top of page

Pleiades Neo Market Series: Public Safety and Homeland Security

Writer's picture: Tod'Aérs StaffTod'Aérs Staff


Overview of Security Challenges


Security encompasses a wide array of critical areas including homeland safety, border control, site security, city management, large event coordination, public safety, blue-light services, emergency response, and crisis management. As global security challenges evolve, the need for effective geospatial information becomes increasingly important. This information transforms raw data into actionable insights, supporting key decision-makers in navigating complex security landscapes and ensuring public safety.


Geospatial Data for Enhanced Decision-Making


In public safety and homeland security, geospatial data is a crucial resource that provides the foundation for reliable and actionable information. Airbus has made substantial investments in developing advanced satellite solutions designed to address the contemporary challenges faced by public safety and emergency organizations. These solutions enhance command and control systems, facilitating the efficient deployment of resources and timely responses to incidents. By leveraging real-time location intelligence, Airbus’s tools support integrated operations planning and help organizations meet their critical "duty of care" objectives.


Innovative Satellite Solutions


Airbus offers specialized satellite solutions that ensure the effective deployment of command and control information to mobile emergency resources in the field. These solutions provide real-time location intelligence and comprehensive mobile data, essential for managing large-scale events, coordinating emergency responses, and ensuring community safety. For instance, Pléiades Neo is considered very-high resolution imagery, which enhances the precision of these solutions by delivering detailed and accurate visual information. Airbus actively participates in international crisis management programs focused on natural and technological disasters, further emphasizing its commitment to supporting public safety and emergency services.


Integration of Multi-Sensor Data


Data remains central to contemporary operations, and Airbus’s approach is centered on offering multi-sensor, multi-resolution, and multi-source data. The Pléiades Neo constellation exemplifies this approach, providing access to one of the largest commercial satellite constellations available. This includes a wide range of elevation products and precise layers and grids, which are critical for detailed analysis and effective decision-making in various security and safety applications.


Capabilities of the Pléiades Neo Constellation


The Pléiades Neo satellites are renowned for their very-high resolution imagery, a term that reflects their advanced Earth observation capabilities. Exclusively financed, manufactured, owned, and managed by Airbus, this constellation consists of two satellites, each offering a resolution of 30 cm. This remarkable level of detail enables highly accurate monitoring and analysis. With their capability to revisit any location on Earth at least once a day, users are guaranteed the most current data available. Together, the satellites provide around 1,000,000 km² of imagery to Airbus's repository daily, which is accessible via the OneAtlas digital platform


Advanced Imaging and Data Accessibility


The Pléiades Neo satellites enable emergency acquisitions within minutes of a request, providing timely and critical information. The imagery from Pléiades Neo is considered very-high resolution imagery, which significantly enhances both human and machine learning analysis. This high level of detail improves object recognition and delivers valuable data for a wide range of applications.


  1. Public Safety: In the sector of public safety, advanced imaging plays a pivotal role in emergency response coordination. The key performance indicator (KPI) here is the time taken to access critical data, with a target set to within 40 minutes. This rapid response capability ensures that emergency services can access up-to-date and precise information swiftly, enabling them to respond effectively to crises.

  2. Homeland Security: For homeland security, particularly in border surveillance, the image resolution and detail provided by Pléiades Neo are crucial. The KPI for this sector is the resolution of the imagery, with a target of achieving 30 cm resolution. This high level of detail is essential for accurately monitoring and managing borders, ensuring national security.

  3. City Management: In urban planning and management, the frequency of imagery updates is a critical factor. The KPI in this sector is the regularity with which new images are provided, with a target of at least daily updates. This frequent updating ensures that city planners and managers have the most current information to make informed decisions about urban development and infrastructure.

  4. Large Event Coordination: For large event coordination, such as security and management of significant public gatherings, real-time location accuracy is paramount. The KPI for this application is the precision of real-time location data, with a target of very-high precision using 30 cm resolution imagery. This ensures that event organizers and security personnel can monitor and manage events effectively, ensuring the safety and security of attendees.

  5. Crisis Management: In crisis management, particularly in disaster response and recovery, the timeliness of data integration is crucial. The KPI here is the speed at which data is integrated and made available in real time. The target is to provide real-time access to critical information, allowing for immediate and effective response to disasters, minimizing damage, and aiding in swift recovery efforts.



Applications and Impact


The Pléiades Neo constellation excels in geolocation accuracy and spectral band information, supporting various applications such as risk analysis, damage assessment for natural hazards, and topographic mapping. Known for its very-high resolution imagery, Pléiades Neo provides exceptional precision and frequent updates, revolutionizing Earth observation with unparalleled data quality. This very-high resolution capability significantly enhances its role across various sectors, underscoring its transformative impact on Earth observation services and its critical contribution to improving security and safety in an increasingly information-driven world.



bottom of page