Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Manuel Mata
The UK’s Geospatial Commission, part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), has launched a commercial Earth observation (EO) pilot for a number of UK public sector bodies, aiming to help to unlock the value of EO technology in priority policy areas, from emergency incident response to land use.
“This government is taking action to unlock the significant potential of fast-developing location technologies,” said DSIT Minister, Viscount Camrose, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
“The Earth Observation capability that is being piloted by the Geospatial Commission will test how we can drive innovation in the heart of government service delivery, from effective disaster response to enhancing the science behind our understanding of land use change.”
Following a competitive tender process, the data and services for the EO pilot initiative will be delivered in partnership with the winning supplier, Airbus Defence and Space, to public sector bodies throughout the UK.
Eligible UK public sector bodies will be able to access and test the data against a range of use cases for the 12-month pilot period.
“Our Earth Observation pilot is aiming to keep the UK in its high geospatial orbit, increasing public sector capability and the demand for market innovation through testing new applications of EO data and technologies,” said Thalia Baldwin, Director, Geospatial Commission.
