Earth observation

Definition

Earth observation is the systematic collection of information about the Earth’s surface and atmosphere using satellites, drones, aircraft and other remote sensing systems. This text focuses on satellite technology. Satellites are equipped with various sensors and measuring devices, such as optical sensors, radars, infrared cameras, lidar systems, spectral scanners and thermal imaging equipment. Depending on the sensor, the data can be used to collect, evaluate and derive elevation profiles, vegetation data, air quality, temperature values and parameters such as snowfall or soil moisture. This creates images, maps and models that can be used to formulate data-based statements about the Earth’s conditions and to make predictions. The data is collected regularly and, as a long-term data series, is also suitable for long-term monitoring. 

The technology encompasses building and operating satellites and remote sensing systems, not to mention data evaluation and developing related services that can be employed by users in research, public authorities and commercial enterprises. Earth observation enables continuous monitoring of environmental changes and more targeted use of natural resources. The data also provides a key foundation for political and economic decisions. 

Current applications and opportunities

Earth observation is used in precision agriculture to control plant irrigation and fertilisation. It documents glacier retreat and is used to create maps for natural hazard prevention. 

A key pillar of data collection is the EU’s Copernicus programme, which currently uses data from several Sentinel satellites equipped with radars or optical and thermal sensors. Additionally, data from a further 30 commercial and government satellites is also analysed. Numerous geo-based ground, sea and airborne measuring devices supplement the satellite data, including permanently installed weather stations, ocean buoys and atmospheric measuring equipment. Copernicus provides 12 terabytes of data daily, making it the world’s largest provider of Earth observation data. This data is collected and evaluated thematically within six core services: land monitoring, marine environment, atmosphere, climate change, security, and disaster and crisis management. Access to the data and services is provided free of charge to all users worldwide.  

Swiss research groups also use data from Earth observation satellites. For example, the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), which is part of the ETH Domain, uses radar data from the Sentinel-1 satellite to conduct large-scale forest monitoring to record disturbances such as storm damage. The Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF), which is part of the WSL, uses optical data from the SPOT6 satellite to analyse avalanche situations. Meanwhile, several mountain cantons use high-resolution satellite data from various sources to record and analyse mass movements on slopes. 

Earth observation provides users with global, standardised, high-quality data about the Earth’s condition. For environmental and climate monitoring, satellites and remote sensing systems generate independent and objective facts that enable or facilitate measures to counter the effects of climate change. Businesses can also use the data to offer new services in various areas – for example in agriculture for yield forecasts, in settlement planning for monitoring soil sealing, or in insurance and banking for more precise risk analyses of natural events. 

Both data providers and users are now contributing to further development. In Switzerland, universities and research institutes in particular are heavily involved. However, there is a lot of catching up to do when it comes to data and analysis commercialisation compared to countries such as the US, the UK, France and Germany.  

Challenges

Satellites and sensors are generating ever-increasing volumes of data. Extracting relevant information requires powerful IT infrastructures, algorithms and expertise. Earth observation data comes from various sources such as optical multispectral data, radar or lidar and is often multidimensional. Interpreting the data correctly requires specialised knowledge in the field of data analysis. Building, operating and maintaining satellites, ground stations and analysis tools are also expensive. 

Switzerland is not currently a member of Copernicus, the European Earth observation programme, so Swiss institutions and companies can only benefit from the opportunities that Copernicus offers or contribute to its development to a limited extent. This puts the Swiss research landscape at a disadvantage, as it is dependent on international collaboration. Switzerland is also excluded from start-up funding through Copernicus and product platform development.  

Although Parliament approved participation in 2023, the Federal Council decided to forgo involvement until the end of 2027 for cost reasons. However, users of Earth observation data from science and industry are striving for re-participation from 2028 onwards, arguing that only through active participation can the scientific and commercial potential of Copernicus data be fully exploited. 

Many decision-makers still know too little about the possibilities of Earth observation and fail to recognise the added value of services. Targeted support for start-ups and SMEs in this field would provide a greater boost for value-adding commercialisation of this outstanding database.  

Focus on industry

Earth observation is tremendously important to industry, particularly in production and services. Some 30 Swiss companies are involved in building satellites, measuring instruments, sensors and other components that are important for Earth observation. The market potential in services that can be provided using collected data remains underexploited in Switzerland.  

Hardware development, requires specialists with extensive knowledge of physics, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, not to mention in-depth software knowledge. The latter is also required in services, accompanied by sound knowledge of programming, big data analysis and geoinformation. Switzerland currently has sufficient graduates with the relevant skills. Well-trained specialists are even increasingly moving abroad because Switzerland has too few companies that are willing to use the relevant expertise.  

International perspective

The technological pioneers in Earth observation are the USA with the Landsat satellite system and Europe with Copernicus’s Sentinel satellites. In Europe, data is used intensively at country level. Countries such as Japan, China and Canada are also catching up and setting specific priorities. Switzerland is particularly strong in development and research, and is in a good position to play a pioneering role. Research groups at Agroscope, WSL and SLF, not to mention ETH Zurich, EPFL and the Universities of Zurich, Basel and Bern, are already conducting relevant research and also benefit from strong networks in European joint projects. 

Future applications

In the future, geolocation data from satellites will help to monitor compliance with the new EU regulation on deforestation-free supply chains. This comes into force in 2025 and prohibits trade in commodities such as wood, coffee, cocoa, rubber, palm oil, beef and soya from areas cleared after 2020. 

Earth observation will thus become a key tool for verifiable and credible supply chains.  

New applications are also expected from advances in artificial intelligence methods, which can make scouring the vast amounts of data for relevant information both quicker and easier.  

Today, Earth observation technology is used across many areas of research and industry. The future lies in combining open data, smart technology and concrete benefits for society, the environment and the economy. Switzerland is particularly strong in the field of geodata, but there are only a few start-ups that are using satellite data to add value. Specific funding lines supporting knowledge transfer from research groups to companies, plus participation in the EU’s Copernicus programme, could address this.