Ciseres: AI-powered satellites for rapid disaster response  

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 15 October 2024 09:50

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This week, at the International Aeronautics Congress in Milan, ESA officially kicked off a new project called Ciseres, a small satellite mission designed to significantly improve crisis response times using artificial intelligence (AI). Part of ESA's Civil Security from Space (CSS) programme, Ciseres aims to enhance satellite capabilities to alert first responders and government officials within minutes of the occurrence of a disaster – such as floods, fires, landslides. The project is led and co-financed by Deimos, a European space tech company specialising in small satellite missions.

AI filters and compresses crucial data only for faster transmission 

Ciseres addresses this challenge by directly integrating AI into the process. The AI acts as a sophisticated filter, scanning the enormous amounts of data processed by the satellite at all times to identify the most relevant information. It then compresses this data at high speed, allowing for the transmission of essential details to the right people within just a few minutes. 

“By enabling AI-based processing directly on board the satellite, the Ciseres end-to-end solution will provide users with rapid 'actionable' information right away,” said Laurent Jaffart, ESA Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications. "We’re bringing New Space – in the form of AI, small sats, constellations, high resolution, optical and radar – to the last mile delivery in satellite communications.”  

ESA has partnered with three European companies for Ciseres, harnessing their technological capabilities to explore how best to utilise AI for disaster response.  

Deimos, an end-to-end small satellite mission provider, will offer expertise in Edge AI and machine learning operations. 
Skylabs, a satellite computer firm, will provide the on-board computer and high-performance computing capabilities. 
GINA, an emergency response software-as-a-service provider, will develop the Earth Observation platform.

While Ciseres is a European initiative, its potential impact extends globally. The project aligns with international efforts to improve early warning systems and disaster resilience worldwide. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of natural disasters, AI-empowered satellite technology can address complex, time-sensitive issues on a global scale.