In News:

In a major forecast shaping the future of data-driven decision-making, Gartner Inc. estimates that Earth Intelligence will emerge as a $20 billion industry between 2025 and 2030, with enterprise spending surpassing government and military investments by the end of the decade. This signals a pivotal shift in how space-based Earth observation data is being transformed into actionable insights across industries.

What is Earth Intelligence?

Earth Intelligence refers to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to Earth observation data—mainly derived from satellite imagery, remote sensors, and complementary datasets like social, economic, and policy data—to generate domain-specific, actionable insights.

It involves:

• Data collection: Satellite and sensor-based Earth observation.
• Data transformation: Converting raw data into tailored formats.
• Insight generation: Using AI, analytics, and modeling to support business and policy decisions.

This integrated approach also increasingly draws on local and Indigenous knowledge, enhancing its relevance for climate resilience, urban planning, resource management, and disaster response.

Key Applications

Gartner highlights several real-world use cases:

• Disaster Response: Identifying fallen trees on railway lines post-storms.
• Industrial Monitoring: Tracking metal refinery temperatures to gauge global supply chains.
• Urban Analytics: Counting vehicles to study traffic and consumer behavior.
• Trade Analysis: Monitoring sea cargo movement to assess global shipping trends.

Trends and Projections

• In 2024, less than 15% of Earth Intelligence spending came from the private sector.
• By 2030, enterprises are expected to contribute over 50% of total spending—outpacing government and military usage.
• The annual revenue from Earth Intelligence is projected to grow from $3.8 billion (2025) to $4.2 billion (2030).
• The cumulative revenue opportunity for tech and service providers is estimated at $20 billion (2025–2030).