Earth observation brand CATALYST says its Normalised Radar Backscatter (NRB) product has met the required standards and that the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) has officially recognised it as compliant.
The company says this underscores its collaboration with major space agencies, including JAXA and NASA, in advancing analysis-ready data (ARD), aligning with CEOS’ efforts in biodiversity monitoring. CATALYST says it has also initiated the peer review process to gain CEOS compliance for its surface reflectance product family specification.
CATALYST has developed advanced ARD processing pipelines for both multispectral optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. These developments are especially timely as the industry experiences increasing demand for multi-temporal data extraction and the integration of big data and AI in Earth observation.
“We’re proud to be at the forefront of ARD technology,” said PCI’s Product VP Kevin Jones. “Our sensor-agnostic approach to ARD production aligns with CEOS’ mission to standardise and ensure the quality of Earth observation data, supporting critical research and scientific efforts to address the impacts of climate change.”
“Commercialisation in the space sector are key to accelerating innovation, expanding access, and driving sustainable growth,” says UK Space Agency CEO Paul Bate. “By fostering collaboration between private enterprises and governmental space agencies, we can unlock new technologies, create jobs and make space more accessible. Strong partnerships between industry leaders like CATALYST and CEOS, fuel this competitive environment by reducing costs, multiplying opportunities and making breakthroughs happen faster.”
The recognition also reflects the collaborations between CEOS and space agencies, like the Canadian Space Agency, which supported CATALYST in advancing its scientific capabilities. CATALYST’s expertise remains sought after by other agencies, including the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), during the development of the SPOT ARD workflow.
