SmallSats: a new technological frontier in ecology and conservation?
Abstract We are in the midst of a revolution in satellite technology, with the rapid development and advancement of small satellites (or SmallSats, i.e., satellites <180 kg). Here, we review the opportunities and challenges that such technology might afford in the field of conservation and ecolog...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.239 |
| _version_ | 1828408357876137984 |
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| author | David J. Curnick Alasdair J. Davies Clare Duncan Robin Freeman David M. P. Jacoby Hugo T. E. Shelley Cristian Rossi Oliver R. Wearn Michael J. Williamson Nathalie Pettorelli |
| author_facet | David J. Curnick Alasdair J. Davies Clare Duncan Robin Freeman David M. P. Jacoby Hugo T. E. Shelley Cristian Rossi Oliver R. Wearn Michael J. Williamson Nathalie Pettorelli |
| author_sort | David J. Curnick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We are in the midst of a revolution in satellite technology, with the rapid development and advancement of small satellites (or SmallSats, i.e., satellites <180 kg). Here, we review the opportunities and challenges that such technology might afford in the field of conservation and ecology. SmallSat constellations may yield higher resolutions than those that are currently available to scientists and practitioners, increasing opportunities to improve environmental‐monitoring and animal‐tracking capabilities. They may cut access costs to end users, by reducing operational costs and bringing increased competition to the existing market. Their greater flexibility and affordability may moreover enable the development of bespoke constellations for specific conservation and ecological applications, and provide greater interoperability with ground‐based sensors, such as tracking devices and camera traps. In addition, SmallSats may serve as cost‐effective research and development platforms for new components and products. Combined, these benefits could significantly improve our ability to monitor threats to the environment as they unfold, while enhancing our understanding of animal ecology and ecosystem dynamics. However, significant hardware and software developments are required before such technology is able to produce, process and handle reliable and cost‐effective data, and the initial research and development costs still represent a major challenge. Further, we argue that much remains to be done to ensure these new data products become accessible, equitable and sustainable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:38:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8c858046cf4547df943342c7dfa33648 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-3485 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:38:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c858046cf4547df943342c7dfa336482022-12-22T01:50:21ZengWileyRemote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation2056-34852022-04-018213915010.1002/rse2.239SmallSats: a new technological frontier in ecology and conservation?David J. Curnick0Alasdair J. Davies1Clare Duncan2Robin Freeman3David M. P. Jacoby4Hugo T. E. Shelley5Cristian Rossi6Oliver R. Wearn7Michael J. Williamson8Nathalie Pettorelli9Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regents Park London NW1 4RY UKArribada Initiative 25 Montague Road Manchester M33 3BU UKInstitute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regents Park London NW1 4RY UKInstitute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regents Park London NW1 4RY UKInstitute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regents Park London NW1 4RY UKIota Technology Unit 30, 5‐10 Corbridge Crescent London E2 9DS UKSatellite Applications Catapult Harwell Campus Didcot OX11 0QR UKInstitute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regents Park London NW1 4RY UKInstitute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regents Park London NW1 4RY UKInstitute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regents Park London NW1 4RY UKAbstract We are in the midst of a revolution in satellite technology, with the rapid development and advancement of small satellites (or SmallSats, i.e., satellites <180 kg). Here, we review the opportunities and challenges that such technology might afford in the field of conservation and ecology. SmallSat constellations may yield higher resolutions than those that are currently available to scientists and practitioners, increasing opportunities to improve environmental‐monitoring and animal‐tracking capabilities. They may cut access costs to end users, by reducing operational costs and bringing increased competition to the existing market. Their greater flexibility and affordability may moreover enable the development of bespoke constellations for specific conservation and ecological applications, and provide greater interoperability with ground‐based sensors, such as tracking devices and camera traps. In addition, SmallSats may serve as cost‐effective research and development platforms for new components and products. Combined, these benefits could significantly improve our ability to monitor threats to the environment as they unfold, while enhancing our understanding of animal ecology and ecosystem dynamics. However, significant hardware and software developments are required before such technology is able to produce, process and handle reliable and cost‐effective data, and the initial research and development costs still represent a major challenge. Further, we argue that much remains to be done to ensure these new data products become accessible, equitable and sustainable.https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.239Biotelemetryearth observationnanosatellitesoptical imageryremote sensingsmall satellites |
| spellingShingle | David J. Curnick Alasdair J. Davies Clare Duncan Robin Freeman David M. P. Jacoby Hugo T. E. Shelley Cristian Rossi Oliver R. Wearn Michael J. Williamson Nathalie Pettorelli SmallSats: a new technological frontier in ecology and conservation? Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation Biotelemetry earth observation nanosatellites optical imagery remote sensing small satellites |
| title | SmallSats: a new technological frontier in ecology and conservation? |
| title_full | SmallSats: a new technological frontier in ecology and conservation? |
| title_fullStr | SmallSats: a new technological frontier in ecology and conservation? |
| title_full_unstemmed | SmallSats: a new technological frontier in ecology and conservation? |
| title_short | SmallSats: a new technological frontier in ecology and conservation? |
| title_sort | smallsats a new technological frontier in ecology and conservation |
| topic | Biotelemetry earth observation nanosatellites optical imagery remote sensing small satellites |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.239 |
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