Optical imagery
Optical satellite images are acquired in the optical part of the spectrum. This covers the visible colors but also the infrared part. Optical imagery can be displayed in natural color (like how we would see it ourselves with the human eye) and in false color (with infrared information). False color images are useful for agricultural (crop classification), environmental (vegetation health) and geological applications (soil mapping).
Geoserve has access to all relevant earth observation satellites. These satellites collect optical images at various spatial resolutions. The most detailed optical images have a resolution of just 30 cm.
With Geoserve, you can obtain optical images from the archive or request a new collection. We can guide you in selecting the satellite image solution that best meets your requirements and preferences.
To mitigate geopolitical risks, our suppliers are spread across various countries worldwide, including France, Germany, Finland, the UK, the USA, China, Japan, and South Korea. If, for instance, a country imposes ‘shutter control’ on satellites to restrict data acquisition in specific conflict areas, Geoserve can collaborate with alternative suppliers from other regions.
30 cm Pléiades-NEO image versus 50 cm Pléiades image of Kralendijk, Bonaire
80 cm TripleSat image versus 150 cm Spot-6 image of Braakmankreek, the Netherlands.
Monitoring
As satellites orbit the earth and consistently collect data, they are ideally suited for monitoring applications. A wide range of changes can be monitored. From slow gradual changes such as the shrinking of the Aral Sea since the 1970s, to intraday monitoring of vessel traffic in ports.
Geoserve collaborates with you to develop a tailored monitoring program. We ensure that you can track changes in your area of interest by obtaining satellite imagery at the optimal frequency. If needed, we can also integrate satellites from different providers to meet the specific requirements of your application.
On behalf of the Dutch government, Geoserve manages a monitoring program that captures full coverage of the Netherlands six times per year with 30 cm resolution imagery. Due to the scale of this program, this is achievable only by combining satellite constellations from multiple providers. For this program, we have utilized the Pléiades-NEO satellites (Airbus) in conjunction with the SuperView-NEO satellites (SpaceWill).
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Hyperspectral imagery
Hyperspectral satellite imagery is a type of remote sensing that involves capturing images of the Earth from space across a wide range of electromagnetic spectrum bands. Unlike traditional satellite imagery, which typically captures a few broad spectral bands (such as red, green, and blue), hyperspectral satellite imagery collects data across many narrow spectral bands, spanning from visible light to shortwave-infrared.
This high-resolution spectral information allows for detailed analysis of the Earth’s surface, enabling the identification and classification of materials based on their unique spectral signatures. It’s used in various applications, including agriculture (monitoring crop health), environmental monitoring (tracking changes in land and water bodies), mineral exploration (identifying different minerals), and defense (detecting and analyzing objects and materials).
Geoserve provides users access to hyperspectral data acquired by among others Tanager, Pixxel and EnMAP.
A hypercube visualizing the range of wavelengths collected by Tanager (© Planet 2024). In the lower left is a visible-light image of Karachi, Pakistan collected on September 19th, 2024. Up and to the right is a cross section of all the bands collected by Tanager spanning from 400 – 2500 nm.