News New report: Extracting the benefits of Earth observation
Satellite data is an untapped resource in Australia’s mining and METS sector, finds this report from FrontierSI.
Last updated:18 June 2024
As Australia’s mining and Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector accelerates towards its digital transformation, opportunities for satellite data to drive growth and improvement are expansive.
In automation, efficiency, safety, environmental management, and ultimately profitability, the potential of Earth observation (EO) technology is significant — but so is the knowledge and familiarity gap between technology providers and potential mining users.
Today Digital Earth Australia (DEA) begins to bridge this gap with an exploratory report: Digital Earth Australia and The Mining and METS Industries: Extracting the Benefits of Earth Observation.
“We identify the mining and METS sector’s critical business problems, its operational lifecycle, and its diverse user groups — uncovering how EO can drive innovation in the sector,” say authors.
Digital Earth Australia engaged FrontierSI to conduct exploratory research into the potential application of satellite data across key sectors, including agriculture, mining, finance and insurance, and construction and infrastructure.
The report reflects insights sourced from industry research, interviews, focus groups, conferences and workshops conducted over 2020. It was funded by DEA and published in 2021.
Opportunities identified include:
- Expansion of adoption of existing EO technologies and services across the mining lifecycle;
- Increased use of EO in the sector's move towards greater digitisation and automation; and
- The potential for EO to deliver mining process efficiencies and reduce risk.
DEA encourages both mining and Earth observation professionals to ensure the benefits of satellite technologies are better realised within Australia's mineral resource environments.
Businesses, educators, innovators and individuals are encouraged to take up this conversation with DEA.
Related resources
DEA newsletter
Subscribe to Digital Earth Australia's newsletter and view previous editions.
DEA Tech Alerts
Digital Earth Australia's Tech Alerts: Info on product and data outages, updates & releases.
DEA Landsat 9 Collection 3 Analysis Ready Data now available
Landsat 9 data has been validated, calibrated, and adjusted for Australian conditions for easy analysis across the entire continent.
Meet Norman Mueller: Earth observation scientist
Over the two decades he's worked in remote sensing, Norman has seen Earth observations go from on-request DVD mailouts to distributed, instant big data and time series analysis.
About DEA
Digital Earth Australia is a platform that uses spatial data and images recorded by satellites orbiting our planet to detect physical changes across Australia in unprecedented detail.
Mountain, Field, Reef: Mapping the Jaragun Wetlands Project
DEA Cal/Val scientists deploy drones in Far North Queensland to construct an accurate topographical map of an artificial wetlands terrain while exchanging knowledge with the Wanjuri people.
Meet Belle Tissott: Land Cover creative
Belle creates amazing artwork in the process of doing her job. She gets a kick out of it every time.
DEA Landsat Collection Upgrade
We're upgrading our Landsat products to a new version that may impact some users.
Input data changes impacting DEA products
Our satellite data providers are making changes that may impact you
Geoscience Australia part of international effort to compare next generation of satellite data
Geoscience Australia has taken part in a global campaign to compare data from the Landsat 8 and 9 satellites during a rare underfly.