ST Engineering GeoInsight Private Limited (ST Engineering GeoInsight), the Earth observation and geospatial analytics business of ST Engineering, and EY Corporate Advisors Private Limited (EY) have announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on space technology and geospatial analytics aimed at solving pressing environmental problems.
Under the MOU, the two parties will jointly develop a sustainability roadmap using geospatial data and consider forming a joint sustainability product development working group focused on five key areas: deforestation, water management and quality, compliance with the requirements of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures or the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, carbon accounting, and environmental impact baseline setting.
In addition, the two companies will explore joint development of a geospatial platform, integrating ST Engineering GeoInsight capabilities into EY’s existing infrastructure resilience services, which focus on rail, road, water, pipelines and power lines.
Goh Ing Nam, general manager of ST Engineering Geoinsight, said: “In today’s interconnected world, geospatial analytics plays an increasingly important role across sectors and industries, from urban planning and disaster response to environmental protection. Our strong expertise in leveraging Earth observation data and conducting geospatial analytics enables us to provide valuable insights and solutions to drive positive change and foster a more sustainable future for future generations. Our relationship with EY represents an alignment of strengths and resources dedicated to making a meaningful contribution towards a healthier planet.”
Liew Nam Soon, EY ASEAN Managing Partner and Singapore Country Managing Partner of Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, said: “We are pleased to work with ST Engineering Geoinsight, combining their technology capabilities with our deep business and domain knowledge across a wide range of industries to provide a unique perspective on the challenges facing governments and enterprises in the region. We believe space technology can be a game-changer for enabling a better working world. Space technologies and analytics can unlock new insights and provide a deeper understanding of natural habitats, the built environment, human behaviour patterns and opportunities for optimisation of critical infrastructure, allowing for smarter decisions to mitigate risks or unlock new opportunities and value for governments, businesses and society at large.”
This effort is underpinned by investments in innovation by both parties: EY has developed EY Space Tech, which combines satellite imagery with artificial intelligence (AI) to provide Earth observation analytics and services to clients through the EY Space for Earth Platform, developed by a multidisciplinary team of data scientists, technologists, and geospatial and product management experts.
ST Engineering GeoInsight provides analytics, information products and value-added services based on satellite imagery to meet the growing global demand for timely insights. It also has the capability to integrate optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data to provide geospatial solutions that provide a complete picture of the Earth’s surface. Combining optical imagery for high-resolution visual data and SAR data for all-weather and day/night imaging capabilities, ST Engineering GeoInsight can provide better insights for a variety of applications, including urban planning, disaster monitoring, maritime safety and security, environmental monitoring and crop growth tracking.
Great potential for space technology applications
Space technology refers to the design, development, manufacture and use of equipment and systems to create the technology needed to explore beyond low Earth orbit, using satellites, AI and human intelligence. Space technology combines the use of a wide range of supporting technologies and infrastructure, including spacecraft, satellites, space stations and orbital launch vehicles.
Space technologies will work together with 5G, enhanced satellite systems, 3D printing, big data and quantum computing to improve and expand operations in space, enabling increased visibility over vast distances, time-series data and improved efficiencies across a range of application areas.
Areas where the application of space technology can have a direct impact include:
Sustainability (tackling climate change, tracking weather patterns, monitoring water quality and land erosion) Environmental (monitoring wildlife crime, tracking animals, protecting the environment, monitoring aquatic life and deforestation) Social (responding to natural disasters, managing and preventing pandemics, tracking and predicting poverty, controlling crime, enabling space spin-offs) Agriculture (improving crop yields and enabling precision agriculture)
Infrastructure and public transport (supporting town maintenance, monitoring structural health, enabling advanced communication systems, understanding traffic flow patterns)
