TY - JOUR

T1 - SmallSats

T2 - a new technological frontier in ecology and conservation?

AU - Curnick, D.J.

AU - Davies, A.J.

AU - Duncan, C.

AU - Freeman, R.

AU - Jacoby, D.M.P.

AU - Shelley, H.T.E.

AU - Rossi, C.

AU - Wearn, O.R.

AU - Williamson, M.J.

AU - Pettorelli, N.

PY - 2022/4/30

Y1 - 2022/4/30

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Biotelemetry

KW - earth observation

KW - nanosatellites

KW - optical imagery

KW - remote sensing

KW - small satellites

U2 - 10.1002/rse2.239

DO - 10.1002/rse2.239

M3 - Journal article

VL - 8

SP - 139

EP - 150

JO - Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation

JF - Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation

SN - 2056-3485

IS - 2

ER -