Jill Smith, CEO of DigitalGlobe, addressed the Geospatial World Forum on a theme of sustainability, asserting that geospatial collaboration is uniquely positioned to deal with the tough problem of sustainability. With the complex problems of sustainability there’s the need to observe what’s happening, analyze the impact, act, and then measure the actions. Smith set up the role of GIS throughout this cycle, and said that we need to make the cycle faster and more effective.
DigitalGlobe is addressing this new paradigm with assurance that data is going to be there when you need it. Knowing that areas will be monitored allows you to get data and insight into the hands of the users so they are empowered. Easing the data integration is also important in driving insight, moving quickly from collection to insight. The ability to collecting large areas in a single pass, that are refreshed regularly allows you to understand what’s going on. Having an archive of imagery provides the historic aspect so that you can see what has changed.
Accessing the data is getting to the point where we have data on the day we want it, and how we want it. The business of processing is becoming automated to create a highly accurate base map quickly. Distributing this quickly to users, rather than having users focused primarily on processing.
The key to insight is how to extract information, accurately, quickly and cost effectively. One key ingredient for getting to insight with DigitalGlobe is their 8-band capability. The 8-band sensor allows for the assessment of environmental damage and health. The sensor allows such analysis as carbon footprint, and the remote identification of invasive species, coral reef health, and the impacts of aquaculture.
There is a move away from gathering data and doing the analysis, and focusing instead on the highest end use of that data. By setting expectations on assurance and accountability, DigitalGlobe enables a drive toward faster insight. The focus is to flip the pyramid from acquisition of data toward insight to focus less on data processing and more on the questions that the data answer.
