This talk will provide an overview of the Welsh Government Earth Observation Program for Welsh Universities, in partnership with Planet and examples of how data is being used in research.
Working in collaboration with Plant Labs, one of the world’s leading providers of satellite imagery, Welsh Government have provided an amazing opportunity for Welsh university researchers to access high resolution, high frequency earth observation data. There are 2,000 FREE individual licenses available at each of the eight Welsh universities.
Unlocking the Power of High-Resolution Satellite Data: Free Access for Expert Users and Researchers
The Welsh Government is extending a unique opportunity to expert users and academic researchers, granting free access to high-resolution satellite data. This initiative aims to unleash the full potential of this invaluable resource, inviting exploration across a spectrum of use cases. The Welsh Government encourages ongoing collaboration with researchers to gather feedback and identify diverse applications, contributing to a robust long-term strategy for Earth Observation in Wales. This opportunity is available until March 30th, 2025.
What Data Can You Access?
PlanetScope All-Time Access + Download
RapidEye Archive All-Time Access + Download
SkySat Archive Data older than 6 months
Automated and Surface Reflectance Basemaps: Streaming and Download
All data is available over a Global AOI.
How to Access the Data?
There are multiple avenues to gain access to this wealth of data:
- Send an email to support@planet.com with the subject line “Welsh Gov access request” and including your name, university affiliation, and a brief description of your intended use of the data or your University Point of Contact.
- Use the form available in Environment Platform Wales (EPW)’s Welsh Government Earth Observation Program for Welsh Universities
Where to Learn More?
For further information, please visit Planet University Welsh Universities Page, where you can find:
- Training Courses to help you get started using Planet data, including on how to use Planet Plugins (ArcGIS, QGIS and Google Earth Engine) and APIs to search, view and download Planet Imagery
- Webinar recordings from the series co-hosted with Environment Platform Wales
Community Forum group dedicated and accessible only for members of Welsh Universities
About the Speakers
Luisa Teixeira is a Project and Product Manager with proven experience in translating business needs into technical solutions. She is skilled in Environmental Sciences, Natural Resource Management, Sustainability, GIS, Remote Sensing, Data and Data Visualization, Software Development, particularly in the Geospatial domain, Exploring Systems Thinking, Behavioral Science and Communication as levers for Climate Action. She is a peer-reviewed author and reviewer on Earth Observation topics and has a strong working background with commercial, governmental and civil society actors.
James Hitchcock from Forest Research will present on “Generating a cartography of forest change with Planet imagery”. James Hitchcock is a Remote Sensing scientist at Forest Research. He is using Planet data to help provide near real-time information on forest management practices in England to woodland officers. Additionally, he is interested in tree species mapping, and has been probing the efficacy of Planet data for this task in complex urban environments.