As a company involved in space, we understand how precious Earth is from this privileged vantage point. Space is the best place to care for our planet, appreciate its beauty, and comprehend the challenges it faces. Every day, satellite images show us the Earth’s evolution, including climate change, deforestation, and other environmental issues. However, we cannot afford to passively observe. Each of us must recognize the Earth’s issues and do our part.

Benefit Corporation: Responsibility and Different Action

As companies, we can no longer afford to focus solely on profits, ignoring the impact of our actions on the environment and society. We must act differently. That’s why choosing to become a Benefit Corporation has been a virtuous choice for Planetek Italia.

Becoming a Benefit Corporation means that a company commits to consider not only the interests of shareholders but also those of the individuals, community and the environment. This commitment translates into a broader social responsibility and concrete actions to improve society and the Earth itself. Benefit Corporation implement policies and initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact, supporting local communities, and promoting sustainability.

Sustainability Reports: A Crucial Tool

One of the primary strategies for measuring the commitment of Benefit Corporations to caring for the Earth is the adoption of sustainability reports. These reports go beyond the traditional financial balance sheet and take into account the social and environmental impacts of business activities. They measure carbon emissions, natural resource management, community engagement, and much more.

The publication of a transparent and accurate sustainability report is a way to demonstrate a company’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. It accounts for progress made and challenges yet to be faced.

Sustainability and Social Commitment: The Model of Planetek Italia

In Planetek Italia , for example, our strategies have focused on three key pillars: the well-being of our employees, support for the local community, and global action for the environment.

In detail:

• For Employee Well-being, we have implemented a corporate welfare plan to ensure a healthy and sustainable working environment. These efforts contributed to Planetek Italia being recognized as the Welfare Champion 2022 third-place winner and industry leader.
• For the Local Community, we promote culture and the arts by supporting the “Teatri di Bari” Cooperative. Additionally, we offer e-learning programs and free courses to help members of our local community develop their skills and professional growth.
• On a Global Scale, we participated in the Challenge against Hunger, actively engaging in the global fight against hunger. We continue to reduce our ecological footprint by adopting measures to preserve our planet for future generations.

If you want to learn more, browse through Planetek Italia ‘s 2022 Corporate Impact Report and make our planet the focal point of your corporate missions, contributing to the construction of a better world.

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Ebbene, il 30 giugno sono diventato Sommelier! Ho completato un percorso di circa 2 anni presso l’ Associazione Italiana Sommelier così la mia passione per il vino ha oggi qualche occasione in più per degustazioni consapevoli.

Il vino resta una passione, il mio lavoro è invece “nello Spazio”, più precisamente nell’osservazione della Terra, e se sei un lettore di questo blog, sai già che sto per farti una domanda del tipo: “sai quanto Spazio c’è nel tuo bicchiere di vino”?

E’ importante sottolineare che la produzione di vino è un processo artigianale, che richiede una profonda conoscenza della viticoltura e dell’enologia. La conoscenza e l’esperienza dei viticoltori rimangono essenziali per la qualità del vino, tuttavia i satelliti possano fornire informazioni utili per ottimizzare alcuni aspetti della produzione:

· Mappatura dei vigneti: I satelliti possono fornire immagini ad alta risoluzione della superficie terrestre, che possono essere utilizzate per mappare la distribuzione dei vigneti, aiutando i produttori a gestire meglio le loro coltivazioni.

· Monitoraggio delle condizioni ambientali: I dati raccolti dai satelliti possono essere utilizzati per monitorare le condizioni meteorologiche e il cambiamento climatico, fornendo informazioni preziose sulla salute delle piante e sugli impatti potenziali sulle coltivazioni vitivinicole.

· Identificazione delle zone a rischio: grazie ad archivi storici di immagini e alle continue nuove acquisizioni è possibile aiutare a identificare le zone a rischio in vigneti, come aree soggette a siccità o altre minacce ambientali, consentendo ai produttori di adottare misure preventive o correzioni tempestive.

· Valutazione della maturità delle uve: le immagini satellitari possono essere utilizzate per analizzare la salute delle viti e stimare la maturità delle uve, aiutando i viticoltori a pianificare il momento migliore per la vendemmia ed identificare aree con uve che presentano caratteristiche omogenee in termini di contenuto in zuccheri ed acidità e quindi poter effettuare una raccolta selettiva per indirizzare le uve migliori alla produzione di vini di pregio ed ad alto reddito.

· Gestione delle risorse idriche: I satelliti possono monitorare i livelli di acqua nei vigneti e aiutare a gestire in modo più efficiente le risorse idriche, riducendo lo spreco e migliorando la sostenibilità.

Maltempo e climate change

Proprio di recente, una straordinaria tempesta si è abbattuta sulla regione più produttiva d’Italia dal punto di vista vitivinicolo: il Veneto, ed in particolare sull’area del Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiedene, che nel 2022 ha registrato un giro d’affari di quasi 700 milioni di euro anno.

Chicchi come noci piovute dal cielo hanno causato enormi danni ai vigneti ed alcune zone in particolare di queste meravigliose colline UNESCO hanno registrato danni ingenti con una distruzione delle piante che rasenta il 90% del totale.

Il cambiamento climatico non crea solo fenomeni estremi come grandine, vento forte e alluvioni. Crea un cambiamento radicale del clima, che ha impatto sulla crescita e maturazione delle uve. Gli agricoltori si basano sulla conoscenza storica dei loro vigneti, ma questa conoscenza oggi potrebbe non bastare. Cambiano le temperature medie ed estreme, i regimi pluviometrici, l’insolazione. Servono quindi strumenti di supporto per poter adeguare le pratiche agronomiche ai cambiamenti in corso.

Ecco, quindi, la necessità di avvalersi di strumenti come i satelliti per un’analisi precisa, in tempi brevi e su area vasta, una nuova fonte informativa indispensabile, ad esempio, per la valutazione precisa dei danni, la gestione di un piano di recupero e la prevenzione da ulteriori eventi estremi.

Un servizio a supporto dei produttori

In un contesto caratterizzato da una crescente concorrenza nei mercati internazionali e dai cambiamenti climatici, diventa sempre più importante aiutare i viticoltori a migliorare la redditività e massimizzare la qualità dei vini.

Immagini satellitari e aeree vengono spesso utilizzate per valutare indicatori della vegetazione o parametri biofisici legati allo stato della vegetazione stessa (biomassa, carenze nutrizionali e di altro genere, stress idrico o condizioni di salute), permettendo così di elaborare una mappatura della variabilità del territorio sia all’interno dei singoli appezzamenti di terreno sia tra vari appezzamenti.

Nell’esempio riportato nella figura, i lotti caratterizzati da un maggior vigore vegetativo sono stati selezionati per la produzione di vino rosato, mentre, grazie all’adeguamento dei metodi produttivi, sono stati selezionati lotti omogenei con un moderato vigore vegetativo per la produzione di vino rosso corposo, così come altri lotti caratterizzati anch’essi da un moderato vigore e da un’elevata eterogeneità dai quali si ottiene un vino rosso fruttato. In questo modo vengono prodotti due stili di vino complementari e si ottiene una certa regolarità da un anno all’altro.

La caratterizzazione del potenziale qualitativo degli appezzamenti di vigneto e la selezione dei lotti per il confermento mirato consente di massimizzare la produzione di bottiglie a maggior valore e quindi incrementare la reddivitià totale della produzione.

Se vuoi sapere di più sul servizio Rheticus Oenoview e sui casi applicativi in Francia ed in Italia, contattami e scrivimi nei commenti e magari ne parliamo davanti ad un calice!

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/monitorare-i-vigneti-dallo-spazio-per-migliorare-reddito-forenza/

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Guardians of the Past: How satellites combat tomb raiders

Recently, an article published in Focus highlighted the growing concern regarding thefts of objects and goods from archaeological areas. Tomb riders, skilled in looting and selling archaeological artifacts on the black market, constantly threaten those who strive to preserve historical heritage for future generations. Fortunately, satellites now provide an unprecedented intelligence tool to counteract this criminal activity.
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Thanks to high-resolution satellites capable of capturing detailed images with a resolution of 30 centimeters per pixel, it is possible to identify illicit excavations by Tomb riders, reconstruct the dynamics of their movements, and track stolen artifacts. This valuable information enables competent authorities to take timely and targeted actions to counter the illicit trade of archaeological artifacts.

Millennial movements: Monitoring archaeological sites through satellites

In addition to the fight against tomb raiders, satellites offer an incredible ability to monitor millimeter-scale trends of the Earth’s surface. This technology proves particularly useful in monitoring archaeological sites and assessing the stability of ancient structures over time.

A significant example of this application concerns monitoring Nuraghi, ancient stone constructions with a conical shape that dot the landscape throughout Sardinia. The preservation of these monuments, recognized as UNESCO heritage, plays a fundamental role in preserving our history and identity; satellites take center stage in this context.
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Through the NuraghEO project, promoted by CRS4 within the OCRE program for developing services related to the Copernicus platform, specific monitoring for the Nuraghi in Sardinia has been initiated using the Rheticus® service.

The Rheticus® Displacement geoinformation service offers a historic analysis with monthly updates for monitoring millimetric displacements of the ground surface, revealing landslide trends and subsiding areas making risk the stability of the infra-structures. The service also provides information on anthropic changes and infra-structural dynamics over the area where the infrastructure is established. The mapping activity was made through the monitoring of points on the ground with high stability called Persistent Scatterers (PS). The PS is produced through the processing of the Sentinel1 images form the Copernicus program.

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I satelliti e le consolidate tecniche derivate dall’ Osservazione della Terra sono validi alleati delle amministrazioni statali, regioni e locali e degli studi di ingegneria impegnati nella realizzazione di opere di mitigazionedelrischio. Tra le loro capacità, spicca la possibilità di avere a disposizione una macchina del tempo.

L’intelligenza satellitare

Negli ultimi anni la piattaforma Rheticus è diventata uno standard tecnologico di supporto a tutte le fasi del ciclo di vita delle opere d’ingegneria: progettazione, esecuzione lavori e manutenzione opere post-operam.

In particolare, Rheticus Displacement consente il monitoraggio degli spostamenti millimetrici del territorio ed il loro trend storico negli ultimi decenni. I parametri usati per valutare il livello di stabilità dell’area sono le misure di spostamento elaborate da serie storiche di immagini acquisite da satelliti RADARe la velocità e accelerazione dei punti di misura. I punti di misura sono individuati automaticamente dall’algoritmo di processing e sono geolocalizzati su suolo, edifici e infrastrutture.

Conoscere il passato, per migliori decisioni progettuali

L’ Analisi storica dei movimenti è un passaggio chiave per l’individuazione delle soluzioni progettuali delle opere, distinguendo aree stabili ed aree instabili e migliorando la capacità di circoscrivere l’estensione spaziale del fenomeno. Le costellazioni oggi a disposizione per queste analisi hanno già raccolto 10 anni di rilevazioni periodiche con cui possiamo ricostruire eventuale stagionalità nei fenomeni di dissesto e mettere in evidenza eventuale correlazione con altri fenomeni, ad esempio piogge e livello di falda.

Dal presente al futuro

I satelliti Radar impiegati per le analisi, coprono tutto il globo diverse volte al mese, rendendo possibile l’aggiornamento di tutti i punti di misura sulle aree di intervento. Durante la realizzazione delle opere è possibile monitorare lo stato di evoluzione dei movimenti che insistono sull’area di esecuzione delle opere e valutare l’impatto dei lavori di esecuzione delle opere sull’area e le strutture adiacenti, riducendone i rischi connessi alla mancanza di informazioni circa il livello di stabilità.

Successivamente alla realizzazione di un’infrastruttura o ad un intervento di consolidamento di un versante è opportuno attivare un programma di monitoraggio periodico a garanzia della qualità esecutiva nel tempo e della coerenza con gli obiettivi definiti in fase progettuale.

I risultati ottenuti in decine i progetti di intervento che abbiamo seguito negli ultimi anni con Rheticus ci porta a ritenere che questo sia modello virtuoso per il monitoraggio e la prevenzione del dissesto idrogeologico e per l’attuazione misure preventive e di salvaguardia.

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With a primary focus on bolstering disaster resilience in Indonesia, ADB has commissioned a cutting-edge EO-based impact assessment of subsidence hazards for buildings and infrastructure in five major cities: Jakarta, Cirebon, Pekalongan, Semarang, and Palu. By combining Rheticus’ state-of-the-art ground motion maps with building characteristics derived from the advanced 3D model of the World Settlement Footprint developed by DLR, this subsidence hazard service aims to provide invaluable insights into the stability of the land surface.

The need for such monitoring capabilities became evident following the devastating earthquake that struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi in September 2018. The catastrophic event, a tsunami, landslides, and soil liquefaction, wreaked havoc, claiming numerous lives and causing widespread destruction to homes, buildings, infrastructure, and farmland. In response, satellite information emerged as a vital tool for local officials and ongoing recovery efforts.

In collaboration with ADB, European Space Agency (ESA) was pivotal in providing Indonesian authorities with cutting-edge hazard-mapping tools derived from Earth observation data. One such tool is the groundbreaking Rheticus Displacement monitoring service offered by Planetek Italia, enabling precise tracking of ground movements down to the millimeter level. By meticulously analyzing data acquired from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar mission, areas experiencing land deformation can be swiftly identified and closely monitored.

A comprehensive week-long training course was organized as part of the ESA-ADB-Indonesian government collaboration to further bolster Indonesia’s disaster resilience capabilities. This intensive course aimed to equip officials with the necessary expertise and skills to harness satellite data products effectively. The ultimate goal is to maximize the potential of these resources in monitoring seismic risks, volcanoes, subsidence, and landslides. Furthermore, the Indonesian government is actively encouraged to leverage ESA’s Geohazard Exploitation Platform, an online tool designed to streamline identifying and evaluating various geohazards.

To learn more about ADB’s experience visit ESA GDA website.
To learn more about Earth observation enroll to our free online courses platform EO-Learning.

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E-learning has revolutionized the way we learn and acquire knowledge. We can embark on a new course and broaden our horizons with just a few clicks. The impact of Earth observation on various fields cannot be underestimated. It has introduced new technologies and applications that shape our lives and create exciting professional opportunities.

Thanks to platforms like EO-Learning, individuals can now explore fundamental Earth observation topics and unlock new job prospects or advance their careers. This innovative training and growth opportunity is designed for researchers, students, and professionals from diverse backgrounds such as engineers, geologists, planners, and more. By leveraging geospatial information, participants can enhance their decision-making and operational capabilities, making them invaluable assets in their respective fields.

In addition, it is worth noting that the popularity of EO-Learning has been steadily growing. Today, over 6000 people are already enrolled in the courses offered by EO-Learning. This impressive number reflects the increasing recognition of the platform’s quality content and ability to cater to the educational needs of a wide range of individuals interested in Earth observation.

The EO-Learning platform offers many resources and courses, empowering individuals to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Best of all, registration for EO-Learning is free, ensuring accessibility for all who wish to participate.

Don’t miss out on the chance to join this dynamic community of learners.

Sign up for free on the EO-Learning platform and unlock opportunities.

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Fortunately, advancements in space technology have sparked a revolutionary solution: satellite-based air monitoring. Satellites, led by the Sentinel 5p, have emerged as indispensable tools for collecting precise data on air quality.

But why rely on satellites for monitoring polluted air? The answer lies in their ability to cover vast areas, offering a global or regional perspective. This comprehensive view lets us identify the most affected areas and take targeted actions to improve air quality.

How do Satellites conquer Air Monitoring?
Satellites achieve this feat through sophisticated sensors that employ spectroscopy to analyze light wavelengths and identify unique spectral characteristics of air pollutants. The TROPOMI instrument on the Sentinel 5p, for example, measures concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen monoxide (NO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and other harmful gases. By gathering global data, satellites provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of air pollution and its sources.

In addition, satellite sensors utilize thermal infrared technology to capture thermal radiation emitted by the Earth, allowing for temperature and air pollutant distribution analysis.

Sentinel 5p: Leading the Charge in European Air Quality Monitoring
Taking the lead in Europe, the Sentinel 5p satellite is crucial in monitoring air quality. Developed by the European Space Agency – ESA, its high-resolution imaging spectrometer, TROPOMI, provides vital insights into pollutant concentrations. The media frequently highlights its analyses, shedding light on air pollution levels in Italy’s heavily affected Po Valley. In the picture above an example of the Copernicus Sentinel-5P.

In conclusion, the satellite revolution in air monitoring allows us to uncover the invisible threats surrounding us. Armed with this knowledge, we can make informed decisions and strive for a healthier and more sustainable future.

Discover more on planetek website.

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Being a lover of technology, innovation, and how they approach Earth Observation, I contributed during the event by talking about Artificial Intelligence In Space, For Space, and From Space.

Artificial Intelligence “spiegata semplice”
As Abraham Lincoln said, ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it’. This is probably the same approach Pasquale Viscanti and Giacinto Fiore, the creators of AIWeek, use for Artificial Intelligence: by foreseeing it, all we are doing is figuring out what we want to do with it, how we want to create it, how we want to train it, how we want to use it and how we want not to use it.

This is the basis on which AIWeek2023, a project that took its first steps with the podcast Intelligenza Artificiale Spiegata Semplice, has become the most significant Italian Artificial Intelligence Community.

How are Space and Artificial Intelligence intertwined?
A company that uses Artificial Intelligence exploits up to 40 times more of its potential. The same thing happens with Space. The use of AI multiplies the capabilities of Space, impacting activities in Space, for Space, and from Space.

Artificial Intelligence in Space
The European Space Agency’s ESA INCUBED program is supporting Planetek’s project called AI-eXpress, which is shaping the future of the Earth Observation value chain.

In this evolution, EO satellites can define and adapt electricity needs, onboard computing, and processing power. They can also start interacting directly with other satellites enabling a new generation of downstream satellite applications.

The AIX satellite as-a-service model makes satellites smarter by being able to make decisions themselves. For example, extract features to identify a fire to send ground info or program other satellites to follow. AIX was implemented by the consortium consisting of Planetek Italia, D-Orbit, and AIKO – Infinite ways to autonomy

AI for Space
What if satellites show signs of breakage? Can artificial intelligence intervene to avoid debris in space? As part of a contract with ESOC’s Advanced Operations Technology group, S.A.T.E. Systems and Advanced Technologies Engineering S.r.l., and Planetek Italia developed CASTeC. This system applies the Industry 4.0 paradigms allowing the health of satellites to be monitored.

Thus, the software allows us to check if the satellite is about to have problems and, if so, intervene before it breaks down. For example, we can tell five days in advance that the fuel is about to run out, and then we can move the satellite to the graveyard orbit, avoiding creating waste in orbit.

AI from Space
Enhancing the condition assessment and predictive maintenance of the critical infrastructures such as powergrid, bridges, networks, and buildings, satellite-derived analytics integrate satellite data with operational and ancillary within an unprecedented GUI and are anytime available for supporting decision-maker in the daily tasks.

The Rheticus platform, developed by Planetek Italia adopts the big data paradigm for processing huge volumes of satellite and different sources of data on the ground in HPC /Grid-capable data servers to extract helpful content for making decisions to protect the environment, #land, and assets and improve people’s well-being.

This article will be updated very soon!….stay tuned!

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Why this day came into being more than 50 years ago indeed lies in raising awareness of the central issue that unites all humanity: protecting our home. But the decisive event that triggered this need occurred on 28 January 1969, when the Union Oil rig exploded near the coast of Santa Barbara, California.

Over ten million liters of oil and drilling mud were spilled into the sea, killing over 10,000 seagulls, dolphins, seals, and sea lions and devastating the environment.

Gaylord Nelson, a Democratic Senator from Wisconsin and creator of Earth Day, was able to observe the black spot when he went directly to the site. Could he have imagined that 30 years later, Earth Observation services would allow him to observe that spot in the immediacy of the disaster directly from his office, identify the source of the spill, assess the extent of the potential damage, and monitor it daily over the next few days?

Exploring the seas and oceans for possible ‘oil spills.’

The Oil Spill topic involves international institutions protecting the marine environment and preventing ecological disasters and oil and gas companies, controlling and monitoring existing infrastructure, and searching for new offshore oil fields.

In recent years, after technological research and development, Radar and SAR imagery have proven to be excellent tools, recognized by Regional and National Environmental Agencies, for identifying ships, offshore installations, and pollution phenomena due to possible oil spills.

Compared to traditional monitoring technologies (measurements at sea, collection of reports from vessels, direct reports and interventions by maritime authorities, etc.), modern radar satellite platforms such as TerraSAR-X, Cosmo-SkyMed, Radarsat, capable of acquiring high-resolution images with wide spatial coverage and daily revisit times, can represent a valid option for all activities related to prevention, rapid response and operations against possible environmental threats. Furthermore, the advantage of radar satellite data in terms of cost, availability, and usability must be taken into account.

Oil Spill: from Satellite data to satellite service

Oil&Gas sector can use Earth observation services for different purposes:

• Natural oil spill detection;
• Disaster monitoring, prevention, and recovery;
• Analysis of oil spills from pipeline ships and offshore platforms.

Read on to learn more about all the possibilities satellite monitoring offers to monitor possible environmental threats.

Discover more on planetek website’s application page.

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But this vital role played by our coasts has come at a cost to the environment. Shipping, resource extraction, and fishing put pressure on marine and coastal areas, accelerating coastal erosion.

Satellites can provide specific and detailed information on landcover and landuse to address environmental challenges and issues. In this way, it is possible to balance the competing interests of human development with the need to preserve healthy and resilient coastal ecosystems.

Anthropogenic action: our coastlines under strain

The need to integrate coastal zone planning and management with coastal monitoring stems from the propagation of erosive phenomena on densely populated coastlines, the site of infrastructures or tourist activities, and implementing coastal defense works and artificial beach nourishment.

In Italy alone, 5 kilometers of natural coastline per year have been lost over the last 20 years precisely because of the construction of new artificial infrastructures.

The artificial activity is even more significant in the areas behind the beaches. Every year, coastal dunes, cultivated land, vegetation, and natural formations are replaced by more than 10 kilometers of man-made structures.

The four services satellites use to safeguard the coastline

Satellite monitoring services are used as a state-of-the-art, operational, and highly applicable management tool, providing administrations with concrete support for coastal spatial planning and the sustainable use of coastal natural resources.

The main objective is to continuously monitor the coastal erosion phenomenon and the degradation process of natural resources, which is replicable over time and sustainable from a technical-economic point of view.

EarthObservation services can monitor:

• Waterquality (Chlorophyll-a concentration, Suspended solids, Sea surface temperature, Gelbstoff yellow matter, Posidonia oceanic);
• Coastal landscape (Land use maps and its changes, Landscape quality);
• Coastal erosion and circulation of sea currents (Coastline definition and variation, Ondametric maps, Sea surface wind distribution map, Sea current circulation, Morphodynamic risk map)
• Maritime traffic (Diffusion of pollutants in the marine environment, Oil spill).

Earth observation at work

Planetek Italia realized the first Copernicus Land – VHR Coastal Zone hotspot thematic mapping product on European coastal zones. The mapping activities aimed to provide specific and detailed information on the land cover/land use of the entire European coastal territory up to an internal depth of 10 km, for a total area of about 730,000 km².

Read on to learn more about the services Earth Observation can offer to support monitoring and safeguarding of coastal zones and marine environment.

Discover more on planetek website’s application page.

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