A conversation with NUVIEW CEO on mapping the globe, future of space, and more.
Commercial applications of LiDAR to illuminate terrestrial zones, or identify subterranean areas or submerged past worlds is quite well known, but Florida-based NUVIEW is literally taking LiDAR mapping to the skies and beyond, aiming to cover the entire globe.
“What distinguishes us is the commitment to continuous, real-time monitoring, and tracking three-dimensional changes on Earth’s surface. Our innovative vision lies in the precision, comprehensiveness, and dynamic nature of our data, ultimately transforming our understanding of the planet, says Clint Graumann, CEO & Founder, NUVIEW, in an interview with Geospatial World.
NUVIEW plans to map the entire Earth using LiDAR, an innovative breakthrough quite ambitious in scope. Since this is a one-of-its-kind project, quite distinct from the conventional use cases of LiDAR, what do you think is the inherent advantage of this approach?
The inherent advantage of NUVIEW’s approach lies in the sheer scale and continuous nature of data collection. LiDAR can accurately create 3D models of landscapes, structures, and vegetation, greatly benefiting many fields such as geography, forestry, geology, and urban planning.
It can be used to map terrain, calculate biomass, or identify potential infrastructure issues. Compared to plane and drone-based LiDAR, a satellite approach offers global coverage and repeated timely scans.
Earth Observation sector is going through a lot of changes due to increased cloud capabilities, refined analytics, rapid cost-reduction, and technological convergence and interoperability. Where do you think is the future of the sector headed, and how do you foresee NUVIEW’s role in this evolving ecosystem?
The Earth Observation sector is transitioning towards high-frequency, high-resolution data collection, enabled by technological advancements and cost reductions. This allows for more accurate and timely insights.
NUVIEW could play a significant role in this ecosystem, providing a unique data source that complements other forms of imaging. Its data could be integrated into analytics platforms to create novel insights, aiding in areas like environmental monitoring, infrastructure planning, and climate change mitigation.
Tell us about the founding philosophy and vision of NUVIEW Space.
At NUVIEW, our mission is to revolutionize Earth Observation by delivering the most accurate, comprehensive 3D dataset of Earth’s surface through our LiDAR satellites. We aim to set the global standard for digital elevation models by concurrently collecting Digital Terrain and Surface Models.
What distinguishes us is our commitment to continuous, real-time monitoring, enabling us to track three-dimensional changes on Earth’s surface. Our innovative vision lies in the precision, comprehensiveness, and dynamic nature of our data, ultimately transforming our understanding of the planet.
With enormous volumes of high-resolution satellite data at our disposal, what do you think are the gaps that need to be plugged for gaining actionable insights for a better tomorrow?
With the massive influx of high-resolution satellite data, the key challenge is extracting meaningful insights from the raw data. Machine learning and AI techniques will be crucial in processing and analyzing this data.
Additionally, there is a need for better data integration platforms to combine different types of satellite data (like optical, SAR, and LiDAR) to provide more comprehensive insights.
Climate Change and its cause-and-effects such as deforestation, thawing ice on polar caps, melting glaciers, aridification, oceanic pollution, etc. are best mapped using the change-detection technique. How would NUVIEW contribute to deep knowledge of such changes for advancing climate change mitigation efforts?
NUVIEW’s LiDAR satellites would provide valuable data for climate change mitigation efforts. As has been reported in the press, we’ve gained some notable support from the environmental community.
High-resolution, 3D nature of LiDAR data can be used to detect changes in vegetation, ice caps, and other environmental features. With frequent, repeated scans, this could be a powerful tool for tracking the progress of climate change and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.
AI and ML are poised to be game-changers in the EO and space industry globally. What’s your take on it, and how much do you rely on these technologies?
AI and ML are indeed on the cusp of revolutionizing the EO and space industry, especially given the vast and complex data that systems like NUVIEW’s LiDAR satellites will generate. The volumes of data from LiDAR—comprising immense numbers of data points, each with discrete values—present a rich resource for these technologies.
The granular detail and three-dimensional nature of LiDAR data make it an ideal candidate for AI and ML applications. Algorithms can be trained to recognize patterns and anomalies, classify features, and predict changes over time, leveraging the depth and precision of the data. The synergy between LiDAR data and AI/ML is poised to unlock unprecedented insights.
While the massive volume of LiDAR data presents a challenge, AI and ML are uniquely equipped to manage, analyze, and interpret this information. By enabling efficient data processing and sophisticated pattern recognition, these technologies are instrumental in realizing the full potential of the valuable data that NUVIEW generates.
What do you think are some of the structural limitations and challenges that the space sector faces?
Space domain awareness is an increasingly critical concern. As more satellites are deployed, good stewardship of orbits becomes vital. Managing and tracking the proliferation of satellites to prevent collisions and maintain sustainable use of space orbits is a major responsibility for all space-faring entities.
Ensuring the longevity of our shared space environment necessitates mindful operation and thoughtful design of satellite systems, a challenge that will only grow as the industry continues to expand our activities in space.
As we prepare for a transition to Industry 4.0, what do you think would be the role of geospatial and EO in an era defined by 5G, IoT, and industrial automation?
In the transition to Industry 4.0, geospatial and Earth Observation (EO) technologies will crucially influence data-driven decision-making, playing significant roles in optimizing supply chain routes, monitoring infrastructure health, predicting environmental risks, enhancing agricultural efficiency, supporting smart city development, and aiding in automated operations.
