The Global Market of Value-Added Services in Earth Observation: A Focus on Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR) Imagery

Value Added Services SAR Market Analysis Based on 20 Years of Contract Data

Earth Observation (EO) through Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery has emerged as a powerful tool for a wide range of applications, spanning from environmental monitoring to disaster management and urban planning. The ability to penetrate clouds and darkness, along with its high-resolution capabilities, make SAR an invaluable asset in the field of remote sensing. In this report, the analyst delves into the global market of Earth Observation Value Added Services (EO VAS) specifically utilizing SAR imagery.

The primary objective of this report is to analyze the market landscape of EO VAS based on SAR imagery, focusing on a comprehensive list of government and commercial contracts. By examining the use case and SAR band associated with each contract, we aim to identify patterns, correlations, and key trends within the industry.

The report covers the following chapters:

• Summary - Usecases: a table that shows a correlation between 70 use cases grouped by segments and SAR bands based on the information from contracts received by major SAR VAS providers.
•  Summary: key statistics about niches and cases, technical insights and several M&A deals in the industry.
•  Cases: a list of contracts received by the major SAR VAS providers with a description of the services, satellite, band, client's name, type and revenue, contract amount, date, terms, product type, niche and use case.
•  Unsuitable: a detailed list of contracts of the 12 SAR VAS providers, where the SAR band could not be identified.
•  Band: a list of SAR bands, their characteristics and usual applications.
•  Sources: A full list of sources used for each company with links.

Scope

Countries covered: US, Argentina, Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Vietnam, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Cambodia, and Liberia.

Regions covered: North America, South America, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Asia.

Data: a list of contracts received by the major SAR VAS providers with a description of the services, satellite, band, client's name, type and revenue, contract amount, date, terms, product type, niche and use case.

Data segmentations: bands used among the known cases, niches of radar imagery used among the known cases, and case types within the natural resources niche.

Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using attached links. The full list of sources used to find contracts is included on a separate sheet.

This report provides an overview of contracts signed by Value-Added Services (VAS) SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) companies from 2002 to 2021.

Key Highlights:

• Analysis of SAR utilization by frequency bands (L, X, C, S).
• Exploration of popular applications for radar imagery.
• Examination of use case types within the Natural Resources sector.

Why Buy:

• Evaluate the SAR imagery market based on known signed contracts.
• Identify potential niches for radar imagery usage.
• Ascertain funding sources for players in the SAR VAS market.

The research is built upon 98 contracts from 12 selected VAS SAR companies, with a total value of approximately $88 million. These contracts were signed between 2002 and 2021. The report provides insights into the distribution of frequency bands across known use cases, and it also highlights the most popular segments where these bands are employed. The analysis covers the use of SAR bands across various niches and examines different use case types within the Natural Resources sector.

The companies featured in the report include, among others: 3vgeomatics, GeoNorth Information Systems, Geoville, KSAT, Nevaridge, SARmap, Space-eyes, Airbus Defence and Space, Effigis Geo Solutions, Hatfield Consultants, PlanetWatchers, Tre Altamira, Iceye, Collecte Localisation Satellites, VanderSat, Kayrros, PCI Geomatics, TERRASIGNA (formerly ASRC), SpaceKnow, Gamma Remote Sensing, Ecometrica, CGG, Capella Space, SkyGeo, RS Metrics, Ursa Space Systems, Rezatec, and SATIM Monitoring Satelitarny.

Sources used in this report include the websites of the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, SBIR and STTR Programs, Canadian Space Agency, UK Space Agency, EIC Accelerator, CORDIS, OpenTender, ESA, as well as press releases and news from the companies mentioned.

Given that L-band data was accessible only for a limited time before the NISAR launch in 2020, Sentinel-1 C-band data was employed for monitoring soil moisture. The L-band has greater penetration capability into dry sandy surfaces compared to the C-band, allowing it to reach a few meters deeper. Additionally, the L-band is less susceptible to surface roughness interference than the C-band, which can obscure subsurface information.

Methodology

For this analysis, data was collated from a cohort of 12 prominent companies actively engaged in providing Earth Observation (EO) Value-Added Services (VAS) through the utilization of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. Subsequently, the research process involved delving into the contracts secured by these companies. This phase was executed by referencing official government contract databases within the United States, namely SBIR and STTR Programs, as well as drawing insights from national Space Agencies, the EIC Accelerator, and CORDIS. To further enrich the information, details regarding commercial contracts and practical use cases were extracted from press releases and news items associated with the selected companies.

Following this data compilation, researchers conducted a comprehensive examination of the prevalent SAR bands (X, C, S, L) deployed across various sectors, which were categorized into distinct segments. These segments encompassed military, government, maritime, natural resources, infrastructure monitoring, and finance and insurance domains. The analysis aimed to determine the most frequently used SAR bands within each niche.

Target Market

The report will offer substantial utility to various key stakeholders:

1. Earth Observation Companies: Companies specializing in Earth observation and remote sensing services, especially those harnessing SAR imagery, will find the report invaluable. It provides a comprehensive grasp of market trends, SAR-based value-added service demand, and potential avenues for growth.

2. Government Agencies and Defense Organizations: National and international governmental bodies engaged in environmental monitoring, disaster management, and defense applications can gain substantial insights. The report illuminates the capabilities of SAR-based value-added services, aiding in their operational assessments.

3. Agricultural and Forestry Industries: Agricultural and forestry enterprises stand to benefit from the report's insights into the augmentation of their activities through SAR imagery-based value-added services. Crop monitoring, forest management, and resource evaluation are among the aspects addressed.

4. Investors and Venture Capital Firms: Investors on the lookout for prospects within the Earth observation realm, particularly SAR-based value-added services, will discover a valuable resource. The report facilitates comprehensive evaluations of market potential, competitive dynamics, and growth trajectories of relevant service providers.

5. Environmental Consulting Firms: Environmental consulting firms can tap into the report's offerings to gauge the role of SAR-based value-added services. This extends to areas such as environmental impact assessments, land use planning, and the monitoring of precious natural resources.

By honing in on these specific customer segments, the report effectively caters to the multifaceted landscape of the global Earth observation value-added services market centered on SAR imagery. It is designed to address the distinct interests and requirements of stakeholders across the industry spectrum, including prospective investors.