12/10/2023
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Governments and worldwide catastrophe response groups have lengthy relied on satellites to evaluate the impacts of disasters comparable to earthquakes and hurricanes. Now ESA has partnered with ICEYE, a Finnish microsatellite producer, to enhance early warning methods for floods and wildfires and prolong their geographical protection globally.
Utilizing artificial aperture radar expertise allows ICEYE’s satellites to see by means of the smoke whereas the fires are nonetheless burning, so emergency groups can pinpoint particular person properties and other people in danger – in addition to valuable pure habitats. First responders can use the knowledge to comply with the unfolding risks and assess the influence.
The identical expertise additionally allows emergency groups to see by means of storm clouds to evaluate the extent of flooding, its depth and possible period, creating actionable intelligence on pure disasters by offering knowledge in near-real time. House knowledge may also assist to foretell floods, avert disasters and pace restoration.
The three-year undertaking, referred to as “Disaster observations and administration from area”, is an ESA Partnership Mission with ICEYE beneath the company’s Civil Security from Space programme. It’s being led from ICEYE’s headquarters in Finland with contributions from the corporate’s workplaces in Spain and Poland.
The work will inform efforts to accelerate the use of space to provide a rapid and resilient response to crises on Earth. ESA is working with organisations throughout Europe to ship such a system to safeguard individuals when terrestrial methods are broken by pure hazards, accidents or malicious actions.
Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-Founder at ICEYE, mentioned: “This partnership is a chance to check the boundaries of pure disaster monitoring options, alongside ESA. The civil safety from area programme demonstrates the dedication of ESA and the European area group to make use of area expertise to construct group resilience. We’re honoured to have been chosen to take part on this programme, and to be on the forefront of the brand new space-based disaster commentary and administration period.”
Josef Aschbacher, Director Normal of ESA, mentioned: “I’m delighted to signal the primary ESA Partnership Mission with ICEYE beneath the civil safety from area programme, supporting European efforts to make use of area to observe, mitigate and resolve civil safety and disaster occasions to maintain individuals, infrastructures and assets secure on Earth. We sit up for working with our Finnish associate on this undertaking.”
