Irish space-AI company Ubotica and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) demonstrate how AI-powered satellites can deliver rapid, real-time intelligence during disasters.
- The CogniSAT-6 satellite autonomously processed and delivered critical flood data over Valencia within minutes, bypassing traditional ground-based methods that take days.
- An AI model – Surface Water Insights for Flood Tracking (SWIFT) – developed by NASA JPL and executing on CogniSAT-6 estimated that 21% of the observed area near Valencia was flooded, and sent down accurate flood data immediately to Earth.
- “This technological demonstration highlights the vital role of smart, autonomous, AI-enabled satellites in delivering critical data in real-time to aid in disaster mitigation, and ultimately save lives,” said Fintan Buckley, CEO at Ubotica.
Dublin, November 25- Irish space-AI company Ubotica and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have recently demonstrated the significant value of AI-powered satellite technology in delivering rapid, real-time insights during disasters.
The demonstration comes as Ubotica’s CogniSAT-6 satellite autonomously captured, processed and delivered critical flood data over the disaster area during the recent catastrophic flooding in Valencia, Spain.
NASA JPL has built and deployed 6 AI models on CogniSAT-6: two AI models for cloud detection, two SWIFT AI models for surface water extent/flood detection, and two AI models for thermal hotspot detection.
Running these AI models, CogniSAT-6 passed over the flood-affected Valencia region, coinciding with imaging by NASA’s Landsat-8 satellite. The satellite autonomously deployed the SWIFT and cloud detection models in order to immediately assess the impact. Flood data was processed autonomously onboard the satellite and insights were transmitted to Earth within minutes using inter-satellite links.
In comparison, traditional Earth Observation systems can take days for the full raw data to be downlinked, processed, and delivered to end users, creating delays that can hinder effective decision-making.
SWIFT model executed onboard estimated that 21% of the observed region in Spain was submerged, providing an accurate and immediate assessment of the flood’s severity.
[02 November 2024]: SWIFT AI model output illustrating flood extent – left side shows standard visual, right side highlights detected water bodies in red, revealing extensive flooding across affected land areas.]
“This technological demonstration highlights the vital role of smart, autonomous, AI-enabled satellites in delivering critical data in real-time to aid in disaster mitigation, and ultimately save lives,” said Fintan Buckley, Ubotica’s CEO.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the recent tragic flooding in Valencia. This tragedy is particularly close to home for our team, many of whom are based in Ciudad Real, Spain. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with all those affected.”
“The use of CogniSAT-6 over Valencia showcases a compelling example of how satellites can transition from passive observation to proactive, instantaneous action with AI, delivering transformational value to humanity across security, commerce and environmental protection,” he added.
A glimpse into the future of disaster mitigation
The Valencia flooding, among the most severe in decades, highlights the critical need for faster, more actionable data during crises.
By processing data directly in space and delivering rapid insights, the SWIFT AI model onboard CogniSAT-6 demonstrates how satellites can reduce these delays, supporting decision-makers in future disasters.
During the event, the SWIFT and cloud models autonomously analysed surface water extent and cloud cover, showing how satellite technologies might bridge critical information gaps in future scenarios.
The data capture over Valencia reflects an ongoing collaboration between Ubotica and NASA JPL to develop AI-powered satellites for enhanced Earth Observation.
As Ubotica and NASA continue to push the boundaries of space-based Edge-AI, their work highlights the potential for intelligent, autonomous satellites to play a key role in safeguarding our world.