Aravind Ravichandran: From Images to Actions: An Introduction to Earth Observation - MBM#50

Minds Behind Maps

Aravind Ravichandran is the founder of TerraWatch Space, where he does consulting and strategy with the goal, in his words, to demystify Earth Observation. This is an introduction to the 5 layers Aravind identifies as making the Earth Observation industry. Aravind writes one of the most popular newsletter gathering the latest news and featuring deep dives analysing the industry. We also hosts a podcast -albeit on pause at the moment- so was the perfect person to discuss Earth Observation at a high level.

Episode Sponsor: SkyFi
Get high resolution imagery easily, with prices up front on SkyFi.com

About Aravind

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• TerraWatch space
• Aravind's Newsletter
• Aravind's podcast

Shownotes

Note: Links to books are Amazon Affiliate links. I earn a small commission if you buy any of these books.

• This conversation is based around Aravind's State of Earth Observation deep dive
• Aravind's previous appearance on Minds Behind Maps
• My interview with Andrew Blum
• Sentinel Hub
• My interview with Grega, the founder of Sentinel Hub on building a platform for satellite imagery
• Global Forest Watch
• Forest Pulse: The Latest on the World's Forests
• ESA WorldCover Land Use Land Cover map
• Flight Radar 24
• Book & podcast recommendations
  • To Sell is Human by Daniel H. Pink (Affiliate Link)
  • The Weather Machine by Andrew Blum (Affiliate Link)
  • The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg (Affiliate Link)
  • How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates (Affiliate Link)
  • Lenny's podcast

Timestamps

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:00) - Sponsor: SkyFi

(02:10) - Explaining Earth Observation from scratch

(03:57) - Why do we need satellites in the first place?

(05:43) - Why not use ground measurements?

(08:22) - What happens after satellites take images?

(11:55) - 5 Layers of satellite imagery

(12:24) - Layer 1: Data

(13:50) - Layer 2: Platform

(18:35) - A Streaming App Analogy to Platforms

(20:55) - Layer 3: Analytics

(23:10) - Edge Computing

(24:37) - Layer 4: Insights

(28:12) - Layer 5: Application

(31:42) - What is TerraWatch?

(39:15) - How TerraWatch makes money

(44:13) - Sharing Information for free, but sustainably?

(51:33) - Pausing the TerraWatch podcast

(59:05) - Aravind's course on Earth Observation

(01:03:39) - Defining Edge Compute

(01:15:07) - Where Aravind finds his information

(01:21:58) - Book & Podcast Recommendations

- Support the podcast on Patreon
- Website
- My Twitter
- Podcast Twitter
- Read Previous Issues of the Newsletter
- Edited by Peter Xiong. Find more of his work