The MapScaping Podcast - GIS, Geospatial, Remote Sensing, earth observation and digital geography

In this episode, we welcome back Lauren Guy, CEO and founder of ASTERRA, a groundbreaking company using L band and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for commercial purposes. Lauren shares his journey as a geophysicist and discusses the innovative applications of L band in detecting water leakages, soil moisture, and even minerals from space. Dive deep into the technical, commercial, and environmental aspects of SAR technology and learn about the future potential of this exciting field.

**Key Topics Covered:**

1. **Introduction to Astera**:

   - Overview of Asterra's mission and Lauren Guy's background as a geophysicist.

   - The unique use of L band and SAR for commercial applications.

1. **Understanding L Band and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)**:

   - Explanation of the electromagnetic spectrum and how L band fits in.

   - Advantages of L band, including its ability to penetrate the ground.

1. **Technical Insights into SAR**:

   - Detailed discussion on polarizations, signal processing, and the electrical properties of materials detected by SAR.

   - Comparison between L band and other bands like X and C band.

1. **Applications and Benefits of L Band**:

   - Real-world examples of how Astera uses L band for water leak detection and soil moisture mapping.

   - Discussion on the environmental and commercial impact of these applications.

1. **Challenges and Limitations**:

   - Addressing issues such as noise interference from cell phones and radars.

   - Limitations in resolution and the complexities of SAR technology.

1. **Case Studies and Success Stories**:

   - Success stories including the detection of 118,000 water leakages worldwide and the discovery of significant lithium deposits.

1. **Business Strategies and Market Penetration**:

   - Insights into ASTERRA's business model, customer education, and market challenges.

   - Strategies for overcoming barriers and building trust with clients.

1. **Future Aspirations and Technological Developments**:

   - Plans for launching their own satellites to ensure reliable data sources.

   - The role of AI in enhancing SAR capabilities and improving detection accuracy.

1. **Entrepreneurial Advice for Remote Sensing Practitioners**:

   - Lauren’s advice for remote sensing scientists and entrepreneurs in the industry.

   - The importance of data feedback loops and the journey from a 20% to an 86% success rate in detections.

**Guest Information:**

- **Lauren Guy**: CTO and founder of ASTERRA. Connect with Lauren on https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-guy-asterra/

**Company Information:**

- **ASTERRA**: Learn more about ASTERRA’s innovative solutions at https://asterra.io/

**Additional Resources:**

- Check out Lauren’s previous appearance on the podcast for more insights into SAR technology.

- Explore ASTERRA’s groundbreaking work in remote sensing and their various applications across different industries.

**Episode Highlights:**

- "We can find water leakages from space and distinguish treated water from other types of water based on their dielectric properties."

- "ASTERRA has verified, dug, and fixed 118,000 leakages across 65 countries using L band SAR technology."

- "Our success rate has increased from 20% to around 86% thanks to the integration of AI and continuous data feedback."

**Support the Show:**

- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favourite podcast platform and share it with your network.

Thank you for tuning in to the MapScaping Podcast!

Recommended Listening 

Finding Water Leaks From Space

Introduction To Synthetic Aperture Radar-SAR

Flood Monitoring From Space ( using SAR)

Cloud-native geospatial, range requests, chucks, COGs and COPCs ... [ insert confusing acronym here ] 

Sometimes It feels like we need to learn a whole new vocabulary and if you have been doing #geo for a while you might be wondering how much of this is actually going to impact me. What bits of this are the ones that I need to know about? 

I don’t think that anyone is going to be talking about cloud native in 10 years, in the same way, no one talks about digital cartography or computer analysis because where else would you do your cartography? And how else would you do your analysis? 

Maybe the names won’t be as important but the concepts will and while this episode is focused on Geoparquet it does so within the context of cloud-native geospatial - and this concept is not going away! 

You can connect with Kyle Barron here https://x.com/kylebarron2 or here https://kylebarron.dev/ 

 If you want to learn more about cloud-native geospatial I can highly recommend these episodes

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/cloud-optimized-point-clouds/

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/introduction-to-cloud-native-geospatial/

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/planet-scale-tiled-maps-without-a-server/

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/what-is-modern-gis/

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/the-planetary-computer/

I am working on a new project called https://quickmaptools.com/ like the name suggests it is a bunch of browser-based map tools. So far we have created several different conversion tools and will continue to add more to the list. Check it and let me know what you think!

Mappedin started as a school project and evolved into a leading indoor mapping company, working with malls, airports, hospitals, and Fortune 500 companies.

You guessed, today's podcast is all about indoor mapping, why it's hard, what are the use cases driving it, what the state of the art looks like today and what we can expect in the future.

Key points discussed include:

1. **The Challenge of Indoor Mapping**: Unlike outdoor mapping, indoor environments are complex due to the density of objects and frequent changes. Moreover, indoor spaces are mostly private property, making it difficult to collect data comprehensively.

2. **Importance of Indoor Maps**: Despite the challenges, the need for indoor maps is growing. Applications range from wayfinding in malls and airports to optimizing logistics in warehouses and creating better guest experiences in various venues.

3. **Mappedins's Approach**: enabling non-experts to create and maintain indoor maps. Their tools are designed for everyday users, allowing them to update maps as easily as they would a document in Google Docs.

4. **Technological Advances**: While technologies like LiDAR and digital twins offer detailed 3D models, are they really practical? .

5. **Indoor Positioning**: Accurate indoor positioning is crucial for the success of indoor maps, similar to how GPS revolutionized outdoor mapping. However, this remains a challenging area due to signal interference and the complexity of indoor spaces.

6. **Future Outlook**:  Digital indoor maps become as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi, providing essential data for various applications and improving overall user experience ... but we are not there yet!

Try Mappedin for yourself https://www.mappedin.com/

or connect with Hongwei  here  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hongweil/ 

Recommended Listening 

Where does the blue dot come from ( how Google knows your location )

Hyper Accurate Indoor Location

Using the Geomagnetic fields of buildings to navigate indoors

I am working on a new project https://quickmaptools.com/ and would really appreciate some feedback! 

Hugo Powell, from immap.org shares his expert insights on how GIS technologies are leveraged to analyze data, visualize scenarios, and facilitate rapid decision-making during emergencies.

Here are the key tools mentioned:

1. **Kobo Toolbox**: An open-source tool used for data collection in humanitarian contexts. Kobo Toolbox allows for both quantitative and qualitative data collection and is operational offline, which is crucial in areas with limited internet connectivity. It supports geospatial data collection and can be used for needs assessments in settings like refugee camps.

2. **ODK Collect**: Similar to Kobo Toolbox, ODK Collect is an open-source mobile application used for field data collection. It is widely used in humanitarian efforts for its ease of use and the capability to work offline.

3. **QGIS**: A free and open-source geographic information system used for viewing, editing, and analyzing geospatial data. Hugo notes that QGIS is core for mapping and data analysis in humanitarian operations.

4. **Tableau and Power BI**: Business intelligence tools mentioned for their use in analyzing and visualizing data. These tools help in making data-driven decisions during humanitarian operations.

5. **Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX)**: An open platform for sharing data across crises and organizations, which helps in avoiding duplication of efforts and enhances coordination among humanitarian actors.

6. **Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)**: Provides crowdsourced geospatial data which is extremely valuable in humanitarian settings for its accuracy and timeliness.

7. **Esri’s Living Atlas and other Esri tools**: While not open-source, Esri’s tools are sometimes used for their comprehensive geospatial data, particularly in natural disaster contexts like earthquakes.

8. **Humanitarian Spatial Data Center**: Managed by IMAP, this tool aggregates and processes data, providing access to data, analytics, and visualization tools all in one place. It has been particularly successful in deployments like Afghanistan.

This episode was sponsored by scribblemaps.com

https://youtu.be/CDkG9eS6H2M

Recommended Listening 

Geospatial Support For Humanitarian Emergencies

A Self-Contained Environment For Open-Source Geospatial Tools

GGIS Offline And In The Field

The Business Of Web Maps

Peer to Peer Mapping And Digital Democracy

I am working on a new project over at QuickMapTools.com

and any feedback is really appreciated! 

AI Autocomplete for QGIS

Brendan Ashworth the CTO and co-founder of https://buntinglabs.com/ focuses on integrating AI with QGIS, and today on the podcast we are talking about Autocomplete for vectorization.

Along the way Brendan will share with us why Bunting Labs chose to build this on top of QGIS, the Challenges in Map Digitization, what the development process was like and how this is different from tools like Segment Anything ( from meta ) 

Here's what we discussed:

Introduction to Bunting Labs: Get to know more about Brendan and Bunting Labs, whose mission revolves around enhancing QGIS with AI, especially focusing on automating vectorization processes.

AI Autocomplete for Vectorization: We explored the AI autocomplete feature developed by Bunting Labs that simplifies the vectorization of maps in QGIS, streamlining the digitization process for better efficiency.

Brendan’s Background and Motivation: Brendan shared his journey from a software engineer to a pivotal player in the geospatial sector, spurred by a project that showcased the potential of merging geospatial data with machine learning.

Why Choose QGIS?: Discover why Bunting Labs opted for QGIS over other GIS platforms, with an emphasis on its open-source nature and vibrant community ecosystem.

Challenges in Map Digitization: Our conversation covered the technical challenges involved in developing AI capable of accurately understanding and digitizing maps.

Iterative Development and Learning: Brendan highlighted the evolutionary process of their AI model, which has significantly improved from its early versions.

AI vs. Segment Anything: Brendan explained how their AI autocomplete tool differs from existing solutions like Segment Anything, particularly in handling specific digitizing challenges.

The Future of AI in Geospatial Data Analysis: We discussed potential future applications of AI in geospatial data, including automatic georeferencing and metadata extraction.

Privacy Considerations: We also touched on the importance of privacy in the development and deployment of AI technologies in geospatial data analysis.

Changing the Geospatial Landscape: Brendan shared his vision for using geospatial data not just to map the current world but to plan and improve future landscapes.

Sponsored by https://www.scribblemaps.com/

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/the-business-of-web-maps/

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/the-business-of-qgis-development/

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/qgis-offline-and-in-the-field/

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/computer-vision-and-geoai/

GNSS receivers - why precise positioning will not be coming to your phone any time soon

Igor is the CEO and cofounder of Emlid.com a company that started out making high-precision GNSS receivers in his kitchen and crowd-funded the first batch on Kickstarter. 

But that was over ten years ago so today on the podcast Igor is going to tell us about the innovations that made this possible, give a great explanation of RTK and PPP and explain why we should expect to see high precision positioning on your phone any time soon.

Connect with Igor here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igor-vereninov-52a73ab0/

Or visit https://emlid.com/

In this episode, we cover: 

1. **Introduction to Emlid and its Focus**: Introduction to the company Emlid, its CEO and co-founder Igor, and their focus on high precision GNSS receivers and software designed for centimeter accuracy positioning.

1. **Startup Story and Crowdfunding**: The origin story of Emlid, starting from working with drones in university, the need for accurate maps, the initial challenges with high precision GPS technology, the development of their own GNSS receiver, and their successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.

1. **Innovations in GNSS Technology**: How Emlid managed to make high precision GNSS technology more affordable and accessible, the role of open-source software, and the technical innovations that allowed them to reduce the cost and size of GNSS receivers.

1. **Market and Technology Evolution**: The discussion on how the market for GNSS technology has evolved, including the impact of autonomous cars on the development and availability of multi-frequency GNSS chips, and how these advancements benefited broader applications beyond surveying and construction.

1. **Precision vs. Accuracy in GNSS**: An explanation of the difference between precision and accuracy in the context of GNSS technology, and the significance of each in various applications like drone mapping and volume measurements.

1. **RTK and PPP Explained**: A detailed explanation of Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) and Precise Point Positioning (PPP), including how they work, their applications, and their advantages and limitations.

1. **The Future of GNSS Technology**: Insights into the future directions of GNSS technology, including the challenges and potentials for achieving sub-centimeter accuracy with smartphones, the complementarity of GNSS and visual positioning systems, and the potential for GNSS technology to replace traditional surveying methods.

1. **Global Utility of GNSS**: A discussion on the importance of GNSS as a global utility, its indispensable role in modern technology and everyday life, and the potential consequences of GNSS failures.

More GNSS-related podcast episodes!

From GNSS to VPS

Reimaging GPS

How Google Knows Your Location

Past, Present and Future of GNSS

SBAS - A base station in the sky

Refactoring the Way you Talk About your geospatial skills: It is Costing you Money

Some of the key topics in this episode 

1.Our Geospatial Skills and Marketability: There's a realization that while our traditional geospatial skills are valuable, they might not always be marketed effectively to match the broader IT and data analysis job markets. We discuss the benefit of framing our skills in terms that are more widely recognized outside the niche of geospatial technology, such as data science or IT.

2.The Spatial Discount: We explore the concept of the spatial discount, which refers to the observation that geospatial professionals might face a disparity in compensation compared to their counterparts in more generalized IT roles, despite having highly transferable and valuable data manipulation skills.

3. Skill Development and Adaptation: The importance of continually developing skills that are not only advanced within the geospatial domain but also marketable across various sectors is emphasized. Learning and mastering technologies that have broad applications, such as SQL for spatial data manipulation, can enhance our versatility and marketability.

4. Communication and Marketing Skills: Our ability to effectively communicate and market our skills is highlighted as crucial for career advancement. We are encouraged to adopt the language and terminology that resonate with broader industries and potential employers, moving beyond the jargon of the geospatial field.

5. Finding Value in Our Geospatial Work: The discussion also touches on the importance of identifying and articulating the real-world value of our geospatial work. We should focus on how our skills can solve practical problems and address the needs of businesses and organizations, rather than solely on the technical complexity of our tasks.

6. Professional Development: Lastly, the conversation advocates for a proactive approach to our professional development, suggesting that we should seek out opportunities to learn new skills and technologies that align with market demands and personal interests.

These points collectively suggest a strategy for us, as geospatial professionals, to enhance our career prospects: by broadening our skill sets, effectively marketing our capabilities, and aligning our work with the needs and language of the wider IT and data analysis fields.

Connect with Brain Timoney on LinkedIn 

Thank you to our sponsors 

https://www.scribblemaps.com/ 

https://merginmaps.com/

Recommended Listening

Modern Geospatial

Rebranding Gis and Geospatial

Getting Where You Want To Go In Your Geospatial Career

Mid-Career Change

Modern geospatial - not the bleeding edge of geospatial but modern geospatial - what is it?

Well my guest Will Cadell, the CEO of SparkGeo describes modern geospatial as the intersection of the cloud, smart space, open source data/standards, AI and smart devices - that's modern geospatial 

And as you will hear during the discussion it's important to understand the difference between modernisation and innovation when we think about moving people from where they are now to where they want to be with regards to their geospatial capabilities. 

You might be wondering - what does any of this have to do with me? I just want to make better things, I just want to help people use all this awesome geospatial stuff …

but you don’t get to do that without first understanding what “better” looks like for them - what is their version of awesome geo stuff … and that is why you should listen to this episode! 

Connect with Will Cadell

Twitter https://twitter.com/geo_will

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/willcadell/

SparkGeo  https://sparkgeo.com/

https://www.strategicgeospatial.com/

This episode is sponsored by https://www.scribblemaps.com/

Recommended Listening

The Business of Web Maps

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/the-business-of-web-maps/

Modern GIS

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/what-is-modern-gis/

The main topics discussed during this episode include:

1. Basics of LIDAR data and its applications.

Connect with Nejc Dougan here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nejcdougan/

or at https://www.flai.ai/ 

Recommended listening 

Cloud Optimized Point Clouds

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/cloud-optimized-point-clouds/

PDAL - the point data abstraction library

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/pdal-point-data-abstraction-library/

Lidar from drones

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/lidar-from-drones/

Bathymetric Lidar

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/bathymetric-lidar-and-blue-carbon/

Alex Leith is a Digital Earth Architect and in this episode, you will learn what Infrastructure as code is  - hint it is the opposite of the "clicky-clicky" and so much more!

Connect with Alex here https://auspatious.com/

Recommended Listening 

Cloud-Optimized Point CLounds

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/cloud-optimized-point-clouds/

Cloud Native Geospatial 

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/cloud-native-geospatial/

Planet Scale Tiled Maps without a Server

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/planet-scale-tiled-maps-without-a-server/

What is Modern GIS

https://mapscaping.com/podcast/what-is-modern-gis/