Tim Marshall’s latest book is titled ‘The Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space will Change Our World’. This comes at a crucial time when the world is witnessing increased use of satellite data, geospatial insights, real-time asset monitoring, and OSINT( open source intel) in conflicts.
With countries vying to raise space forces and deliberating upon military-space doctrines, space is not just the ‘final frontier’, but the ultimate determinant and arbiter of even terrestrial clashes and conflicts.
No country wants to be left behind in this race, and the confluence of geospatial intelligence and space will be a key matrix in defense in the coming years.
In this New Space Races or ‘races’, a lot of countries are vastly improving their geospatial capabilities and coverage of their navigational systems to prevent enemy jamming or denial of service.
Indo-Pacific Security
Gone are the days when GeoInt used to be a technical argot reserved for only defense personnel and combat veterans. With the exponential increase in its utility since the Ukraine conflict and the changing face of intelligence gathering, geospatial intelligence and situational awareness gets crucial for everyone.
It is embedded at the core of space, and together they have become key to envisioning safe and secure maritime navigation as well as advancing sustainability in South Asia and beyond.
What the term Indo-Pacific connotes, and for whom, is still not fully settled.
Even among alliance blocks, there are some policy divergences. However, what’s undoubtable is that with crucial shipping lanes and chokepoints such as the Strait of Malacca, and a large share of the world’s trade, commerce, as well as demography, it is a key strategic region.
This draws the need for an active consensus on ramping up technical collaboration, building mutually beneficial cooperation, nurturing value-based alliances, and frequent knowledge sharing to contain any nefarious design.
Changing Scenario
The increasing convergence of motley complexities and the nature of lightning-fast data and information exchange multiplies risks across domains. This calls for the need to design reliable PNT and fool-proof designing anti-jamming navigation systems.
While the world has recognized the importance of decoupling supply chains, localization, near-shoring, avoiding just-in-time inventories – all of which are extremely crucial for any war-footing preparation – there’s a need for creating more awareness about geospatial intelligence and how to make best use of it.
In the coming age of warfare, which would be hybrid, networked, and increasingly reliant on agile info exchange and deployment of advanced sensors and tech, it is crucial to stay vigilant and at the cutting edge of tech advances.
Ordnance Survey (OS) is working with Natural England and Durham University to help produce a detailed carbon model for Thorne and Hatfield Moors, part of Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve in the North of England.
The project will support the development of an accurate and detailed peat map of Thorne and Hatfield Moors, which can be used to monitor peatland health and help inform and target future restoration activity on the site.
OS’s technical experts have been using geospatial data and Earth observation (EO) data to analyse the current condition of peatland. This baselining technique could be rolled out nationwide to facilitate access to investment for large-scale peatland restoration projects from carbon markets.
Using OS data, experts will accurately record different types of vegetation species, provide reporting on vegetation cover and health, monitor greenhouse gas emission types and establish the water table. The data will be presented via the OS VeriEarth platform, supported by a dashboard which will enable Natural England to assess site condition and monitor changes across a large site area with a high degree of accuracy.
This enables a detailed carbon baseline to be established and accurately monitored which, could enable effective verification for a highly sophisticated approach for carbon accounting.
The project team want to demonstrate how this technology can be used to support a highly accurate assessment of the beneficial impact of peatland restoration on carbon emissions across a large site, and to assess the potential for validation of restoration work under the Peatland Code. The aim is both to meet the verification and monitoring requirements of the Code and to satisfy those carbon investors who are seeking the highest standards of project assurance.
Peatlands are the largest natural carbon store on land, storing more carbon than is currently in the global atmosphere and have a net cooling effect on climate change. Natural England aims to prevent further loss of peatland habitats, re-wetting peatland areas and returning them to their natural state which could make a significant contribution to achieving targets on reducing carbon emissions and reaching Net Zero by 2050, as well as improving water quality, reduce flood risk and support biodiversity.
Donna Lyndsay, Sustainability Lead, Ordnance Survey said: “We need to protect our peatlands so they are healthy and rich in wildlife. Using geospatial data and our technical expertise we can provide valuable insights and evidence to ensure we are preserving carbon sinks and optimising site management.
“This type of project highlights the need for viable solutions to combat the risks of climate change and demonstrate how accurate geospatial data can provide credibility in nature-based restoration for investment, ensuring that organisations and landowners are effectively preserving and restoring our peatlands.”
Neil Pike, Manager in Natural England’s Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire team said; “Monitoring a site like Hatfield Moor presents some unique challenges, owing to its very large area and inaccessibility of parts of the site during wetter periods. The model has the potential to provide a means for Natural England to transform how we monitor site condition and we are interested in testing how the outputs from this model can enable us to target our restoration activities on Hatfield Moor for maximum benefit.”
Professor Fred Worrall, peatlands expert, University of Durham said: “The capacity of peatlands to provide nature-based solutions to meeting our net zero targets is significant. In Humberhead, Peatlands alone the capacity is enough for the whole of the City of Doncaster to become net zero for the next 30 years. To make these nature-based solutions possible we need ways to assess capacity, target the appropriate management, and assure that greenhouse gas savings have been made – the tools developed in this partnership enable that to happen”.
Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation (Toshiba Digital Solutions) and Classiq Technologies Ltd. (Classiq) signed a technology collaboration agreement in gate-based quantum computing.
Quantum computers are next-generation technologies that have the potential to efficiently solve problems that conventional computers could not solve or take a very long time to solve based on the principles of quantum mechanics.
Quantum computers can be broadly classified into two types which are the Ising machine type and the gate-based universal computer. While the Ising machine is specialized in solving combinatorial optimization problems, the gate-based is intended for general-purpose applications.
Although the gate-based is still in the development stage, it is expected to be applied to various fields such as AI (machine learning), optimization and simulation in the future. However, software development in gate-based quantum computing requires advanced expertise in quantum circuit design.
Toshiba Digital Solutions is offering quantum technologies such as Quantum Key Distribution and SQBMTM which is a quantum-inspired optimization solution based on the Simulated Bifurcation Machine on conventional computers.
Furthermore, Toshiba Digital Solutions has a wide variety of AI technologies including Toshiba analytics AI “SATLYSTM” and development achievements and is applying them to industrial fields.
Classiq delivers a user-friendly gate-based quantum computing software platform*4 that enables both beginner and expert designers to rapidly generate, analyze, and execute quantum circuits.
In the agreed technology collaboration, utilizing the know-how cultivated in the technological development of quantum and AI, Toshiba Digital Solutions will conduct technical evaluations of quantum AI*5, etc. by using the Classiq platform. And based on the results, Toshiba Digital Solutions will explore various use cases that the gate-based quantum computing will enable to solve in the field of energy, social infrastructure, smart manufacturing, carbon neutrality, and circular economy, etc. where Toshiba Group has many years of experience. Classiq will support TDSL’s use case exploration and optimize the platform for these industrial use cases.
Based on this collaboration, Toshiba Digital Solutions and Classiq will work together to create new value by leveraging gate-based quantum computing for industrial customers across the businesses they serve.
Shunsuke Okada, President and CEO of Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation said, “We are excited to have the opportunity of technology collaboration with Classiq. We will create new value through QX (Quantum Transformation) together by combining Classiq platform and Toshiba Group’s quantum technology, AI, and IT knowledge cultivated over many years.”
Nir Minerbi, Classiq CEO said, “We’re excited to collaborate with Toshiba Digital Solutions, a global technology leader. Classiq’s state-of-the-art quantum software platform combined with Toshiba Digital Solution’s deep AI, IT knowledge and advanced technological expertise will be leveraged to explore and architect sophisticated quantum algorithms enabling an industrial Quantum Transformation (QX).”
Singapore has pledged $10m, which will be used for capacity-building programmes with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition to build global digital capabilities in support of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
This is in line with the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. With the addition from Singapore, ITU has received 700 pledges amounting to US$30b.
According to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the funding it committed will be used to provide capacity-building programmes to 2400 regional and global officials over four years.
IMDA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, and the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore will spearhead the programmes.
IMDA, through its Digital Forum of Small States (FOSS)2 initiatives, will help develop the technical capabilities of small states for a sustainable and inclusive digital future.
Mercedes‑Benz announced that its DRIVE PILOT system for SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving received certification from California state authorities. Mercedes-Benz is the first car manufacturer with authorization to introduce SAE Level 3 system in a standard-production vehicle for use on public freeways in the most populous state in the US.
DRIVE PILOT will be available in the U.S. market as an option for the model year 2024 Mercedes‑Benz S-Class and EQS Sedan models, with the first cars delivered to customers in late 2023. The state of Nevada already confirmed the compliance of the system with state regulations in January 2023, and Mercedes‑Benz has the ambition to further expand availability of this system to additional markets in the future.
When the driver activates DRIVE PILOT, the system controls the speed and distance, and effortlessly guides the vehicle within its lane. The route profile, events occurring on the route and traffic signs are correspondingly taken into consideration. The system also reacts to unexpected traffic situations and handles them independently through evasive maneuvers within the lane or by braking maneuvers for example.
If the driver fails to take back control even after increasingly urgent prompting and expiration of the takeover time (e.g., due to a severe health problem), the system brakes the vehicle to a standstill in a controlled manner while engaging the hazard warning lights. Once the vehicle has come to a standstill, the Mercedes‑Benz emergency call system is activated and the doors are unlocked to ensure the vehicle is accessible for first responders.
Mercedes-Benz is focusing on SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving with the ultimate goal of driving at speeds of up to 80 mph (130 km/h) in its final iteration. Additional redundancy in sensing modalities will ensure that the system meets the highest Mercedes-Benz safety standards. To achieve this goal, the company has partnered with NVIDIA and Luminar.
In the 19th century, Beijing refused becoming a dumping ground for a commodity from British India whose domestic consumption was outlawed, but export to China incentivized. This led to the Opium Wars between British Empire and the Qing Dynasty. Since then, narcotics have played a key role in abetting conflicts.
It has engendered civic and political dysfunction, leading to massive corruption, criminality, and facilitating a shadow economy rigged in the favor of a few shady operators.
War-ravaged Afghanistan produces more than 80% of the world’s opium and heroin, synthetic opiate byproduct made in ramshackle labs. Most of these find a way to the western markets, either via Iran and Turkey, or through the partially porous border with Pakistan.
Narcotics, combined with the failure of institution building, fragmented political authority, gaping trust deficit, warlord decentralization, myopia of international aid groups, and lack of a consensus, has led to the tragedy of Afghanistan — it ranks among the world’s poorest and most underdeveloped countries.
Conflicts & Drugs
Whether insurgencies and prolonged chaos and instability fuel narcotics, or the obverse, has been a chicken-and-egg question. Though conventional wisdom as well as scrupulous on-ground reportage and analysis suggests that narcotics is the axis around which the political economy of many of these countries revolve.
As Gretchen Peters mentions in ‘Seeds of Terror: How Heroin is Bankrolling the Taliban and Al Qaida’, a revealing book on the role of drugs in terrorism and conflicts, Afghanistan’s share of earnings from opium and heroin has been way more than Colombia.
A lot of what the Taliban did was analogous to the glitzy transnational cartels of Medellin and Cali who made it to the Forbes list. It also bore resemblance to the ultra-leftist insurgent groups such as FARC and ELA whose role varied from supply managers to kingpins in areas under their control
In 2009, she brought to global attention the un-ironical ‘Farcification of Taliban’. Now with the Taliban at helm of the regime in Kabul, the current situation is hard to predict.
Helmand Imagery
With the help of precise geospatial analytics and actionable data, we can get near-real-time picture of the fields, as well as monitor supply lines. While tracking has got easier, the overall dynamics of this murky game remain unchanged.
Recent satellite imagery by Alcis, which provides geospatial information services for better understanding of conflict environments, shows 90% dip in opium cultivation in Helmand( one of the key regions of cultivation). After a Taliban imposed ban last year, it is an interesting development to watch out.
“Through the pioneering use of satellite imagery and machine learning, we are identifying the different winter crops that were grown this year and in recent years. The results allow us to generate maps of winter crop cultivation at a level of precision and accuracy that has never been done before across Afghanistan”, says Richard Brittan, Managing Director, Alcis.
New Game plan?
While on the surface it may seem that Taliban is leading its own ‘War on Drugs’, the reality is more complex.
Taliban has a complex and longstanding relationship with opium, exploiting it as a leverage, and dipping into it as a vital cash source to regroup and fund itself during the long insurgency and internecine warfare post 2001.
In the mid-90s, after occupying the vacuum left by rapacious warlords, it began formalizing tariff collection at the highways and border roads, protecting traffickers from roving bandit gangs.
At the same time, it gave some sort of relief to the destitute sharecroppers, trapped in a vicious debt cycle, and fearful of crops being destroyed by government or military. In the process, it sought to cultivate a reputation as ‘village robin hoods’, while entrenching itself as a key conduit in the narco traffic.
The last pages of ‘Return of the King’ by William Dalrymple, which focusses on the Anglo-Afghan wars, and can be read as an elegy to the ‘graveyard of empires’, depict farmers riled up by US-NATO drone attacks destroying their opium fields, and vowing to inflict a repeat of Soviet retreat on the western alliance.
From grassroots to the top echelons, all the stakeholders in the drug economy had a mutually beneficial, if not perfectly cordial, relationship with the Taliban.
Demand & Supply
Opium is a sturdy, drought-resistant crop that can be stockpiled without any risk of rotting. In this case, what matters more than the area under cultivation, is the tons stashed in secret warehouses.
Gretchen Peters, the journalist and long-time Afghanistan observer cited above calls the previous opium ban by the Taliban in 2000, amid mounting international protests and sanctions, akin to an ‘insider scam’. It is said that in the impoverished and cash-strapped hinterlands of Afghanistan, opium was, till recently, a mode of barter that could fetch anything from a TV, motorcycle, to a Kalashnikov.
Following the 2000 ban, the demand rose and the prices shot. Just like any other astute market speculator, Taliban dipped into its stockpiles, engaging in ‘buying low, and selling high’ tactics, earning a massive windfall. The roots of opium in Afghanistan are so deep that a former Afghan president’s brother was said to be deeply implicated in narcotics trade few years back.
Does the Taliban have something similar in mind this time as well, or with all trappings of state power under control, it genuinely wants to wean off the narco-led monoculture to make others fall in line ( warlords whose fealty to Kabul is absolutely transactional)? All of it remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, analysts from Alcis say that there won’t be any short-term opium/heroin supply reduction. However, if the decrease in cultivation continues next year as well, there could be a long term impact.
The construction industry is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in innovative solutions in technology. The BIM integration with GIS in the operation and maintenance stages is paving the way towards advancement in digital twin is the most transformative development of infrastructure development.
Combining geospatial technology in construction can revolutionize the way projects are planned, designed, and executed. In line with this innovative approach, the upcoming Geosmart Infrastructure Conference 2023 aims to promote Construction 4.0: Building a Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure. Set to take place on the 22nd and 23rd August at Vivanta, Dwarka, Delhi, and the conference promises to be a hub of knowledge exchange and networking opportunities.
The GeoSmart Infrastructure conference brings together leaders from across the country to discuss cutting-edge technologies, share digital use cases for designing, building, and maintaining world-class transport infrastructure assets, and address the nation’s planning needs. Through insightful keynotes, and engaging panel discussions, the conference offers a platform for participants to network, learn, and exchange ideas and solutions to common challenges in infrastructure development.
The conference aims to create a roadmap for leveraging the strengths and identifying opportunities in integrated geospatial technology, resulting in better decision-making and more data-driven outcomes.
The geospatial technology in construction enhancing Collaboration
GIS and BIM integration are inherently complementary. Geospatial Technology applications utilizes to analyse and visualize spatial data, providing valuable insights into the surrounding environment. On the other hand, BIM and BIM integration offers a 3D digital representation of the entire construction project, including structural components, systems, and infrastructure. When integrated, these technologies improve collaboration & coordination, streamline workflows, enhance decision-making processes along with faster plan approval and permits and waste management.
Improved Planning and Design
By harnessing Geospatial Technology and BIM, construction professionals can efficiently analyse topographical data, survey information, and environmental factors. This enables precise site selection, optimized building placement, and enhanced understanding of potential challenges. Through this collaborative approach, project teams can identify and resolve design conflicts at an early stage, reducing costly rework and delays. With the adoption of these digital technology have led to success of major projects like: Delhi Metro Phase IV, Bangalore international Airport limited, Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC), and Convention Centre Project are some of the prolific projects.
Efficient Resource Management
Geospatial Technology and BIM enable accurate quantity take-offs, facilitating better resource management. By linking BIM models with geospatial data, construction professionals can visualize the spatial distribution of resources, such as materials and equipment. This helps optimize logistics, minimize waste, and improve project scheduling.
Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure
The overarching theme of the Geosmart Infrastructure Conference 2023, “Construction 4.0: Building a Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure,” aligns perfectly with the collaboration between Geospatial Technology and BIM. By incorporating these tools into construction practices, stakeholders can make informed decisions that prioritize sustainability, resilience, and long-term durability. The conference will provide a platform to discuss and showcase innovative projects that leverage this collaboration, inspiring industry professionals to adopt these transformative technologies.
Geospatial Technology and BIM form a powerful partnership that revolutionizes the construction industry in India. By leveraging their combined capabilities, stakeholders can streamline workflows, improve planning and design, optimize resource management, and build resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
The Attendees at the Geosmart Infrastructure Conference 2023 in Dwarka, Delhi, can look forward to insightful sessions, engaging discussions, and valuable connections that will propel the industry toward Construction 4.0. Join us at the conference to witness first-hand the immense potential of Geospatial Technology and BIM in shaping the future of construction.
PickNik Robotics, a provider of advanced robotic solutions, has secured two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts with NASA. These contracts highlight PickNik Robotics’ continued expertise in developing technologies for autonomous robotic manipulation, utilization, and maintenance, as well as integrated mission planning and execution for space operations.
The first SBIR award focuses on a project titled “A Framework for Failure Management and Recovery for Remote Autonomous Task Planning and Execution.” With NASA’s increasing need for highly autonomous robotic systems to maintain critical spaceflight hardware, PickNik Robotics is pioneering a novel fault detection and reporting system. This system will empower remote operators to diagnose and resolve failures in real-time, allowing them to adjust task specifications and guide the in situ robot to recover and complete the objective.
By developing comprehensive software tools and user interfaces, PickNik Robotics aims to enhance the capabilities of NASA’s robotic endeavors, including the Artemis program and other projects such as Dexterous Robotics Lab, Robonaut, SPHERES, Astrobee, and OSAM servicing missions. Furthermore, the versatility of this system extends beyond NASA, presenting potential applications in commercial space flight, defense, and other terrestrial industries.
The second SBIR award centers around the project “Task and Motion Planning for Space Operations, with Human-Assisted Recovery.” As space operations increasingly rely on Persistent Assets, which demand repeated visits and regular maintenance, the need for autonomous systems becomes paramount.
PickNik Robotics proposes integrating Task and Motion Planning into its MoveIt Studio product, allowing remote operators to provide high-level task specifications while the autonomous system generates and executes action sequences to meet those specifications. To address unforeseen errors, a mechanism for autonomous failure identification and remote operator intervention will be implemented. This system not only enhances the autonomy capabilities of robotic systems in space but also reduces the cognitive load on remote operators by elevating their role in human-machine teams to higher-level goal specifications and task monitoring.
The potential NASA applications span zero-gravity systems, extraplanetary surface systems, habitats, laboratories, construction sites, and more. Outside of NASA, this innovation holds promise for logistics, manufacturing, home service, hospitality, public safety, and asset inspection industries.
Suchi Srinivasan, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Founded in 1963, headquartered in Massachusetts, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), is one of the world’s three largest consulting firms. Recently, BCG announced a partnership with Intel to enable GenerativeAI (GenAI) solutions for enterprise clients.
“With Intel we are bringing fully custom and proprietary generative AI solutions to enterprise clients across industries while keeping private data in isolation and their trusted environments,” says Suchi Srinivasan, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in an interaction with Geospatial World.
Tell us about the enterprise Generative AI. How is it going to help the enterprises? And how is it different from other solutions?
Traditional AI has been used for some time now to solve deterministic problems such as optimization of fixed-size datasets (e.g. price prediction, promotion optimization, etc.). However, GenrativeAI is a new type of AI where the algorithms are based on neural networks with many layers and therefore have capabilities of human-like reasoning, summarization, and generation. These algorithms can take in vast quantities of structured and unstructured data, of different types (text, images, voice, video, etc.) and “learn” patterns. This means that after a period of training, they can uncover patterns in the data and do functions like to answering questions, summarizing documents and discovering insights. In this way, it doesn’t replace traditional AI but rather complements it.
Enterprises across all industries have many use cases where there are workflows which will benefit from these features. For example, all enterprises sit on vast amounts of data, often siloed that requires search and retrieve by knowledge workers and then further processing to arrive at insights. Common corporate functions include marketing insights generation, strategic planning, legal documents precedent search, etc. Applying Generative AI to these data stores will unlock productivity benefits across a vast variety of these workflows.
Secondly, there are more advanced use cases that can unlock not only productivity benefits but can be quite disruptive to entire value chains and upend existing business models. For example, the entire process of personalizing cosmetics to each individual customer (“AI-driven beauty assistant”) now becomes very affordable while providing a realistic and pleasant experience for the customer.
This is different than other solutions in that the way to access this technology is through a natural language interface – via English or other languages. This democratizes access to technology and lets many more people use it to derive immediate benefits without further training.
GenAI has the potential to transform the entire industry, still, enterprises are afraid to adopt it. What according to you is scaring them from adopting it?
There are some features of this technology which are giving enterprises pause. Since Generative AI is probabilistic, it often “hallucinates”. i.e., confidently presents reasoning, data and answers that are patently false and made up. Secondly, many of the large public domain models (like GPT4) have trained on the entirety of Internet data. This means they reflect all the biases and toxicity of raw internet data. Data lineage and copyrights present a problematic issue – as legal precedents have not been established. All of these are giving enterprises pause in large-scale adoption.
How BCG and Intel collaboration is going to address the data privacy and data security issues?
Together, we are bringing fully custom and proprietary generative AI solutions to enterprise clients across industries, while keeping private data in isolation and their trusted environments. The entire solution is designed to be deployed entirely inside the customer’s security perimeter. No part of the data flow leaves the customers’ security perimeter. The strong isolation to simplify and streamline security for GenerativeAI leaves the customer in full control of (a) the discovered data b) the resulting model and c) the ongoing usage of the model.
What is responsible AI (RAI)?
Responsible AI is the process of developing and operating artificial intelligence systems that align with organizational purpose and ethical values, achieving transformative business impact. By implementing RAI strategically, companies can resolve complex ethical questions around AI deployments and investments, accelerate innovation, and realize increased value from AI itself. Responsible AI gives leaders the ability to properly manage this powerful emerging technology.
In an exclusive interview with Geospatial World, IN-SPACe chairman Dr. Pawan Goenka talks about the role of private sector in space, how IN-SPACe is facilitating it, and the roadmap for future.
Dr. Pawan Goenka earned his B. Tech. from IIT Kanpur and Ph.D. from Cornell University, USA. He is a graduate of Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School. His professional experience includes working at General Motors R&D Centre, Detroit, USA for 14 years and at Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) Ltd. for 28 years. At Mahindra, he led the development of the Scorpio SUV and built a strong R&D infrastructure and a robust product portfolio.
He retired from M&M as MD & CEO on April 1, 2021. Dr. Goenka is currently also the chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT Madras. He is also the chairperson of the Steering Committee for Advancing Local value-add and Employment (SCALE), an initiative under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
IN-SPACe was created with the predominant objective of encouraging the private sector’s participation in space. Apart from the launch of a private satellite around six months back, what other milestones have been achieved by IN-SPACe?
IN-SPACe is one of the rungs of the ladder in the Space ecosystem. ISRO, government and private companies being the other rungs of the ladder. IN-SPACe is working as a facilitator for the Start-ups to enter the space sector. We are facilitating that process by providing help wherever it is needed. Nothing of such kind existed before.
The opening of ISRO to support private sector is another big development. Whether this opening is for providing facility, infrastructure, manpower, resources, or expertise. All these are now readily available.
The most important thing which has happened in the last two years is the belief in private industries that the government is serious about establishing private sector’s presence in the space sector. This is now established. There is always non-believer when you start something new, which is not the case now.
The opening of ISRO to support private sector is another big development. Whether this opening is for providing facility, infrastructure, manpower, resources, or expertise. All these are now readily available to private sector.
Investors’ confidence comes from seeing all these developments. It shows government’s intention of walking along with the private players in space sector. That is the reason that private players are coming forward to invest in Space sector.
What are some of the major changes that have happened over the years with sustained private sector participation in space?
IN-SPACe is doing the work of a regulator, whereby the body is authorizing the private sectors for the launch of satellites.
Private sectors are not aware of the nuances of the success in Space sector. Imparting such knowledge to them is an important part of this whole initiative. ISRO has its own internal guidelines for the launch, which we follow for private launches. We take the expertise of current and retired ISRO members for these launches.
We have finalized the price support mechanism so that all the things that we talk about becomes affordable to the private sector.
One of the important things happening right now is the preparation for the new FDI policy in Space sector which is till now is very restrictive. Just like Defence sector, we want to open-up Space. It has gone through multiple reviews and many layers of approval already. The new space policy is likely to come out anytime.
Due to a relatively small domestic space market, most Indian private sector companies look overseas. What needs to be done to expand the indigenous base, luring private companies here?
A particular sector can grow only when there is a demand, which can either be domestic or overseas. You must look at demand and the domestic demand at present is not small, but almost non-existent.
It is non-existent because we have not been able to leverage the Space sector. Once we start creating downstream applications. Demand will come for downstream applications, which will drive the demand for upstream applications.
So, the whole data acquisition, dissemination and sharing will start happening in a much bigger way than what it is today once we have apps. Right now, these apps are used only by government departments. Once it goes to the public, the pool will become bigger and the demand will come.
Is it the case that return is not lucrative for upstream manufacturers?
We need to encourage private sector in upstream side for producing various apps. Those apps must be taken to the masses, who in turn must be willing to pay for it. There should be a drive to create market for such apps, and then those apps should be monetized. Nothing in this world comes free.
We need to create awareness in end-users about the benefit of those applications. We all know about the Marine App which tells us which part of the sea has the maximum catch, but how many fishermen are using that technology? Users will have to be educated and then asked to pay. We must convert pull to push.
Space is one area which every country wants to keep protected. A company from a country A will not be easily allowed to go to a country B. We need to create the right value equation for this. All these role IN-SPACe will play.
Same is the case with agricultural sector or laying out of highway in construction industry. Take the example of gatishakti. If you apply space data to plan construction of highways, you can save the construction cost and fuel consumption of 200 km between Delhi and Mumbai.
Space application can make such things happen, but we need to bring awareness about it. This is a journey on which we are embarking upon now. We need to open up ISRO, whose doors are fully open now. We want the private sectors to come in and the investors to invest.
All these applications will not have a multiplier effect on the Satellite Launches?
That is not necessarily true anymore. It was true when we were talking of GSO. Once you launch, you are done for 20-25 years. Now, we are talking of five-year life. Thousands of satellites will be launched in next few years for Broadband Satellite Service.
All these satellites will need replacement every five years. This will create a cycle. In the case of earth observation satellite, we are scratching the surface. Whether it is India or any other country. There is so much more which can be done in earth observation.
Technologies are ever evolving. So, the satellite that you put up today may have life after 5 years, but the technology will become redundant. The optical and microwave technologies keep changing so rapidly. Therefore, the replacement will drive demand.
India does not have today any satellite building capability other than ISRO, which is not going to be in the business of building satellites. Therefore, we need to bring private sector to build satellites. India has the advantage of availability of skilled people and labour cost together, which can make India a satellite manufacturing hub, if we do lot of things right.
Space is one area which every country wants to keep protected. A company from a country A will not be easily allowed to go to a country B. We need to create the right value equation for this. All these role IN-SPACe will play.
We keep hearing about increasing India’s Space sector contribution to GDP from present 2% to 10%. How do we do that?
That’s a very pertinent question. We are currently in the middle of the study, which will define what India should focus on. If we want to do everything, nothing will happen. We have to identify the areas where India can be competitive globally and so, where do we focus on.
That is one part. Second part is – what is the enablement that the government has to provide through ISRO and IN-SPACe. All of this are work in progress. I don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of that study.
With the right effort and 100% alignment, India should be able to achieve $40 billion plus contribution.
Mr. Goenka — from car & SUVs to Space – how has this journey been?
I have retired from Mahindra & Mahindra, and this is a post-retirement role. The government wanted somebody from the private sector to come in. The person to be in this position need not be a space scientist.
They wanted somebody who understands the commercial aspects of business and technology and has been able to grow a business from the ground up. They must have done some research and found that I fit the bill. So, I was invited, and I accepted.
It was an eye opener for me. When I started interacting with various centers of ISRO, the depth of knowledge and complexities of space system as to what goes into it. The technology that goes into space is of very high level. This one area of technology where India is counted as a leader. There are not too many technologies, including automobile, where India is counted as a leader.
It is gratifying to see the vision which the founders like Vikram Sarabhai had and the government of India which supported that. To have such a vision for a country like India is itself a reason to be proud of. Personally, I feel happy that currently I am able to associate with the Space sector and do something to create a thriving space industry in India.
Back in 2015, the government of India launched the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) as a response to the fast-paced rural-to-urban movement of the country’s population.
The National Commission on Population (NCP) predicts that 38.6% of the Indian population will be living in urban areas in the next 13 years. The initiatives surrounding smart cities are developing into efficient and direct discourses to cultivate sustainable, inclusive, and accessible spaces.
The objectives are to be achieved either on an area-based development plan or via pan-city initiatives in which Smart Solutions are covering large parts of the city.
This is where the Geospatial Management Information System (GMIS) come into picture. GMIS is a web-based platform that is created with data from 100 cities and more than 7000 projects. This creates an extensive data repository of important mission-related data, introduces geospatial capabilities and creates a single engagement and monitoring platform for all officials involved in Smart Cities Mission implementation.
The application has potential to unlock a new way of managing and developing smart cities with evidence-based planning, project monitoring, and policy formulation.
Solution
The Geospatial Management Information System (GMIS) was formally launched in February 2021. The implementation plan involved the creation of the following modules in GMIS:
Ranking Module – To track a city’s performance and benchmark other cities towards achieving the Smart City goals.
Reports – Various reports can be generated for different cities on all ongoing projects, geo-tagged projects, updated projects, and active/ inactive projects.
Vendor Repository Module – Provides a view of existing vendors and enables adding new vendors for different Smart City projects, providing transparency, ownership of projects and SLAs.
City Progress Module – Provides visibility to the physical progress of the projects in a city.
The GMIS web application developed on Esri’s ArcGIS system facilitates evidence-based monitoring of the Smart City projects. Photos of the projects are uploaded on GMIS using a mobile app, which is configured on ArcGIS Survey123. Authorized personnel conduct surveys via the survey app to update project details and images and geo-tag.
The app is connected to the GMIS portal and synchronized with existing project IDs. This enhances the monitoring capabilities and transparency concerning all Smart Cities. GMIS enables monitoring of Smart City projects at the state and centre levels through geospatial dashboards providing details of the milestones achieved.
In the coming era of hybrid, networked warfare, pre-eminence of spatial insights and space, changing face of reconnaissance, and increasing proliferation of multiple next-gen applications, it becomes imperative for India to be at the cutting edge of defense tech.
Militarisation of space is inevitable as technology empowers space and the cyber domains to control the outcome on the battleground. The future of warfare is being shaped by cutting-edge and transformational technologies.
Space is now influencing how the battles would be fought on the ground, making current land-based systems and traditional technologies relatively redundant.
This leads to a serious dislocation in the traditional ways, not just for militaries and industries, but nations as well. The Fourth Industrial Age has brought in ‘Information and knowledge’ as a new paradigm where operations have become more complex as threats are difficult to assimilate. Nations have understood the value of Artificial Intelligence (AI), linked to Communication and Technology. It has been realized that the Space and Cyber domains are intertwined, and both must grow synergistically.
New forms of warfare depends on disruptive technologies where data supremacy and sovereignty are seen as essential prerequisites to staying in the race for military dominance.
India, an active user and contributor to many features of the knowledge economy, needs to put in place a mechanism for ensuring data sovereignty.
Building and expanding national power is deeply influenced by the capacity and capability in owning credible data in totality and its protection against all types of threats.
In the 21st century, data is wealth that exudes power. The more data you have, the better analytical ability you possess, if you know how to interpret it. There’s a need be cautious about wrong and manipulated data fed into our systems.
Countries that lead in AI and quantum technology will dominate the coming decade. Information and Intelligence are the foundational needs for military and business success. All nations are in a race to achieve Information Dominance.
Towards a New Arena
Military service teaches the importance of ‘high ground’ and the ‘information’ as key factors for success. ‘Space’ is now seen as an essential and most significant domain of modern warfare.
It is the ‘ultimate high ground’ that makes it possible for an ordinary citizen to watch the world from God’s eye.
Space Wars would be relevant because of the universal application of space technology to most digital platforms. PNT (Positioning, Navigation and Timing), Communication, Surveillance, planetary dominance, and counter-space assets would dominate the security paradigm.
Increasingly, 5G and beyond – IoT (Internet of Things) would be all-pervasive moving IoMT (Internet of Military Things) for strategic applications and warfighting applications.
Surveillance and Target Acquisition would be outsourced to space providing better resolution to identify the target and engage with the missiles of precision.
Due to these factors, decision- making would be more complex as Information Operations (IO) would need a highly developed Decision Support System (DSS) by cutting down the OO-SS-DA (Observe-Orient-Share-Secure-Decide-Act) loop.
To counter the impact of disruptive technologies, we should not only nullify the technology edge of the adversary but build deterrence through superiority, making their military systems redundant.
Therefore, the Defence Space industry must invest in niche and disruptive technologies which are globally acceptable, competitive, secure, cutting-edge, and superior to that of the adversary.
‘Knowing the adversary’ has always been the most challenging part of warfare. With technology becoming its prime driver, ISR (Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance ) has emerged as the basis for IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the battlefield) and a tool to fight precise battles.
If an adversary is seen, identified, and tracked, it can be targeted at will, using weapons of choice. Space has emerged as the most important tool for ISR.
High-Resolution Scramble
Most satellites in LEO and MEO are ideal, however, those on the lower orbit, are fast-moving and need several passes and short revisit capability for constant imagery updates. For military purposes, a resolution of less than a meter (sub-metric) and hyperspectral imagery is compulsory.
As the resolution improves it gets possible to identify the target with a higher spatial resolution. Currently, 25-30 cm resolution is the best publicly available.
Satellite with the highest resolution was probably the KH-8 Gambit, known for imagery better than four inches of ground-resolved distance. This resolution may have been great enough to see a golf ball, but not read newspapers. 5 cm resolution is known within the limits of spy satellites.
American Hubble Space Telescope is meant for astronomical research. It is more focused on studying the universe. Hubble certainly will have to be more sensitive than a spy satellite, because the nebulas are too dim to see otherwise, while Earth is bright.
They probably have similar optics, but Hubble will be forced at infinity focus, while a spy satellite might adjust slightly.
China is reportedly developing a new telescope with a 300-times larger field of view than the Hubble Space Telescope.
The country is also constantly upgrading the China High-Resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS). There are rapid technology upgrades in every field of space taking place in the world and catching up would not be easy unless early steps are taken.
Beijing has invested in QC-QT (Quantum Computing and Technology), which would harden most of their future satellites. Post-launch of the first-ever Quantum communications satellite in 2016, China is experimenting with new capabilities. ISRO needs to focus on closing this gap by involving private players as technology partners.
Space Combat?
India conducted the first space wargame named IndSpaceX in July 2019. That time, three new entities of future warfare, the Defence Space Agency, Defence Cyber Agency, and the Armed Forces Special Forces Division, were announced under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff for integrated operations.
What sets these exercises apart from similar past events is that for the first time select representatives from the industry, academia, government, and professionals were invited to brainstorm space scenarios based on the ground realities.
While most space-faring nations started their space programs with a military objective, India did exactly the opposite, initially using space to promote developmental activities.
On 27 March, 2019 India successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) test by destroying its satellite in the Low Earth Orbit, under an operation code-named Mission Shakti which was hit with a Kinetic Kill vehicle.
This demonstration made us the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to have successfully tested an ASAT weapon, signaling the country’s will and capability to use space, if necessary, for military purposes, while committing to peaceful space exploration.
Indigenous Incubation
Recent creation of INSPACe is a positive step to encourage start-ups and private players to contribute towards the development of dual-use space technologies and strive for indigenization. Earlier this year, on April 23, another space exercise by the name of Ind-Space Exercise was held, led by the industry, under the aegis of the Satcom Industries Association (SIA), the knowledge partnership of the Indian Military Think Tanks such as Centre for Joint warfare and studies (CENJOWS), Centre for Land warfare and Studies (CLAWS), National Marine Foundation (NMF) and Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS).
This was the first Industrial Space Wargame conducted at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, as part of DefSat 2023.
Valuable lesson from these events is that India must use whole national approach to develop space domain through dual-use space capability.
Active Collaboration
Military space capability would continuously develop with DRDO and with public-private partnerships. The importance of space diplomacy and space collaboration would certainly optimize strategic needs of the nation as it continues to develop indigenous capability.
In recent times, the private space sector has played a significant role in providing ISR and communication support in clashes. The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict is a prime example.
Many private and international players are providing ‘Data-as-a-Service’ (DaaS) or even Intelligence-as-a-Service (IaaS) for which space diplomacy becomes an essential component of Military diplomacy. SSA (Space Situational Awareness) is also significant part of intelligence.
The CDS and Chief of Air Staff have urged the need to develop defensive and offensive capabilities in space. Space Warfare concepts of the nation would need to be defined; this would be possible only if doctrinal aspects are debated and enshrined as an integrated philosophy.
It is necessary for India to plan for capabilities of data services during the surge needs of conflict, therefore ‘Rapid Response’ needs attention such as ‘Launch on Demand’ (LOD), and rapid activation such as Activation on Demand (AOD) must be factored into Military Space Capacity Development.
One of the significant issues that were discussed during the DefSat 2023 was the emerging role of near-space technologies. The A2AD (Anti Access and Area Denial) in the sovereign Air Space beyond 20-25 Km becomes a serious challenge. On the other side, the outer space above the Karman line that begins at 100 km is becoming increasingly congested.
Doctrinal Shift
Indian Air Force recently published Aerospace doctrine, declaring airspace and outer space as a continuum. It is realized that drones, balloons, and HAAPS need more attention as part of the aerospace domain. Aerial Photography and drone cameras are reliable but have a limit to the range they can fly.
During the exercise, certain technologies were discussed that make it possible to fly drones in tandem with satellites to beat the weather/cloud cover and /or amplify the pictures of satellites by terrain correlation.
Swarms of surveillance drones can be made to fly over the same territory being covered in real-time by the satellite. Low-flying drones, captive to satellites, can bring excellent real-time results.
Indian Army currently uses Israeli Heron I for surveillance with a ceiling altitude of 30,000 ft, and now is set to acquire Heron II with 45 hours of endurance. The Navy is using MQ 9B Sea Guardian Drones, a variant of an iconic armed predator.
The MQ-9B drone can fly for about 48 hours and carry a payload of about 1,700 kilograms (3,700 pounds). It will give the Indian Navy the ability to better monitor Chinese warships in the southern Indian Ocean, equipping. it to engage targets along the LOC or LAC.
Space Wars would keep the human soldier away from the fires and tribulations of the battlefield, with inherent safety would be provided by fighting from standoff ranges. Remote-controlled wars would be an extension of the ‘Systems of Systems’ network.
The digital arena and Industry 4.0 would make it possible to create a network with Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Cyber (C-5) connecting machines with the surveillance means of enmeshing ground and aerial platforms, including drones and satellites, making ISR a real-time possibility.
Quantum Leap
Sky and space would provide a strategic vantage point for decison-makers at operational and strategic levels. There would be enough data and information available to decide, cutting short the Observe-Orient-Decide-Act (OODA) cycle, it making it possible for decision-makers to control operations of strategic importance.
With the advent of AI and sensors, it would now be possible to robotize the battlefield. This would indeed be a gamechanger. Battles can be fought on pre-programmed ‘targeting on appearance’.
When target acquisition and robotics are brought together, we will have nearly achieved the Military Industrial Revolution for ‘Military 4.5’. Call it C5-IS2-STAR2 (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence and Information – Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance, and Robotics).
It is a substantial name for a substantial capability: a networked battlefield where decentralized, robotic-initiated decision-making would be norm. Command, Control, and Surveillance would largely be linked through Space. These assets in Space would need protection; how that is achieved is another race in Quantum Technologies.
Imagine, for example, that humans pre-program a satellite to identify targets in a certain area. AI can enable them to set the parameters by which the target would be eliminated autonomously – the system would designate the weapon for doing so and take action if the criteria fit.
In another situation, humans might serve as the final confirmation before the autonomous system locks on to a target for action. Another step forward would be to designate pre-sanctioned targets, to be engaged on appearance.
Airborne Early Warning Aircraft have better ability to detect and recognize targets as compared to surface-based radars, observation systems, and ground sensors.
PLA has built a digital surveillance wall along the borders with India for Electronic Warfare (EW) and targeting. Unmanned smart borders should be able to carry out unmanned tactical and operational recce.
Reinforcing Capability
Cyber surveillance, detection, and analysis is the emerging field for accessing military intelligence at all levels. AI applications must be used to quickly process the data collected from all the above intelligence feeds and make it available as Common Operating Picture (COP) for decision- making at each level.
Network-centric operations cannot happen without the fusion of smaller, smarter sensors, network connectivity, signal intelligence devices, aircraft, UAVs, and space networks. A secure, private network is the core layer of data communication. This will require scalable satellite connectivity for narrowband applications plus fiber and microwave links to support broadband applications.
These would ultimately connect millions of devices and sensors operating ubiquitously and support data transfer. AI would play a critical role, enabling the IoMT to transition from mostly telemetry and sensing to complete autonomous action, guided by rules defined by individual countries.
Computer networks are efficient, desirable tools as they can move massive machine data simultaneously to multiple subscribers. This can also turn disastrous, if disruption is caused by technology limitations, an incident driven by adversarial action, or a simple human error.
The military faces this challenge – it needs its machines and networks secured and protected against these possibilities. High assurances and strong protection tools will need to be delivered by the industry.
Call it military-grade secrecy; security protocols would need to be well-defined. Secure Chips, Quantum Technology, and IP concealment (i.e. no IP Address) would form this baseline.
Technological deterrence is the new security assurance benchmark to be achieved synergistically in integrated theatres. In this context, the Indian security apparatus must maintain a high-tech edge to dissuade an attack from the adversaries while imposing fear of swift reprisal.
Building science & technology capability, along with deploying physical force, will give us the edge over an adversary, establishing deterrence. Technological prowess should be the main component of Comprehensive National Power (CNP).
e-Geos: A Digital Marketplace for Data and Services
e-Geos exhibited in the recently held Geospatial World Forum 2023, at Rotterdam, The Netherlands. e-Geos is a leading company in geospatial information, data, and satellite services. It provides services and applications for all the verticals markets, covering agriculture, emergency, and infrastructure and asset monitoring. The company also covers the maritime domain. The company is also the exclusive global distributor for Cosmo Skymed Second Generation. It is a world-wide leader in exploitation of SAR data, encompassing the entire value-chain of remote sensing applications and geospatial information. Last but not the least, there’s a digital marketplace CLEOS to access services and data.
