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Home 2023 June 8

Daily Archives: 06/08/2023

Demystifying GEOINT

By
Lt. Gen Prakash Katoch (Retd)
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Demystifying GEOINT

Geospatial Intelligence has become indispensable to modern militaries for a host of purposes, especially in the wake of ongoing Ukraine Conflict. In this scenario, there’s an immediate need to focus on spatial needs of the armed forces, as well as involve them in policy formulations.

GEOINT comprises of imagery, imagery intelligence (IMINT) and geospatial information. The full utility of GEOINT comes from the integration of all three, resulting in more comprehensive, tailored geospatial intelligence products for meeting the wider requirements of the Armed Forces. It gives them the ability to rapidly respond to threats, providing geo-referenced visual and data products that serve as foundation and common frame of reference. These products include interactive maps, virtual flythroughs, and walk-through mission scenarios.

Geopolitical Turbulence

The Ukraine War is witnessing optimization of GEOINT, especially the use of satellites and drones, for real-time situational awareness for hi-tech engagement.

Concurrently, the Indo-Pacific has gained prominence with American moves to checkmate Chinese aggression. Indian concerns include the continuing standoff with China, Pakistan’s proxy war, the China-Pakistan nexus, and emerging threats in the Indian-Ocean with increased Chinese presence in the waters and on Coco Islands.

The importance of GEOINT or Geospatial Intelligence for our Armed Forces remains vital, as is the need for adopting emerging GEOINT technologies, developing smart and integrated security ecosystems, plus international cooperation, although the latter should only be considered a ‘bonus’.

China’s YaoGan constellation of military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites supports a range of geospatial intelligence capabilities: optical, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and electronic intelligence (ELINT). China has 24×7 satellite cover astride the Tibet India border and recently deployed an AI-controlled satellite to surreptitiously monitor military areas in Bihar and a port in Japan. Beijing has also been using air balloons and hi-speed drones for collection of GEOINT.

Broader Defence Participation

India’s National Geospatial Policy 2022 aims to set up high resolution topographical survey and mapping national framework, and a high-accuracy Digital Elevation Model (DEM) by 2030 (full implementation by 2050) by promoting indigenous geospatial data industry.

The focus on commercialization is well understood considering that India’s geospatial economy is expected to grow at 12.8 percent and cross INR 63,000 crore by 2025. However, this should not be a reason to overlook the geospatial requirements of the Armed Forces.

Ironically, the 17-strong Geospatial Data Promotion Development Committee (GDPFC) has only one member from the Ministry of Defence (MoD); who can hardly ensure the considerable responsibility and role of his ministry in geospatial data acquisition – unless the ministry wants to wash its hands off from this responsibility and wants the Armed Forces to deal directly with other governmental bodies and the industry.

Moreover, the military component in the Survey of India (SoI) has been eliminated altogether; relegating defence to second place. This needs serious revision, given that the military is a major user of geospatial data.

The relevance of geospatial data will keep growing in modern wars with rapid advances in technology and advanced weapons and weapon systems, including unmanned and hypersonic platforms.

The security of geospatial data required by the Armed Forces is more complex and different than relational geospatial data; requiring data organization and structures to deny data manipulation and theft that would seriously compromise national security.

The SoI-Military Survey bond required strengthening but severing it and reducing the SoI to “peripheral” role is a setback for the Armed Forces.

Establishment of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) has been a good initiative but it apparently deals with only some aspects pertaining to creation of metadata of available geospatial data and does not cater inputs from the intelligence community or the Armed Forces.

Data Fusion & Interoperability

We need to work on fusion of intelligence data. Additionally, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) is the central repository for all intelligence inputs pertaining to the three Services including Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) and Electronic Intelligence (ELINT). But have we integrated the aspects of topography with the DIA.

Within the existing setup, do we have adequate resources in terms of remote sensing, ELINT payloads and cartography to produce high quality fused data?

Future wars will need to be fought in a completely integrated manner by the three Services, for which, real time C4I2SR and common situational picture are essential.

The Services have been working individually to acquire Network Centric Warfare (NCW) capabilities, which now must be fully integrated, even as wars would need a national response, not by the military alone.

Fostering R&D

The global fast-paced technological advances in terms of geospatial intelligence need to be taken note of and adopted.

We need to dispense with compartmentalized thinking and switch to complete integration. For example, we are still launching satellites separately for the Army, Navy and Air Force, whereas, these could have been catering for all three with adequate redundancy in the event of a satellite captured, incapacitated or shot down by the enemy.

China has successfully allowed its remote sensing satellite ‘Qimingxing-1’ in low-Earth orbit to observe parts of India where army units are stationed and a Japanese port that often stations US naval vessels, using AI from a ground-based station for the experiment— the operation for redeployment of the satellite was autonomous without any human intervention.

Following this revelation, there has been discussion in the media about the dangers of AI-controlled satellites, drones or robots going rogue, which in military engagements could be catastrophic.

There is a view that India should not let its satellites be AI-controlled. However, acquiring a capability and employing it are two different issues.

India should develop this capability as all major powers will surely do. There has been plenty noise similarly against weaponizing of space or for that matter nukes, but research, development and deployment continues unabated.

ALSO READ: Role of GeoIntelligence in Developing National Defense Strategy

Satellite Imagery Shows Destroyed Ukraine Dam

By
Nibedita Mohanta
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Satellite Imagery Shows Destroyed Ukraine Dam
UNICEF/Alexsey Filippov A neighbourhood in Kherson is flooded after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine.

A video footage resurfaced on social media followed by several news organizations displaying the massive destruction caused on Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka dam, which has flooded dozens of nearby villages, towns and agricultural lands. The cause of the destruction remains unknown and the condition is far from being restored.

Reportedly, the flooding has wide spread into 29 communities along the Dnipro River and killed at least 3 people, however Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that it was difficult to determine how many people have actually drowned. He has urged a “clear and rapid reaction from the world” to pour in help for the victims.

Rescue operations are underway. According to the Guardian, the officials have stated that almost 6,000 people have been evacuated on both sides of the Dnipro River and 42,000 remain at flood risk.

“Our rescuers, police and volunteers have already evacuated 1,894 citizens,” Ukraine’s interior minister Oleg Klymenko, adding that 30 settlements had been flooded, 10 of which were under Russian control. At least hundreds of thousands remain without any access to clean drinking water and thousands homeless.

Who is responsible for the devastation caused?

Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other for blowing up the damage caused to the dam while denying any of the claims. Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture say that it will take around five years to repair the damage.

While some experts have indicated the Ukraine Russia war, where fighting took place in 2022’s August and November could have contributed in weakening the walls, others believe that Moscow has deliberately made the collapse by letting the water level rise over the past few months, as reports BBC.

Ecological implications

There are also major environmental concerns. The river has been contaminated with 150 tonnes of industrial lubricant, said President Zelensky, and another 300 tonnes was at risk of leaking, mentions the BBC.

The excessive outflow of water from the dam will submerge tens of thousands of hectares of agricultural land and turn at least 500,000 hectares deprived of irrigation into “deserts”.

Agricultural land has been washed away and the consequences of the flooding on local farmland is likely to be felt for years.

About the water reservoir

As per the BBC, the dam was built in the Soviet era and is one of six that sit along the Dnipro river, which stretches from north of Ukraine into the Black Sea.

The water reservoir currently falls under Russia-controlled region and is a vital channel that carries water from Crimea (also occupied by Russia).

European Space Imaging (EUSI) partner, Maxar collected new satellite imagery yesterday (6 June 2023) of the aftermath of the collapse and destruction of Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka dam that shows extensive flooding along the Dnipro River between Nova Kakhovka and the Dniprovska Gulf southwest of Kherson, Ukraine.

The WorldView-1 satellite collected more than 2,500 square kilometres of imagery along the river at 2:33 PM (local time in Ukraine) revealing numerous towns and villages that have been flooded. The Nova Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric plant has been largely destroyed and few structures remain.

Find the gallery here:

GOTS, ESA and Marple Launch Cotton Monitoring Project

By
News Desk
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GOTS, ESA and Marple Launch Cotton Monitoring Project

GOTS, ESA and Marple Launch Cotton Monitoring Project

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), European Space Agency (ESA), and AI company Marple have launched a new demonstrator project that aims to show the potential for remote satellite monitoring of organic cotton cultivation systems.

The project, to be carried out under ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme, will train artificial intelligence (AI) to use ESA satellite data to detect cotton fields across India and automatically classify them according to their cultivation standard. By integrating standardised yield metrics, this innovative approach will also enable GOTS to generate realistic estimates of organic cotton yields in specific areas.

Integrated with existing GOTS measures, this project will enable GOTS to further enhance the integrity of organic cotton by developing advanced risk assessment technology for organic certification and preventing fraud from the beginning of the supply chain. “It is an honor and very exciting to be a partner in this ESA Demonstration Project, and it is living up to our claim to be pioneers serving the sustainable textile sector to enable continuous improvement. Technologies like this will be a game changer regarding the integrity and promotion opportunities of organic cotton.” says Claudia Kersten, Managing Director of GOTS.

The project’s anticipated impact extends beyond identifying certified organic cotton fields. It is expected to also empower GOTS to recognize cotton fields that have not yet obtained organic certification but possess the potential for a seamless transition to organic cultivation, thanks to their utilisation of traditional and ecologically friendly farming practices. This would enable GOTS to bring a greater number of farmers – particularly those of a smaller size – into the certified organic sector and supply chains, creating new economic opportunities for small-scale farmers and their communities while also helping the textile sector to meet growing consumer demand for organic cotton. Guillaume Prigent, Business Development and Partnerships Officer at the European Space Agency, adds: “This project highlights how space solutions can have a positive impact on the world and is the kind of innovation that ESA supports through its Business Applications and Space Solutions programme.”

The project will run across the distinct cotton-growing regions in India, with the first results expected by the end of 2023.

India project builds on successful Uzbekistan feasibility pilot

The project is co-financed by GOTS and ESA, in collaboration with Marple GmbH, a German software development firm that developed the CoCuRA (Cotton Cultivation Remote Assessment) software with ESA BASS and successfully piloted it in a feasibility project in 2021 in Uzbekistan.

That venture showed how the trained AI was able to accurately differentiate cotton fields from other crops using only satellite images and sensor data, as well as whether the cotton fields were cultivated organically.

This spurred considerable interest from GOTS, which has committed to the development of technologies that can improve the integrity of the organic textile sector, especially cotton. Dr David Scherf, co-founder of Marple, said: “All our projects strive to leverage advanced technology for a positive impact on the environment and society. We are therefore delighted that our CoCuRA technology, which emerged from a moonshot research project, is being applied in a practical and impactful way. We are excited about the opportunity to work with the exceptional team at GOTS and further strengthen our successful partnership with ESA.”

Asio Technologies Delivers Navigation Solutions to US Customer

By
News Desk
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Asio Technologies Delivers Navigation Solutions to US Customer

Asio Technologies Delivers NavGuard Systems to US Customer

Asio Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of geospatial position systems and tactical defense solutions, has announced the successful delivery of dozens of additional NavGuard systems to a prominent US defense technology company, for integration into its drone platforms. This delivery marks another milestone in Asio Technologies’ longstanding relationship with the customer, following an extensive evaluation period that included testing the systems on their drones in diverse flight scenarios, both during the day and at night.

NavGuard is a jam-proof navigation solution that ensures uninterrupted operations from takeoff to landing for drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). By leveraging machine vision technology, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced optics, and sensor fusion capabilities, NavGuard enables accurate and autonomous GNSS- free navigation, even in environments where the GNSS signal is compromised, jammed, or simply unavailable.

With its real-time optical navigation system, NavGuard enables safe and sustainable 24/7 drone missions under complete GNSS blackout conditions. It offers a reliable and precise positioning solution, allowing drones to navigate with low latency and high accuracy throughout their missions. This capability is particularly crucial for tactical drone applications in defense, homeland security, and infrastructure security sectors, where payload capacity, flight time limitations, and continuous operation under all conditions are critical factors.

David Harel, CEO of Asio Technologies, expressed his gratitude for the continued trust and support from their US customer, stating, “We are delighted to successfully deliver dozens of additional NavGuard systems, further cementing our strong partnership with this esteemed US defense customer. NavGuard’s ability to provide accurate positioning in real-time, even in challenging GNSS blackout conditions, ensures operational freedom anytime and anywhere. We remain committed to delivering innovative solutions that continually meet and exceed the evolving needs of our valued customers.”

Lior Dvorachek, Sales and Marketing Director at Asio Technologies, added, “This delivery comes after an extensive evaluation period where our systems underwent rigorous testing in diverse flight scenarios. The confidence shown by our customers in choosing NavGuard as their preferred navigation solution is a testament to its proven reliability and effectiveness.”

Speedcast Deploys OneWeb’s Maritime LEO Service

By
News Desk
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Speedcast Deploys OneWeb’s Maritime LEO Service

Speedcast, a communications & IT services provider, and OneWeb, the global low Earth orbit (LEO) communications network, jointly announced today the launch of OneWeb’s maritime LEO connectivity service.

Following successful engineering trials, OneWeb’s maritime terminals have been installed on the RV Polarstern, in partnership with Reederei F. Laeisz and Speedcast, delivering the first fully managed service and support.

Speedcast customer Reederei F. Laeisz is a German shipping company with a diverse fleet of more than 30 vessels, with experience in conducting remote operations in the polar regions for more than 25 years.

The Research Vessel Polarstern, managed by Reederei F. Laeisz and operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), is a key player in Germany’s polar research and the designated resupply vessel for AWI’s Neumayer Station III, the base for German Antarctic Research. It has been in operation for more than 40 years in the Polar regions.

OneWeb’s maritime LEO connectivity service enables delivery of a high-speed, low-latency, globally consistent experience for customers, even in the most remote sea lanes and maritime communities.

In addition to the OneWeb LEO service, as part of a hybrid connectivity solution deployed on the Polarstern, Speedcast is also providing additional LEO-based and L-band services – integrated via Speedcast’s SIGMA network management platform for complete traffic prioritization.

The fully managed solution is deployed to offer the Polarstern’s crew, as well as the scientific expedition participants from around the world, high-throughput services for their operations in the North Sea, Arctic regions and all the way up to the North Pole.

In order to provide OneWeb’s low-latency broadband mobility service, Speedcast has deployed Intellian’s latest maritime user terminal, the OW70M. These exceptional terminals are some of the most network efficient in the OneWeb portfolio with the technology to deliver the highest bandwidth packages available to cruise, superyacht, energy, fishing and commercial shipping customers.

The OW70M’s additional heating module allows it to withstand extreme temperatures of up to -40oC, ideal for Polarstern’s Arctic expedition.

OneWeb and Speedcast signed a distribution partnership agreement last year, provisioning the addition of OneWeb’s enterprise-grade, high-speed LEO connectivity to Speedcast’s Unified Global Platform (UGP), which is one of the largest technology-agnostic networks in the world.

This integrates LEO as a connectivity pathway, joining GEO, MEO and 4G/5G for high-demand applications. Since then, successful customer trials have solidified the LEO service now offered for Speedcast’s maritime customers.

“We’re excited to partner with OneWeb on the first live deployment of its LEO maritime connectivity network for our customer, supporting the research efforts of AWI and international scientists aboard the RV Polarstern,” said Andre Eerland, Vice President, of Commercial Maritime at Speedcast. “This project represents an important step forward in a changing industry landscape, where customers now have more options than ever to ensure reliable and seamless connectivity while operating in the most remote places on earth. We’re proud to work with innovative partners, such as OneWeb and Intellian, to deliver critical connectivity solutions as customers continue to embrace the benefits of multi-path, multi-orbit technologies.”

“Fittingly, in the light of Nor-Shipping’s overarching theme of #PartnerShip, OneWeb is launching its LEO connectivity services at sea hand-in-hand with our industry partners, who have years of experience in developing, deploying and servicing certified, scalable and responsible connectivity solutions to the maritime industry,” said Carole Plessy, VP Maritime and Europe at OneWeb. “OneWeb is working collaboratively with the industry and connecting customers via established industry expert distribution partners such as Speedcast.”

OneWeb’s maritime service offers +100mbps more enterprise-grade connectivity for applications at sea. The solution’s Service Level Agreement (SLA) model offers customers added flexibility, underpinned by guaranteed service levels defined by straightforward CIR (Committed Information Rate) and MIR (Maximum Information Rate) package options.

Fixing the Asymmetry

By
Arup Dasgupta
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Fixing the Asymmetry

The fact that an action which should have ended in three weeks has stretched beyond a year, is an indication that when it comes to territorial conflicts, unfortunately, the brute force of war becomes the inescapable recourse to decide the outcome.

While the Ukraine-Russia conflict has grabbed headlines, there are other covert wars involving salami slicing and outright terrorism. Thus, all countries are forced to invest in assets to detect and thwart overt and covert moves to forcibly enforce asymmetric territorial claims. The desire for global domination also leads to conflicts through proxies.

In this situation, a peaceful country like India has no choice but to commit limited resources to building up a defensive deterrence mechanism encompassing land, sea, air, and now space. Till recently, India eschewed joining military alliances but current events have led it to join the Quad to protect its interests in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and along the Western, Northern and North-eastern land borders.

What strength does India bring to the Quad?

The US has 200 to 300 satellites in orbit for supporting military operations globally. China, the main concern of the Quad, has a similar number. India has ten to fifteen satellites dedicated for military use. It also uses civilian satellite resources as well which may add another five to ten satellites. India is very weak in ELINT and SIGINT, having launched only two experimental satellites.

While the US and China have thriving industries that are able to manufacture and deploy these resources on a continuous basis, India is solely dependent on ISRO and its supporting industries.

The US has a dedicated military organization, the Space Force, While China has the PLA Strategic Support Force. In contrast, the Indian Defense Space Agency and the Defense Space Research Agency were set up in late 2019, but still continue to be works-in-progress.

While there is a very good understanding of what the needs are for establishing a space-based defense system, the problem lies in the lack of the necessary infrastructure to design, build and deploy the components of the system.

The missile systems are manufactured by Bharat Dynamics, but when it comes to satellites, the DSA looks to ISRO which does not have a military mandate. It is imperative that with the New Space Policy regime, the private industry needs to get into the act and become a major supplier to the military services.

Skydio Secures BVLOS Approval for Remote Drone Operations In Japan

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News Desk
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Skydio Secures BVLOS Approval for Remote Drone Operations In Japan

Skydio Secures BVLOS Approval for Remote Drone Operations In Japan

Skydio, the U.S. drone manufacturer, announced the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) has granted Skydio an unprecedented, nationwide approval to remotely fly drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Representing one of the most advanced regulatory approvals in the world, the approval enables streamlined BVLOS operations using Skydio Dock and Remote Ops. Whether a customer is monitoring complex infrastructure, inspecting a security perimeter, or assessing a site following a natural disaster — Skydio’s AI and autonomous technology allows drones to safely fly missions in close proximity to structures in a way that would be difficult or impossible with manual drones, even when operated remotely without a pilot on-site.

Under the JCAB approval, there is no requirement to use additional crew members (such as visual observers) or technology to detect crewed aircraft, eliminating some of the greatest challenges faced by drone operators. The approval is not location or time specific; it applies across Japan, with limited exceptions. Notification of the flight area is required prior to takeoff using JCAB’s web portal. Operators can now remotely inspect critical infrastructure—buildings, roads, power plants and the scenes of natural disasters—safely and quickly without placing people at risk.

“This waiver represents a landmark moment for the drone industry, and is a reflection of regulators responding to the advances in AI and autonomy that are already defining the next chapter in drones and delivering enormous value for organizations,” said Adam Bry, CEO at Skydio. “With Skydio Dock and Remote Ops, organizations gain access to real-time data to make decisions that keep their workers safe, make their operations more efficient, and help their communities thrive. Autonomous remote drone operations enable inspections of hard-to-reach and dangerous areas from the safety of an office.”

The approval demonstrates Skydio’s commitment to supporting our customers, providing best-in-class products that unlock new use cases coupled with unique regulatory approvals driving unprecedented levels of value.

MatrixSpace Secures $10M Series A Funding

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News Desk
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MatrixSpace Secures $10M Series A Funding

MatrixSpace Secures $10M Series A Funding

MatrixSpace, a provider of AI collaborative sensing solutions, announces $10M raised in Series A funding. This brings the company’s total funding to $20M since its first year of operation in 2020 and will enable it to accelerate technology advancements, customer adoption, and revenue growth.

The round was led by the Raptor Group, a venture and private investment fund with a strong track record in technology, enterprise, and sports companies. Intel Capital also participated, as well as a prominent set of technology executives.

MatrixSpace is revolutionizing radar technology with its AI-powered system that digitizes the outdoors, extending the range of human senses over long distances to a degree previously unavailable. Customer applications include critical infrastructure security, general aviation and transportation, multiple defense applications, and robotics. The recently announced MatrixSpace Radar is an example of how the company is bringing AI sensing to markets that have previously been unable to afford such advanced solutions for longer-distance applications.

Rob Broggi, Partner at Raptor Group, will join the MatrixSpace Board of Directors. He is a seasoned advisor and operating executive with over 30 years of experience advising and accelerating high-growth companies in the technology and business services sectors.

Rob Broggi, Partner at The Raptor Group, “The MatrixSpace vision in AI Collaborative Sensing will completely change the way that people extend their senses in outdoor environments, creating safer and far more productive spaces on the ground or in the air. This helps human safety in any corner of the world and will change business models across large industries. We’re happy to help them accelerate into their growth stage.”

SENAV Consortium Improves AI robots in Exploration Missions

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News Desk
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SENAV Consortium Improves AI robots in Exploration Missions

TTTech is a partner in the SENAV(Smart Space Exploration Navigation) project, in charge of hardware system integration. TTTech’s Deterministic Networking technology will be a critical part of the small space platform supporting AI-based autonomous robotic applications.

The space science and exploration technologies project is funded by Horizon Europe. It aims to improve the safety and performance of landers, drones, and robot control systems for AI-based autonomous space exploration.

Supported by advanced algorithms, artificial intelligence, and specialized hardware and software solutions, smart robots must safely land and navigate in harsh environments like the surface of the Moon or Mars.

It is the goal of the SENAV project to enhance these robots further by developing and testing a highly reliable, safety-critical hardware/software platform for demanding space robotic applications.

Within the project, the versatility and utility of the platform will be demonstrated in two applications: vision-based crater navigation, and navigation based on SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping).

“TTTech is proud to represent Austria’s space sector as part of this important European project,” says Werner Köstler, Executive Board Member for Aerospace at TTTech. “Adapting our technology for space landers, drones, and robots is a crucial step to expand our traction in the rapidly-growing space market.”

The SENAV consortium met in Vienna to discuss technical specifications

The SENAV consortium unites four European organizations: project coordinator iTUBS, an SME from Germany, M2M Solutions, an SME from Slovakia, TTTech, an experienced industrial partner, as well as the renowned research centre DLR from Germany.

In a meeting that took place in Vienna from June 1-2, 2023, the partners reviewed the requirements to proceed with the implementation.

A crater navigation (CNav) framework developed by the DLR will be taken to the next level, enabling fully autonomous navigation around cratered bodies (e.g. the Moon), even if contact with Earth is lost.

CNav allows precision absolute navigation for orbiters and landers which poses significant challenges to computational performance. Therefore, project coordinator iTUBS will accelerate related software routines using a custom space-borne computer.

Similarly, M2M Solutions will develop an AI-based application for autonomous navigation to be used by space drones and rovers that move on or above the surface of a celestial body.

A miniaturized high-performance network switch by TTTech Aerospace will be a critical component in the overall small space platform supporting AI-based autonomous robotic applications.

BIRD Aerosystems Unveils Maritime Pollution Detection Solution

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News Desk
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BIRD Aerosystems Unveils Maritime Pollution Detection Solution

BIRD Aerosystems Unveils Maritime Pollution Detection Solution

BIRD Aerosystems, a global provider of innovative defense technology and solutions that protect the air, sea, and land fleets of governments and related agencies, announced the launch of its new ASIO solution, the ASIO Environmental Monitoring System.

In response to the critical challenge of maritime pollution detection and the imperative to prevent costly and ecologically devastating oil spills, BIRD Aerosystems introduces this new innovative solution, based on the company’s renowned ASIO task force. The ASIO Environmental Monitoring System Integrates Electro-Optical Payload and Multi-Mode Radars with a new advanced sensor named SEA EYE.

With its patented next-generation technology and AI capabilities, the SEA EYE enables real-time spectral detection and classification of surface and even submerged oil and organics. Installed on the ASIO airborne platform, it offers real-time oil pattern recognition and classification, accurately predicting the oil’s spread. The SEA EYE’s prediction tool also empowers users to anticipate the oil’s spread, enabling swift and efficient responses to minimize their impact on the environment and the economy and mitigate potentially catastrophic consequences.

Once an oil spill has been detected, the up-to-date environmental awareness picture is shared using real-time communication to a dedicated control center, to manage the response to the spill. The cleanup action progress is also being addressed and continuously monitored by the SEA EYE, making it possible for decision-makers to adjust the response efforts as needed and ensure that the spill is contained and cleaned up as effectively as possible, determining the most appropriate response measures.

Ronen Factor, Co-CEO and Founder at BIRD Aerosystems: “ASIO Environmental Monitoring System effectively detects and mitigates oil spills’ costs and ecological impact. Using the advanced SEA EYE sensor, it enables customers to effectively detect and immediately reduce the direct and indirect damage costs of oil spills, while significantly minimizing the total impact on the environment and economics.

Arturo to Bring Catastrophe Response Capabilities in US

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News Desk
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Arturo to Bring Catastrophe Response Capabilities in US

Arturo, the property intelligence company that delivers portfolio-wide underwriting, risk, and claims insights, announced a global expansion of its catastrophe response capabilities to the United States insurance market.

Over the past few years, Arturo has proven the value in bridging disparate data sets to derive impactful property insights, playing a crucial role in providing insurtech solutions in Australia, where climate change-induced extreme weather events have cost each Australian household $888 on average over the past ten years.

In the 2021-2022 year, that cost rose to $1,532, and that figure is expected to jump to $2,500 by 2050 due to the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather.

By working strategically with companies in the region, such as ICEYE, Vexcel Imaging, and the Early Warning Network (EWN), Arturo leveraged AI to build a solution to contend with these events before, during, and after they occur.

Traditional event response relies on reactive tactics, waiting until after severe weather clears to jump into action. To streamline claims, Arturo instead takes a proactive approach. Arturo’s AI-powered models integrate all past, present, and future-modeled insights and environmental impacts needed for accurate and quick claims management.

Not only can carriers warn policyholders in advance of potential impact and recommend mitigative actions, but carriers can also assess the event in real time, helping to ensure adjusters are deployed safely and strategically.

“Australia is a bellwether for the U.S. insurance industry,” said Arturo CEO Greg Oslan. “The climate, which is often burdened by natural disasters and extreme weather, combined with the country’s regulatory landscape, creates a unique set of challenges for insurance carriers. These obstacles have prompted them to adopt technology more rapidly, pushing the technology to innovate and constantly redefine the industry’s future and what the norm is for policyholder experiences. Arturo has been a key part of that process and understands how to translate this success to the U.S. market.”

This announcement further solidifies Arturo’s position as the leading portfolio intelligence provider across the entire insurance lifecycle. In conjunction with the claims solution unveiled at PLRB, this capability will unite events and their impact on the property to create true insights for carriers when they need them most.

Arturo’s holistic approach allows the insurtech to partner with insurers through every step of the process, helping them to significantly reduce costs, better respond to policyholders and predict impact across portfolios.