requirements as follows:

Umbra:

Azimuth angle
Grazing angle
Polarization

Capella

Product type
Observation direction
Look angle
Orbit state
Orbital plane
Collection time
Polarization

High Resolution Data Products

Available products include:

Umbra: Spotlight at 25cm, 35cm, 50cm, and 1m resolution
- Scene size
  - 5×5 km
  - 10×10 km (Extended)
Capella Space: Spotlight at 50cm, Spotlight Wide at 1m, and Stripmap at 1.2m resolution
- Scene Sizes
  - Spotlight: 5×5 km
  - Spotlight Wide: 10×20 km
  - Stripmap: 5x up to 100 km

AOI Definition

Areas of interest (AOI) are defined as a point rather than a polygon. For SAR data, polygons will be automatically converted into points with a 2.5 km radius visual buffer for clarity.

The AOI for each product is displayed (as a point centered in a 25 sq km area) within the Data Management tab in HUB for easy access.

SAR Archive and Tasking in SkyWatch EXPLORE

EXPLORE now offers both archive and tasking capabilities for SAR data. Products are delivered as a zip file. Note: formats vary by provider.

Why SAR Matters

SAR data offers unparalleled advantages for applications requiring precise, high-resolution imagery under any weather or lighting conditions. By integrating SAR tasking capabilities into HUB and EXPLORE, we’re equipping our users with tools to:

Monitor remote or cloud-covered regions
Detect changes over time with high precision
Support critical infrastructure and disaster response efforts

Explore SAR on SkyWatch Today

This expansion reaffirms our commitment to empowering users with diverse, high-quality geospatial data through a seamless platform experience. Whether you’re leveraging SAR for emergency response, environmental monitoring, or infrastructure planning, SkyWatch provides the tools to succeed.

The post Announcing SAR Tasking Availability on SkyWatch HUB and EXPLORE appeared first on SkyWatch.

Check out the Latest Version of our ArcGIS Pro Add-In

Kelly Winter — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:01:42 +0000

We’re thrilled to announce the latest version of the Satellite Imagery for ArcGIS Pro, powered by SkyWatch. This release is packed with new features designed to enhance your geospatial workflows, improve budget tracking, and bring you even greater data access. These updates are a direct result of your feedback and our commitment to making your experience as seamless and efficient as possible.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s new in this release.

Login with Esri Credentials: Simplifying Authentication

The SkyWatch add-in now allows you to log in using your Esri credentials. This feature makes it easier than ever to connect your SkyWatch and Esri accounts, offering a unified login experience that eliminates the need to manage multiple sets of credentials.

By linking your accounts, you can seamlessly integrate the add-in into your existing ArcGIS Pro workflows, saving time and reducing friction.

Associate Projects with Orders: Supporting Project-Based Budgeting

Understanding the importance of project-based workflows, we’ve added the ability to associate Projects—created and managed in SkyWatch HUB—with Orders placed in the add-in.

This enhancement brings the add-in into compliance with project-based budgeting workflows, ensuring all data purchases are tied directly to the relevant projects. This provides better transparency and control over how data expenditures are allocated, making it easier to manage budgets, justify spending, and report on project performance.

Prepayment Tracking and Visualization

Keeping track of prepayments just got easier. The updated add-in introduces functionality for visualizing and tracking the prepayment amounts from your organization’s HUB account. This feature provides real-time insights into your remaining balances, helping you plan future purchases more effectively and avoid any surprises.

Maxar Data Integration: Expanding Your Data Options

We’re excited to announce the addition of Maxar’s high-resolution satellite data to the SkyWatch Satellite Imagery for ArcGIS Pro add-in. Maxar data offers unparalleled clarity and detail, supporting applications across industries such as oil & gas, architecture, engineering, construction, and environmental monitoring.

Now, you can access Maxar’s extensive archive directly through the add-in, alongside the wide array of other data providers already available on the SkyWatch platform.

Why These Updates Matter

Streamlined Workflows

Logging in with Esri credentials simplifies authentication, while linking projects to orders ensures your workflows align with organizational budgeting practices.

Enhanced Financial Oversight

The prepayment tracking feature empowers you with the tools to monitor and manage budgets more effectively, ensuring a smoother purchasing process.

Access to Premium Data

Maxar’s high-resolution imagery provides you with additional resources for precision analysis, enabling better decision-making and outcomes.

How to Get Started

Upgrading to the latest version of the SkyWatch Satellite Imagery for ArcGIS Pro add-in is simple:

Download the updated add-in from our website or from the Esri ArcGIS Marketplace
Follow the installation instructions to set up the new features.
Log in with your Esri credentials to begin exploring the benefits of this powerful integration.

Start leveraging these powerful updates today and take your geospatial workflows to the next level. Together, we’re making satellite imagery more accessible and actionable than ever before.

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ImageSat International (ISI) Data Now Available via SkyWatch

SkyWatch Team — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +0000

SkyWatch expands its offerings with ISI’s state-of-the-art 30cm resolution satellite imagery, enhancing precision across industries

November 20, 2024—SkyWatch, a global leader in providing seamless access to Earth observation data, today announced its data distribution partnership with ImageSat International (ISI). The addition of ISI’s 30cm high-resolution satellite data offers SkyWatch customers cutting-edge imagery, unlocking new possibilities for detailed analysis and decision-making across industries such as defense, agriculture, and urban planning.

ISI is a global leader in space-based intelligence, known for leveraging its EROS NG (Next Generation) and GlobalEye Earth observation satellite constellations. With over two decades of expertise in high-resolution satellite imagery, ISI provides turnkey solutions that combine satellite data, ground-based command and control systems, and advanced AI-driven geospatial intelligence.

Bringing Next-Level Precision to SkyWatch Customers

With the addition of ISI’s 30cm resolution imagery, SkyWatch customers can now access even more detailed satellite data to support critical business operations and innovative applications. This high-resolution data is especially valuable for industries that demand precision, such as environmental monitoring, disaster response, and infrastructure development.

“Partnering with ISI enables SkyWatch to deliver some of the highest resolution imagery available in the market today,” says Jamie Mytkowicz, Director of Strategic Accounts at SkyWatch. “ISI’s leadership in geospatial intelligence, combined with their unparalleled image quality, ensures that our customers gain access to the tools they need to make informed, data-driven decisions.”

A Strategic Partnership

ISI joins SkyWatch’s growing network of world-class satellite providers, strengthening both companies’ efforts to provide commercial customers with unparalleled access to the latest satellite technology.

Dave Springer, Director of Business Development at ISI, emphasizes the strategic alignment: “We are excited to join forces with SkyWatch, a true pioneer in making Earth observation data more accessible and impactful. Their innovative approach and extensive industry expertise align perfectly with our mission to expand into the commercial market. With SkyWatch’s visionary team and our state-of-the-art EROS-C3 satellite, we are confident in our ability to deliver unmatched value and insights.”

About SkyWatch

SkyWatch is on a mission to make Earth observation data universally accessible and easy to use for businesses of all sizes. The SkyWatch platform provides a seamless interface for integrating satellite imagery into diverse workflows, empowering organizations to harness the power of geospatial data. For more information, visit https://skywatch.com.

About ISI

ISI (ImageSat International) is a world leader in providing space-based intelligence solutions and services utilizing its EROS NG (Next Generation) and GlobalEye Earth observation satellite constellations. For over two decades, ISI has been successfully providing turnkey programs and services for its customers, combining high-resolution satellite imagery, integrating ground-based command and control systems and advanced AI-based geospatial intelligence and analytical systems.

The post ImageSat International (ISI) Data Now Available via SkyWatch appeared first on SkyWatch.

Introducing SkyWatch HUB

SkyWatch Team — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:36:28 +0000

HUB is an application that sits on top of the SkyWatch Platform, which comprises seven core services: Identity, Archive & Tasking, Order, Fulfillment, Payments, Policy, and Location. These capabilities are accessed through various applications created by SkyWatch that sit on top of the platform, segmenting specific services into a single interface.

The HUB application is for end-users, specifically organizations or enterprises. HUB accesses all seven core services with a focus on procuring, managing and sharing geospatial data in a centralized place.

If you’re someone who needs to buy satellite imagery on a small scale, you may have used our other application called EXPLORE.

The difference between EXPLORE and HUB is you get more data sources with diverse sensors (hyperspectral, SAR, stereo, aerial, etc.), a place to host, store and manage the data you acquire, and the ability to track spending, approve budgets and measure user activity.

The value of HUB over EXPLORE is you don’t just procure data from leading industry providers, you get to manage data in a centralized system. Managing data properly is the key difference between making geospatial data a business asset over an expense.

Having an application built by people who understand this and support your desire to scale your business, is invaluable.

That product [HUB] was born purely out of listening to our customers.

Jordan Fox, Senior Director of Sales, SkyWatch

Why would I invest in HUB instead of other tools?

Using data like satellite imagery has numerous advantages. For instance, you can task a satellite to capture a specific Area of Interest (AOI) for a future date at the desired spatial resolution (low, medium, high, or very high res). Additionally, you can search that AOI to check if it has been captured in the past, and then purchase the data you need from the archival library, making the procurement faster and less expensive. The benefits of using satellite imagery include cost-effectiveness, safety, and the ability to obtain more assets for the same budget it would take to physically send employees to capture these data points.

The benefits mentioned above can help you achieve your analysis goals and ensure compliance across different areas of the business. However, the use of geospatial data also comes with some challenges. For example, traditional file shares and organizational tools such as SharePoint or Google Drive are not built to house geospatial data, and often don’t support the unique file formats or size of geospatial data and files. It’s also important to note that these assets require maintenance. Without proper attention, the value of these data sets may diminish in the eyes of stakeholders when issues such as duplicate purchases, difficulty sharing insights, and tracking the overall ROI come into play.

As a stakeholder, it’s crucial to minimize investment risks by ensuring that the benefits of investing in these assets are fully maxinimized. To shift your team’s perspective on geospatial data from an expense to a valuable business asset, you must provide unwavering support to maintain the assets’ value. Failing to prioritize data management makes it challenging to leverage geospatial data for business growth. Equipping your geospatial data management team with the essential tools is crucial for ensuring their success.

While there’s always the option to customize off-the-shelf file management solutions, or build one yourself, you can save time and money by using one that already exists—SkyWatch HUB.

How is HUB different from these other tools?

HUB is specifically built for geospatial data management.

Traditional tools are not built to help with:

Sourcing commercial imagery or other types of geospatial data in-app

The ability to prepay or pay for data on delivery

Approve purchases and control user settings

Track spending and measure activity in-app

Convert TIFF files for easy sharing in other applications or as links

Create Groups to track activity and spend, even for users from different departments

Access premium content from the world's leading data providers in one place

Who does HUB help?

HUB is designed to meet the needs of organizations by providing a comprehensive overview of these projects. It doesn’t just assist your technical team with their tasks; it genuinely supports the entire team by accurately measuring the real impact of the data being used. HUB provides visibility to stakeholders, clear reports for leadership, transparent tracking for finance, and removes obstacles for geospatial data managers and their teams, enabling them to perform their roles effectively.

The team members who will use HUB the most are the geospatial data managers. These members are often technical, with a background in GIS, and are leading the organization’s geospatial initiatives. Organizations that invest in these data types want to support initiatives such as research and development, environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, risk management, market analysis, strategic planning, competitive advantage, operational efficiency, enhancement of data visualization, or customer service.

Why would a geospatial data manager need software designed to manage this data?

The team you hired are very competent people.

Brilliant, in fact.

However, there is a big journey ahead of them to acquire, analyze, and share geospatial data that you may not be aware of.

In theory, this is the journey you think your geospatial data manager will have when acquiring this data:

But this is the actual journey they face:

What problems does HUB solve?

The core issues your manager is facing may include, but are not limited to,:

Duplicate data purchases
Difficulty tracking spend
Storage and visualization of the data already purchased
Sharing data with stakeholders when they don’t have the same GIS tools
Needing to constantly summarize findings, metrics, and insights in presentations

In turn, these issues can discourage and undermine your geospatial data manager and leave them feeling:

Like they’re not in control

They cannot control users’ spending, where data is stored, how it’s shared, and how data is procured. Considering their role involves managing these assets, this can be quite stressful for a professional in this position.

Bogged down by administrative tasks

These managers are hired to lead a team of GIS specialists in advanced analysis. As the leaders of this initiative, they are responsible for acquiring the necessary data and demonstrating the value of their team’s contributions. Administrative tasks such as tracking, storing, sourcing and sharing data, consume enormous amounts of time and energy. The inability to share their work directly with stakeholders also adds an extra step of summarizing the information in a cohesive and digestible way like in a presentation or report, adding more tasks to their plate.

Frustrated by the difficulty of measuring success

A significant aspect of their role is to showcase a return on investment by tracking all activities and presenting the results in comprehensive reports. This can be exhausting and time-consuming because stakeholders who lack this expertise need to be able to comprehend and appreciate their work. Even if stakeholders had access to GIS analysis tools, they might not know how to use them, so they often have to share large files in inefficient ways.

Failing to address these issues can make it challenging to expand operations while leveraging geospatial data as a valuable business asset. This can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and hindered growth potential.

What HUB will do for your organization

HUB helps your organization reach its full potential. With HUB you will:

Democratize data within your organization

HUB allows organizations to realize the benefits of geospatial data without hiring rare and specialized expertise or making large investments in complex software and data sourcing.

Get more out of your data assets

Leverage HUB’s tools and insights to improve ROI on geospatial data, streamline spending, and establish a unified operational and financial framework.

Centralize operations and control costs

Establish and manage enterprise-wide policies for procuring and using geospatial data, and gain consolidated insights into data expenditures, usage, and performance across the organization.

Seamlessly share and publish data

Normalize all your data into a standard format, and seamlessly and securely share across your organization and into your GIS applications.

Get world-class professional services and support

You’ll get 24/7 access to technical support to scale and optimize your geospatial data usage, including proactive monitoring of order, collection, and delivery, and advisory services for new data sources.

Since HUB works as an interface to access services from the SkyWatch platform, it, in turn, can track activities across integrated platforms such as ScribbleMaps through BUILD, ArcGIS Online through Content Store, and ArcGIS Pro through MAP. If other team members are using these applications, the SuperAdmin can track specific purchases and approve purchase requests from HUB.

HUB Features

Projects

Create Projects

Create Projects and define cost controls, such as payment methods and budget, on a per-project basis.

Payment Methods

Prepayments

Establish a single or multiple prepayment(s) and track expenditures against and remaining balance of prepayments in real time.

Approvals

Approval Dashboard

View pending orders alongside existing completed orders on the basemap to ensure that new orders are not duplicating existing areas of interest (AOIs). Toggle between tabs to view pending, approved, and declined orders.

View Pending Orders on Basemap

Select a pending order to see the AOI on the basemap.

View Order Details

View complete order details in a simple modal box, without leaving the Approvals dashboard.

Product Library

View Available Data Products

The new Product Library showcases all on-demand and on-request data sources with easy to use resolution, order type, provider, sensor type, and product type filters

View Product Details

Click on a Library item to view technical specifications and view and download sample data.

Metrics

Spend Analytics

Gain insights into spend by month, data source, role, and user.

Transactions

View granular transaction detail for purchases across the organization.

User Management

Roles, Permissions, and Groups

Manage user capabilities through roles and permissions and assign users to Departments or Projects.

Ordering and Visualization

Advanced Tasking Settings

Customize settings for tasking orders, including off-nadir angle and optional mosaicking.

Order Multiple Images

Place a single order containing multiple images.

Enable Mosaicking

Enabling mosaicking to receive a stitched image for complete AOI coverage.

DirectView

Seamlessly share imagery across your organization; no software required. Bring context to imagery with drawing tools, annotations, and measurements.

Projects

Create Projects and define cost controls, such as payment methods and budget, on a per-project basis

Prepayments

Establish a single or multiple prepayment(s) and track expenditures against and remaining balance of prepayments in real time.

Approval Dashboard

View Pending Orders on Basemap

Select a pending order to see the AOI on the basemap.

View Order Details

View complete order details in a simple modal box, without leaving the Approvals dashboard.

View Available Data Products

The new Product Library showcases all on-demand and on-request data sources with easy to use resolution, order type, provider, sensor type, and product type filters.

View Product Details

Click on a Library item to view technical specifications and view and download sample data.

Roles, Permissions, and Groups

Manage user capabilities through roles and permissions and assign users to Departments or Projects.

Spend Analytics

Manage user capabilities through roles and permissions and assign users to Departments or Projects.

Transactions

View granular transaction detail for purchases across the organization.

Advanced Tasking Settings

Customize settings for tasking orders, including off-nadir angle and optional mosaicking.

Order Multiple Images

Place a single order containing multiple images.

Enable Mosaicking

Enabling mosaicking to receive a stitched image for complete AOI coverage.

DirectView

Seamlessly share imagery across your organization; no software required. Bring context to imagery with drawing tools, annotations, and measurements.

Get Started with HUB

Start your HUB trial or connect with our team to if HUB is the right fit for you.

Start Your 30-Day Trial Talk to Sales

The post Introducing SkyWatch HUB appeared first on SkyWatch.

SkyWatch Signs Data Distribution Agreement with IMPRO

Kelly Winter — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:30:20 +0000

IMPRO’s 50cm High-Resolution GOKTURK-1 Satellite Data is Now Available to SkyWatch Customers

September 11, 2024 — SkyWatch is thrilled to announce the addition of IMPRO Satellite Image Processing and Telecommunication Inc. (IMPRO) high-resolution satellite data to its ever-expanding platform. A worldwide distributor of the high-resolution reconnaissance data from its GOKTURK-1 satellite, IMPRO is the latest addition to SkyWatch’s impressive roster of high-resolution data sources.

IMPRO’s mission is to become an Image Processing Excellence Center. Launched in 2016, the GOKTURK-1 satellite provides very high-resolution imaging, including 50cm optical, stereo, and tri-stereo data, across a global coverage area, enhancing the scope and precision of Earth observation for diverse applications.

“As IMPRO, we are very excited to collaborate with SkyWatch, sharing their vision of becoming one of the world’s largest geospatial hubs,” says Dr. Veysel Okan Atak, Image Trade Director at IMPRO. “We believe this collaboration and partnership will support both IMPRO and SkyWatch as they elevate their offerings in the satellite imagery sector.”

The partnership with SkyWatch offers IMPRO a gateway to a broader customer base, extending the market for GOKTURK-1 data through SkyWatch’s geospatial platform and further facilitating access to high-resolution satellite imagery for a wide range of customers.

IMPRO’s GOKTURK-1 50cm satellite imagery is versatile, supporting applications in Mapping, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Agriculture, Urban Planning, and Natural Resources, among others.

“We’re excited to welcome IMPRO’s high-resolution GOKTURK-1 satellite data to our platform,” says Jamie Mytkowicz, Director of Strategic Partnerships at SkyWatch. “IMPRO’s exceptional imaging capabilities reinforces our commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality geospatial data to its users worldwide, and empowers our users to gain deeper insights and make more informed decisions across various industries.”

IMPRO 50cm data from its GOKTURK-1 satellite is now available to SkyWatch customers.

About SkyWatch

SkyWatch is a leading geospatial data platform that provides seamless access to a wide range of satellite imagery and Earth observation data. By partnering with top satellite data providers, SkyWatch enables users across industries to harness the power of geospatial information.

About IMPRO

IMPRO is an Image Processing Excellence Center and a global distributor of high-resolution satellite imagery. As a subsidiary of the Defence Industry Agency of the Turkish Government, IMPRO distributes images from the GOKTURK-1 satellite, offering unparalleled precision and global coverage for diverse applications.

The post SkyWatch Signs Data Distribution Agreement with IMPRO appeared first on SkyWatch.

Wyvern Hyperspectral Data Now Available to SkyWatch Customers

Kelly Winter — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:29:50 +0000

SkyWatch is excited to announce that Wyvern‘s cutting-edge hyperspectral data is now available to SkyWatch customers. This significant development allows users to seamlessly access Wyvern’s high-resolution hyperspectral imagery, offering enhanced capabilities for Earth observation across a wide range of industries.

Wyvern’s Dragonette constellation, currently consisting of three low-earth orbit satellites with more on the way, capture hyperspectral imaging data at a remarkable 5.3-metre GSD across numerous narrow spectral bands. This data, the first commercially available of its kind, provides unprecedented insights into the chemical and physical properties of the Earth’s surface, making it a valuable tool for remote site monitoring, mapping, and geospatial intelligence applications.

The availability of Wyvern’s hyperspectral data on SkyWatch streamlines the process of acquiring and utilizing this powerful data, enabling users to integrate it directly into their existing workflows and systems. Whether for agriculture, forestry, mining, energy, or peace and security applications, the combination of SkyWatch’s easy-to-use platform and Wyvern’s advanced imagery is set to drive innovation and efficiency.

“In 2020, we partnered with Wyvern for data distribution. As their first reseller partner, we’re thrilled to finally offer Wyvern’s hyperspectral imagery to our customers, making it more accessible to users across various sectors,” said Jamie Mytkowicz, Director of Strategic Partnerships at SkyWatch. “This is a major step forward in providing our customers with the tools they need to unlock new insights and make more informed decisions.”

“We’re excited to announce Wyvern’s partnership with SkyWatch to allow our Dragonette data set to be hosted and tasked on SkyWatch’s platform,” says Christopher Robson, CEO at Wyvern. “This partnership will allow Wyvern to access SkyWatch’s global customer base and further build Canada’s geospatial/space ecosystem.”

Wyvern’s hyperspectral imagery is now available to SkyWatch customers.

SkyWatch and Wyvern have partnered to deliver 50% off list pricing of hyperspectral tasking collection for qualified customers. Contact us to learn more about this promotion.

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Explore Very High Resolution Data with SkyWatch

SkyWatch Team — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 08:00:00 +0000

With some exciting new additions to our roster of leading data providers, SkyWatch is proud to offer the highest concentration of very high resolution geospatial data sources in the world.

In today’s data-driven world, reliable access to the highest-resolution geospatial data can transform how organizations interact with and understand our planet to make critical business decisions and gain competitive advantage. SkyWatch provides organizations around the globe with unparalleled access to the most very high resolution (VHR) commercially available geospatial data sources, including satellite sources with resolutions as high as 15cm HD, 10cm High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) data, and 7.5cm aerial-derived data. Sourcing VHR data from a wide variety of sensor vehicles allows customers the flexibility to prioritize what matters most: scale, economics, and recency.

Enable rich operational insights with VHR geospatial data

Exceptional data precision

The SkyWatch platform offers access to the highest-resolution geospatial data available, capturing fine details that enable a variety of use cases for object detection, machine learning, and visual analysis, at unprecedented scale. This exceptional precision allows for more accurate analysis and informed decision-making, while the resolution enables stakeholders across your organization, even non-GIS experts, to extract valuable insights from the data.

Comprehensive coverage and timeliness

Access an extensive database of historical geospatial data, or task new VHR image captures directly over your desired area of interest for the freshest data available. Whether you need near-real time information or comprehensive historical datasets, the SkyWatch platform ensures you have the highest-resolution data required to make timely, informed, and strategic decisions.

Diverse industry applications

SkyWatch supplies organizations worldwide, across a wide range of industries and applications, with VHR geospatial data, allowing them to remotely monitor high value assets and or remote sites, conduct environmental analyses, derive insurance analytics, plan disaster response, compile media analysis of current events, and track commodities at scale, amongst many other applications. Access to diverse sources of VHR geospatial data unlocks innovation across organizations, and uncovers competitive advantages that were previously unrealized.

Explore more VHR data:

10cm stratospheric balloon imagery:

Colorado Grasslands

Colorado Mountains

15cm HD satellite imagery:

Kolwezi, DRC

Arthur Ashe Stadium, NY

Access VHR geospatial data from the world’s leading providers through SkyWatch

Unlock innovation and efficiencies within your organization with VHR data from SkyWatch. Get started at https://explore.skywatch.com or visit https://skywatch.com to learn more about our products and solutions.

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INTRODUCING THE SKYWATCH PLATFORM

SkyWatch Team — Fri, 17 May 2024 19:48:27 +0000

When we started SkyWatch, our vision was to build a platform that enabled anyone to programmatically access all of the world’s satellite data, through a single easy-to-use Application Programming Interface (“API”). We were inspired by what Twilio did for communications infrastructure; what Stripe did for payment processing; and what Plaid was doing for financial services.

At the core, these companies were abstracting massively complex infrastructures (telecom, financial institutions, etc.) with APIs that allowed millions of businesses to leverage them without having to develop an ounce of knowledge as to how the technical infrastructure works. As a result, they unlocked trillions of dollars of value, while accruing billions of dollars of equity value themselves.

It was reasonable to assume that there was an analogous opportunity in the Earth observation market. The hundreds of remote sensing satellites in orbit with unique capabilities, the hundreds of ground stations, the dozens of pricing and licensing models, and the handful of different file formats and standards represented what we believed to be a nearly unrivalled web of complex infrastructure that was massively underutilized.

We believed that if we could abstract this complexity, we could unlock trillions of dollars of economic value (just look at GPS) to the benefit of end users, application developers, data providers, and of course, SkyWatch.

Easier said than done.

The fragmented infrastructure powering the Earth observation market was far more immature than we could have imagined. Customers needed manual vetting; orders required manual reviews; how and when orders were fulfilled was a black box; image processing was manual, and when automated, was not of reliable quality. When you have this much manual intervention, building delightfully seamless programmatic experiences for developers is next to impossible.

Rather than give up on the mission, we took this on as our responsibility to fix. So we started investing in software solutions across the entire value chain. We led the industry with innovations in image processing, tasking optimization, order management, and onboard processing.

We did all of this to power EarthCache and TerraStream, our products that served customers and data providers respectively. However, as we scaled EarthCache to thousands of customers globally, some challenges emerged. You see, we’re dead set on positively impacting as many humans as possible. With this aim in mind, we serve dozens of verticals and hundreds of use cases. And as our customers’ needs became more diversified and niche, we realized we couldn’t address them all effectively through one product.

So, we’re switching gears and doubling down on our original vision.

Moving forward, The SkyWatch Platform will be at the core of everything we do. The SkyWatch Platform is a collection of the (formerly internal) services that previously powered our products, but can now be used and leveraged by anyone looking to build or benefit from the future of geospatial data.

The SkyWatch Platform is composed of seven core services which include: Identity, Archive & Tasking, Order, Fulfillment, Payments, Policy, and Location. In our next post, we’ll get into the details of how developers can leverage these services.

For those of you who are not developers, the important takeaway is that the SkyWatch Platform is a set of high-performing modular components that will power applications that are more tailored to your specific needs. With applications more tailored to your needs, geospatial data will be integrated more seamlessly into your everyday life.

And speaking of applications, over the coming days we’ll be diving deep into 5 new applications SkyWatch is building right atop the SkyWatch Platform.

The first is targeted at individual end users whose only requirement is a very simple UX to quickly search for and buy geospatial data.

The second is targeted at developers and those want to programmatically integrate geospatial data into their applications, whether for their own end use or for sale out to their user base.

The third is targeted at organizations, big and small, who need to manage procurement, storage, payment, and sharing across their entire organization.

The fourth is targeted at the users of GIS, enabling them to get the data they need, when they need, right from within their GIS.

The fifth and final application is targeted to organizations selling geospatial data, enabling them to reach hundreds of thousands of users, in nearly every country on the planet, across dozens of channels and paths to market.

These applications, while built by us, are meant to demonstrate the art of what’s possible when building on the SkyWatch Platform. We encourage everyone to take inspiration from them, make better versions of what you see, or build something entirely new.

So, how will you know which application is best suited for you? Along with these new services and applications, we are also introducing new SkyWatch Accounts.

They will be as follows:

BUILD – for developers who want to programmatically integrate geospatial data into their applications or workflow, whether for the purpose of internal use or for selling to a wider audience. Build accounts will start off free but will require a monthly subscription for those of you who want to sell geospatial data.

HUB – for organizations who want to manage procurement, storage, payment, and sharing across your entire organization.

PAYU – this is the default SkyWatch account. When you sign up for SkyWatch, you’ll automatically receive a Pay-As-You-Use (“PAYU”) account, allowing you to purchase data as you need it.

Provider – for organizations that sell geospatial data, whether that be remote sensing imagery, vector data, or anything in between. Provider accounts will come with a two tiers of subscription services, that will allow you to maximize your reach, revenue, and profitability.

There are two more important changes I’d like to draw your attention to. The first, when we talk about data, we are no longer just talking about space-borne Earth observation data. The SkyWatch Platform is now the distribution platform for all geospatial data, whether that be imagery from satellites, drones, or balloons, or non-imagery datasets like land cover classification base maps or human trafficking patterns. If it’s geospatial, it’s on the SkyWatch Platform.

Second, we’re leaning into this identity with a complete rebrand and new logo. SkyWatch’s rebrand preserves its typography and symbolic icon but incorporates a fresh colour scheme to represent our planet and satellite imagery along with electromagnetic waves and remote sensing data synergies. Each application is represented by an independent colour and included in the SkyWatch icon’s gradient.

We know that this is a lot of change, but we truly believe that this is the model that will unlock trillions of dollars of economic value in the geospatial domain.

Most importantly, we’re excited to see what value this unlocks for you.

Watch our CEO's explanation of the SkyWatch Platform.

Capella Space Selects SkyWatch as Platform Partner

SkyWatch Team — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 18:08:13 +0000

KITCHENER, ON, March 5, 2024 – SkyWatch Space Applications Inc. (“SkyWatch”), a leader in the remote sensing data technology industry, announced today that it has been selected as the first aggregation platform partner by Capella Space Corp. (“Capella”), a leading provider of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. Capella’s high-resolution Spotlight product is now available to SkyWatch customers, marking the first fully integrated SAR source on the SkyWatch platform.

SkyWatch and Capella’s partnership dates back to 2022, when SkyWatch selected Capella as an inaugural partner for the (then-named) EarthCache-X solution, which allowed customers to access additional data types beyond those fully integrated with the SkyWatch platform. Since then, Capella has consistently been the most-requested SAR source by SkyWatch customers.

We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Capella Space, and honored to have been selected as the first aggregation platform partner for Capella’s SAR data products.

Data Partnership Highlights

Capella’s Single Look Complex (SLC) file format high-resolution (up to 50cm) Spotlight product, is now available on the SkyWatch platform
Pay-per-scene pricing on 25km2 areas

Benefits for SkyWatch Customers

Capella SAR is useful to anyone looking to do more detailed analysis under conditions that present challenges for optical sensors, such as:

highly clouded areas
low-light conditions
nighttime capture

Due to the different orbital patterns of the constellation and the presence of an active sensor, Capella Spotlight is suitable for capturing images at any time of day, thereby reducing latency on tasking requests and increasing the granular temporal resolution on images.

Capella Spotlight is also highly valuable to any time-sensitive need, such as disaster relief or financial analysis, or cases where an AOI must be completely imaged without cloud interference, such as for defense or for infrastructure monitoring.

Start Exploring Capella Spotlight

To start exploring Capella Spotlight imagery, log into your SkyWatch account or sign up today!

Urban Sky 2024 Urban Catalog & Custom Tasking Now Available

SkyWatch Team — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:15:53 +0000

We have some exciting news! Urban Sky’s very high-resolution stratospheric balloon imagery is now available to SkyWatch customers, marking the first fully integrated non-satellite imagery source on the platform.

Highlights

Urban Sky’s very high-resolution stratospheric balloon imagery is now available to SkyWatch customers, marking the first fully integrated non-satellite imagery source on the platform.
Urban Sky archive imagery is vailable via SkyWatch, starting at $17.50/km²
SkyWatch customers will also be able to request on-demand tasking for minimum areas of 250km² , at a preferred rate of $35/km².

Read the full press release

Benefits for SkyWatch Customers

Urban Sky’s archive of 10cm very high-resolution imagery, captured over select U.S. metropolitan areas, provides customers with crisp images, ideal for visual inspection and richer analysis in applications like infrastructure monitoring in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), Mining, Energy, and Utilities.

Explore Urban Sky images via DirectView

Colorado Grasslands

Colorado Mountains

To start exploring Urban Sky 10cm imagery, log into your SkyWatch account or sign up today!

PRODUCT NEWS - SkyWatch

Announcing SAR Tasking Availability on SkyWatch HUB and EXPLORE

SAR Tasking in SkyWatch HUB

Key Features

Tasking Configurations

High Resolution Data Products

AOI Definition

SAR Archive and Tasking in SkyWatch EXPLORE

Why SAR Matters

Explore SAR on SkyWatch Today

Check out the Latest Version of our ArcGIS Pro Add-In

Login with Esri Credentials: Simplifying Authentication

Associate Projects with Orders: Supporting Project-Based Budgeting

Prepayment Tracking and Visualization

Maxar Data Integration: Expanding Your Data Options

Why These Updates Matter

Streamlined Workflows

Enhanced Financial Oversight

Access to Premium Data

How to Get Started

ImageSat International (ISI) Data Now Available via SkyWatch

SkyWatch expands its offerings with ISI’s state-of-the-art 30cm resolution satellite imagery, enhancing precision across industries

Bringing Next-Level Precision to SkyWatch Customers

A Strategic Partnership

About SkyWatch

About ISI

Introducing SkyWatch HUB

Why would I invest in HUB instead of other tools?

How is HUB different from these other tools?

HUB is specifically built for geospatial data management.

Who does HUB help?

Why would a geospatial data manager need software designed to manage this data?

What problems does HUB solve?

What HUB will do for your organization

HUB Features

Projects

Payment Methods

Approvals

Product Library

Metrics

User Management

Ordering and Visualization

Projects

Prepayments

Approval Dashboard

View Pending Orders on Basemap

View Order Details

View Available Data Products

View Product Details

Roles, Permissions, and Groups

Spend Analytics

Transactions

Advanced Tasking Settings

Order Multiple Images

Enable Mosaicking

DirectView

Get Started with HUB​

SkyWatch Signs Data Distribution Agreement with IMPRO

IMPRO’s 50cm High-Resolution GOKTURK-1 Satellite Data is Now Available to SkyWatch Customers

Wyvern Hyperspectral Data Now Available to SkyWatch Customers

Explore Very High Resolution Data with SkyWatch

With some exciting new additions to our roster of leading data providers, SkyWatch is proud to offer the highest concentration of very high resolution geospatial data sources in the world.

Enable rich operational insights with VHR geospatial data

Exceptional data precision

Comprehensive coverage and timeliness

Diverse industry applications

Explore more VHR data:

Access VHR geospatial data from the world’s leading providers through SkyWatch

INTRODUCING THE SKYWATCH PLATFORM

Watch our CEO's explanation of the SkyWatch Platform.

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Capella Space Selects SkyWatch as Platform Partner

Data Partnership Highlights

Benefits for SkyWatch Customers

Start Exploring Capella Spotlight

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Urban Sky 2024 Urban Catalog & Custom Tasking Now Available

Highlights

Benefits for SkyWatch Customers

Explore Urban Sky images via DirectView

Get Started with HUB