Market Trends of ASEAN Satellite-based Earth Observation Industry
Government Initiatives and Investments is Driving the Market
- The countries' governments in the ASEAN region are actively investing in developing the framework for adopting satellite-based earth observation data services for better management of natural resources because, through the satellite data services, users can analyze data on time and with accuracy to give precise information for monitoring management and effective reaction driving the market in the region.
- For instance, in May 2023, NASA published a report stating that over 50 million people in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar receive drinking and agricultural water from the Mekong River. The Governmental organizations in charge of that water supply have been implementing actions by using NASA satellite-based Earth data to improve their decision-making, which shows the governmental investments in using satellite data driving the market in the region.
- In addition, scientists in the region, with experts from NASA and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), have collaboratively worked to develop systems that analyze data from Earth-observing satellites to more accurately anticipate heavy rains and monitor reservoir levels as The likelihood of a tsunami happening in Indonesia in mid-2023 was rated at 9.7 on a scale of ten. Indonesia is located along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region prone to frequent volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, drought, and forest fires.
- Satellite-based earth observation is one of the primary support services for disaster management. Many governmental initiatives were established globally, including the ASEAN region, such as Sentinal Asia, to form a consortium for data-based earth observations by collaborating with regional space agencies and disaster management agencies in applying space technology to assist in disaster management of the region.
- For instance, in January 2023, The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) joined Sentinel Asia as a Data Provider Node to provide Earth observation satellite images, which has been designed as a cooperative project to employ satellite technology to support disaster management in many regions, including the ASEAN countries. Sentinel Asia's objective has been to decrease the damage caused by natural disasters by sharing information about them online, such as Earth observation satellite pictures in the region.
Earth Observation Data is Contributing a Significant Portion of the Market Share
- Earth observation satellite data can be used for various ground-based applications, including farming, forestry, mining, water management, and rural and urban development. Satellite-based earth observation data can be used to detect gas leaks and measure Methane, a major cause for the increasing carbon emissions levels, which is fuelling the adoption of EO data services in the region.
- In addition, the ASEAN countries are adopting significant to reduce climate change is a reality and implementing projects with less damaging impacts on the environment by using Satellite based EO data, creating a demand for EO data services in the ASEAN market.
- Global satellite-based EO programs, such as the EU-based Copernicus program, have been expanding in the ASEAN region by increasing their investment activities in the various ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, to increase the earth observation data-based services to make the countries more resilient in disaster management. For instance greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from commodity-driven deforestation were roughly 0.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e).
- For instance, in January 2023, The Copernicus initiatives for Earth observation supported by the European space agencies and the EU, together with national stakeholders, have invested over USD 8 million for the CopPhil initiative in the Philippines, which would encourage the growth of EO data services in the country, creating an opportunity for the Satellite-based EO data service providers in the region.
- Additionally, in July 2022, the Government of Vietnam released a strategy for advancing and using aerospace science and technology by 2030 to address issues with defense and security, enhance environmental and natural resource management, monitor natural disasters and lessen their effects, and offer related services for citizens through increasing national Earth observation capability by deploying small satellite systems in the future, creating a demand for satellite-based EO data services in the region.