Future of Earth Observation

Satellite imagery costs have plummeted from millions per image to essentially free. Planet Labs operates over 200 small satellites that photograph the entire Earth daily at 3-meter resolution.

AI makes this data useful. Machine learning automatically detects changes between daily images: new construction, deforestation, flood extent, and even economic activity inferred from parking lot occupancy.

Radar satellites keep working in storms and at night when optical cameras are blind. During the 2023 Turkey earthquake, they mapped building damage within hours, helping responders direct rescue teams to the worst-hit areas. Earth observation is becoming humanity's most powerful planetary monitoring tool.