1、The Executives Playbook on Earth ObservationW H I T E P A P E RJ A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5Images:Midjourney,Getty ImagesDisclaimer This document is published by the World Economic Forum as a contribution to a project,insight area or interaction.The findings,interpretations and conclusions expressed herein

2、 are a result of a collaborative process facilitated and endorsed by the World Economic Forum but whose results do not necessarily represent the views of the World Economic Forum,nor the entirety of its Members,Partners or other stakeholders.2025 World Economic Forum.All rights reserved.No part of t

3、his publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,including photocopying and recording,or by any information storage and retrieval system.ContentsForewordExecutive summaryIntroduction1 Articulating the EO value proposition1.1 Common problems that EO can help address1.2 Fea

4、tures of a problem best suited for EO2 Bolstering strategic alignment:Connecting EO with executive priorities2.1 EO for strategy executives2.2 EO for finance executives2.3 EO for technology executives2.4 EO for operations executives2.5 EO for sustainability executives3 Charting the EO execution stra

5、tegy3.1 Readiness and resources3.2 Pathways to implementation3.3 Durable impactConclusionContributorsEndnotes3459101114151717181820222326282931The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 2ForewordAs organizations face increasing economic uncertainty,resource

6、 constraints,environmental pressures and intricate operational risks,Earth observation(EO)offers virtually unparalleled insights.With rising greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions and escalating global temperatures 2024 surpassed 2023 as the hottest year on record1 the world is on a path to more extreme weath

7、er events,such as heatwaves,wildfires and droughts,which disrupt economies,devastate communities and strain resources.Melting ice caps and rising sea levels are threatening coastal cities,while shifting climate patterns are endangering food and water supplies for millions of people.The cost of inact

8、ion is escalating,forcing businesses and governments alike to improve resilience and adapt quickly.In this new normal of simultaneous environmental,social and economic crises,the need for accurate,responsive information about the Earths physical,biological,chemical and anthropogenic systems is clear

9、.With over half of global GDP(gross domestic product)dependent on natural resources today,2 accurately understanding and predicting risk is not only important for long-term strategizing,but is also critical for business operations today.Organizations that effectively leverage insight-rich technologi

10、es are poised to unlock previously unconsidered opportunities,proactively manage risks and drive sustainable growth.EO reveals the layers and interdependencies in complex systems that other data sources do not express.By capturing multiple dimensions tracking not only what occurs but precisely where

11、 and how events interact across time and space spatial insights offer a full-spectrum view of reality and deliver actionable intelligence at an incomparable scale.In early 2024,the World Economic Forum,in collaboration with Deloitte,the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)Media Lab and a group

12、 of 50 industry,technology and climate leaders,studied the future of EO technologies3 as well as the transformative economic and environmental value they can generate.4 Notably,they estimated that EO can contribute$3.8 trillion to global GDP from 2023 to 2030 and eliminate 2 gigatonnes of GHG emissi

13、ons every year.Yet,despite this potential and the EO innovations occurring on the“supply-side”of the market,much of the value remains unrealized.The EO industry finds itself at a crossroads.Yes,commercial providers of EO capabilities continue to enter and disrupt the market,with an estimated 90%of E

14、O satellites launched in 2023 being commercially owned,5 up from only 15%in 2014.However,even with this boom in commercial EO providers,many uses of EO data still tend to centre around traditional public sector-focused applications.To help accelerate the adoption of EO technologies across high-value

15、 commercial and public-sector uses,their value proposition should be more systematically illustrated in organizational contexts,and implementation considerations broken down so that all leaders and not just technologists feel confident in taking steps to adoption.This EO playbook,created by the Worl

16、d Economic Forum in collaboration with Deloitte,provides a practical guide to adopting EO,outlining the types of problems that can most benefit from EO solutions.Furthermore,it outlines the key considerations for effectively implementing these solutions in a way that empowers executives across an or

17、ganization,by breaking down technical contexts for non-technical users while offering technical users a broader perspective of the overarching framework within which they operate.By the conclusion of this playbook,champions of EO will be equipped to clearly articulate a compelling business case for

18、EOs adoption and begin implementing a solution that generates greater economic and environmental value for organizations,people and the planet.Helen Burdett Head,Technology for Earth,World Economic ForumBrett Loubert US Principal and Deloitte Space Leader,DeloitteThe Executives Playbook on Earth Obs

19、ervation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 3Executive summaryThe collective ability to measure the built environment and natural phenomena through Earth observation(EO)continues to increase in precision and scale.With thousands of possible applications,the potential value of this data is vast

20、 and growing;however,the overwhelming majority of this value remains unrealized,largely because of flagging adoption rates.Some of the root causes of this flagging adoption are beginning to be addressed by a growing number of actors across the EO ecosystem.New commercial EO providers increasingly pr

21、ovide unique data sources that are right-sized to individual organizations contexts,while traditional open-source government EO providers continue to improve the accessibility of their larger datasets.However,this boom in supply-side innovation,with EO data becoming easier to use and more valuable t

22、han ever before,does not mean that EO is always the best solution for every challenge an organization faces.Because of the nearly limitless potential applications of EO,end users can gain a competitive edge by understanding where and how it is best suited to provide value.Unlocking EOs potential req

23、uires strategic alignment with organizational objectives,a clear identification of high-value applications,and a nuanced approach to implementation that goes beyond traditional technology adoption frameworks.In essence,to successfully incorporate EO into planning and operations,organizations should

24、follow a three-step process to build a compelling case for adoption:Articulating the value proposition:EO can offer insights into a variety of organizational issues;however,where it is uniquely positioned to generate value often depends on the key physical and temporal dimensions of the issue at han

25、d.Begin by clearly identifying the issue at hand that EO is uniquely positioned to solve and the benefits of using EO compared to,or as a complement to,alternative solutions.These issues,typically grouped into broadly applicable categories,focus on strategic issues related to understanding an organi

26、zations reliance on both natural and humanmade assets.EO excels when addressing large-scale areas,frequent data collection needs,ecosystem-wide issues,trend analysis through historical data,and integrating spatial with non-spatial data.Bolstering strategic alignment:When identifying a problem EO can

27、 best solve,it is important to align that problem to the organizations strategic objectives to build a compelling case for return on investment.It is important to position EO initiatives as organizational priorities rather than as standalone projects.An EO-enabled solution often generates cross-func

28、tional value for the portfolios of the entire executive leadership team,from strategy to finance,technology,operations and sustainability.Charting the execution strategy:Effective EO integration demands nuance,especially when assessing technical readiness and expertise,establishing governance,and na

29、vigating the complex EO ecosystem of data,platform and tool providers.The best approach for implementing EO is often context-specific,and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.Organizations should determine when to leverage open-source data,when to partner with commercial providers,and how to blend

30、 EO insights with proprietary data to generate actionable intelligence.Who is this playbook for?This playbook is designed for senior executives,strategists and decision-makers across private,public and non-profit sectors who are considering how EO can help reach their organizational goals.It empower

31、s leaders aiming to leverage environmental intelligence for strategic planning,operational resilience and sustainable growth.It provides practical resources to help organizations align EO with high-level goals across functional areas including strategy,finance,technology,operations and sustainabilit

32、y.i123The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 4IntroductionEarth observation refers to the collection of information on both natural phenomena and human activities on Earth,covering physical,chemical,biological and anthropogenic(human)systems.EO data is

33、captured through a growing ecosystem of sensors,using both remote-sensing technologies and“in-situ”data sources.EO technologies by altitudeFIGURE 11387 Camera trap 14 Seismic and vibration sensor15Ocean-data buoy13 Light-based spectrometer17Acoustic sensor 16 Stratospheric balloon6 Low Earth orbit(L

34、EO)satellite1 Geostationary orbit(GEO)satellite2 Rotary drone3 High-altitude drones(fixed-wing UAVs)4 Crewed aircraft5 Air-quality monitor 9 Mobile phone7 Soil-moisture probe10Weather station8 Ground-based radar(aka LiDAR)12Water-quality sensor 11911635101416151712124GROUNDAIRSPACERemote sensing inv

35、olves detecting and monitoring an area or object by measuring its physical properties at a distance,acquiring data via airborne and spaceborne platforms such as satellites,piloted aircraft,high-altitude platform stations and drones.In-situ data is gathered through GPS-enabled devices,internet of thi

36、ngs(IoT)sensors and a range of human-operated,automated and crowdsourced measurements.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 5These data sources power the EO value chain.Data acquired from both remote-sensing and in-situ sources undergoes processing to

37、correct distortions and enrich information.Advanced analytical techniques are then employed to extract actionable insights from the processed data and disseminated through specialized EO platforms.The“supply side”of the EO value chain,consisting of data acquisition,processing and analytics providers

38、,aims to facilitate access to EO insights for end users.The demand side comprises end users in agriculture,financial services and energy companies.On the supply side of the value chain,various business models arise.Some EO providers own and operate their own satellites,looking to sell the resulting

39、generated data.Others create proprietary platforms or tools that generate insights using publicly available data or data purchased from other EO providers.Others are fully integrated and provide a full suite of capabilities,from data to tools to analysis.These varied data sources provide varying typ

40、es of data,each best suited to capture differing measurements with unique applications.The figure below outlines some of the more common data types captured by remote-sensing EO satellites.The“Amplifying the Global Value of Earth Observation”Insight Report published earlier this year offers a deeper

41、 understanding of EOs impact including its potential to contribute$3.8 trillion to global GDP from 2023 to 2030 and eliminate 2 gigatonnes of GHG emissions every year.6 It explains the strong confluence of market forces driving this value and outlines the industries that stand to gain the most from

42、EO,including agriculture,mining,oil and gas,electricity and utilities,financial services,insurance,supply chain and transportation.Select types of remote-sensing EO dataFIGURE 2Captures reflected sunlight across multiple wavelengths to monitor land,vegetation and water.Optical and multispectral Dete

43、cts emitted heat energy from Earths surface,independent of sunlight,to monitor temperature and moisture.Thermal and infraredSends microwave pulses that penetrate clouds,capturing detailed surface structures regardless of weather or light conditions.Synthetic aperture radar(SAR)Uses laser pulses to c

44、reate highly detailed 3D maps of the Earths surface.Light detection and ranging(LiDAR)However,for this value to be realized,EO data must be more widely used,in both commercial and public contexts.And for this,potential end users of this data must become empowered to overcome the traditional barriers

45、 to EO adoption.From an end-user perspective,systematic challenges have prevented EO data from being fully integrated into organization-wide solutions.Historically,analysing EO data has required specialized technical expertise.Traditional,large and unwieldy datasets,although often free,frequently di

46、d not provide the precision needed to derive actionable insights at the organizational level.Recently,EO providers and platforms on the supply side have begun to actively address these barriers.Government and civil society actors continue to make strides in not only providing publicly available EO d

47、ata with new geographic coverage and data types,but also processing that data so that it is“analysis-ready”for organizations to deploy in their contexts.Meanwhile,commercial innovators continue to make new sources of EO data available,complementing existing publicly available information with the pr

48、ecision that is often needed to derive insights at the smaller site level instead of the larger regional level.At the same time,rapid advancements in artificial intelligence(AI)algorithms,including machine learning(ML)techniques and multimodal large language models(MLLMs),are being applied to EO dat

49、asets to make them more technically accessible.7 This convergence of multiple digital tools and methods,including the integration of Big Earth Data and citizen science or customer reference data,is driving rapid automation,customization and simplification of EO applications.Today,thanks to these sup

50、ply-side innovations,the EO market is better poised to deliver on the promise of its potential value than it has ever been before.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 6However,demand-side barriers to entry remain.Specifically,many potential end users

51、struggle to identify optimal EO use cases best suited to derive organizational value among the myriad of potential EO applications.Even when relevant use cases are identified,organizations often seek help in understanding how to navigate the complex EO data and tool ecosystem.Now,more than ever,end

52、users must take a measured,systematic approach to utilizing EO in their organizations,to understand the value EO can generate,how it aligns with broader strategic priorities and the best path towards execution and institutionalization.To do so,organizations can follow the“ABC”of EO,as outlined in Fi

53、gure 3.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 7The ABC of EO adoptionFIGURE 3 CHART THE EXECUTION STRATEGYOpen-source vs commercialPathways to implementationReadinessIntegration PartnershipsChange managementPerformance measurementTechnical and operation

54、al readinessGovernance structureFinancial planningUrgencyCustomizationComplianceEO adoptionIdentify the organizational challenges that EO can uniquely addressEvaluate a given problem across several dimensions,including:geographical coverage,temporal frequency,response needs,location,resolution,senso

55、r type and parameter requirements Value propositionCriteriaARTICULATE A VALUE PROPOSITIONSustainability executivesOperations executivesTechnology executivesFinance executivesStrategy executivesBOLSTER STRATEGIC ALIGNMENTStartLasting impactThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insigh

56、ts for a Changing Planet 8Articulating the EO value proposition1This section addresses the following questions:Which organizational challenges can EO uniquely address,and why is EO particularly suited to these challenges?Which criteria can determine whether EO is the optimal solution for identified

57、challenges?How can high-impact EO applications be identified within a strategic framework?The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 9EO represents a vital tool for organizations to better understand their physical assets,the impact the environment may have

58、 on those assets and those assets impact on their environment.While EO can benefit many organizations,it provides the most substantial value in cases requiring large-scale,high-frequency or remote data.Given the breadth of potential use cases,end users may find themselves in the“paradox of choice,”u

59、nable to choose or prioritize applications for implementation.To overcome this analysis paralysis,it is essential to clarify the unique and organization-specific value proposition of EO within a systematic framework.The key to articulating a compelling value proposition is to first understand how EO

60、 addresses specific challenges that are critical to an organizations success the challenges where approaches void of EO may fall short in delivering timely,accurate and actionable insights,hindering decision-making across the organization.To grasp EOs fundamental value proposition,high-level categor

61、ies of use are helpful.These categories are not meant to be exhaustive.Instead,they represent some of the primary ways in which organizations can use EO to create value.Table 1 highlights these categories as well as the strategic issues within these categories where EO can make a significant differe

62、nce.1.1 Common problems that EO can help addressEarth observation data is not usable in a vacuum you need to have a problem-first mindset.Awais Ahmed,PixxelCategoryDescriptionCommon problem to addressConsumer experienceProviding individual users up-to-date environmental information(e.g.air quality d

63、ata and weather forecasts),typically through public servicesCustomers desire increasingly transparent and up-to-date information on various environmental factors that may impact their health or day-to-day activitiesEarly warningDetecting environmental events like floods and wildfires to bolster plan

64、ning,response and recoveryDelay in responding to natural hazards results in higher damages and loss of life Environmental impact monitoring and disclosureMeasuring environmental outcomes to enhance transparency in ESG,TNFD(Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures)and TCFD(Taskforce on Clima

65、te-related Financial Disclosures)reporting,and ensure accurate disclosure of environmental performance.Lack of consistent and reliable environmental data for accurate reporting leads to challenges in meeting regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectationsPost-event analysis and recoveryAnalysin

66、g environmental changes to direct emergency response and measuring the extent of damages A lack of data from areas recently impacted by environmental events leads to slower assessments of the aftermath,hindering effective recovery and resource allocation for recovery effortsPrecision agriculture and

67、 aquaculturePredicting and monitoring in-season agricultural performance and yieldWithout precise information on crop yield at scale,farmers and aquaculture managers face inefficiencies in resource use(e.g.in use of water,fertilizers and feed)that may lead to an outsized environmental impactRoute op

68、timizationMonitoring transport routes in concert with positioning,navigation and timing(PNT)data by detecting potential environmental disruptions and offering alternatives based on environmental impactUnanticipated delays along transportation routes caused by inadequate knowledge of real-time weathe

69、r,road conditions or geographical barriers may lead to service disruptions and higher costsSite selectionIdentifying new operating sites for large-scale infrastructureInaccessible potential sites like mining fields and fishing grounds and potential areas of natural resources,or sites with hard-to-me

70、asure indicators of output,often rely on predictions instead of direct measurements,leading to a higher risk of failureSupply-chain monitoringDetecting changes to physical goods supply chains and their impacts on international commerce and ecological indicatorsLimited visibility into physical supply

71、-chain sources,especially in regions prone to environmental disruptions,may lead to production delays and potential legal liability from unethical practicesVulnerability analysisCharacterizing and assessing the risks posed by environmental changes and other hazards that may materially impact people,

72、physical assets and operationsDifficulty in predicting areas highly susceptible to disasters or environmental stress may lead to inadequate preparedness and hinder proactive risk mitigationTABLE 1Common problems addressable with EOThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a

73、 Changing Planet 10By recognizing the categories of use,and the common problems within those categories that EO can help address,organizations can prioritize the potential applications.This is the first step towards articulating a value proposition and implementing EO at scale.However,simply experie

74、ncing a common issue that spatial data can address does not necessarily mean that the optimal fit is an EO solution.To determine if EO can contribute to an organizations strategic objectives,the identified problem should exhibit certain features that make EO a particularly suitable solution.Organiza

75、tions looking to extract the most value from comprehensive EO solutions that rely primarily on satellite-based remote sensing can do so by evaluating a given problem across several dimensions,including:geographical coverage,parameter sensitivity,location of interest,response needs and time series.As

76、king the following questions can help clarify when EO will deliver the most value:1.2 Features of a problem best suited for EOCoverage:Is this a large-scale issue requiring consistent,comparable data across geographically dispersed locations?Localized For site-specific measurements or small areas wh

77、ere broad geographic consistency is not required,ground sensors provide high granularity and pinpoint accuracy,but are limited in cross-location comparability.Regional As coverage needs expand to regional or sub-regional scales with specific conditions,drones or aerial surveys can provide detailed a

78、nd coherent data within a mid-sized area.For example,comparing environmental health across different wetlands within a state.Broad-scale For geographically dispersed phenomena or expansive regions such as deserts,oceanic zones or countries,satellites offer the most practical solution,consistently ca

79、pturing broad-scale data that is directly comparable across sites.Parameter sensitivity:Does the problem require precise measurements,or will broader,less detailed data suffice?High sensitivity For highly sensitive parameters,such as specific pollutants or soil nutrients that require contact,ground

80、sensors and sampling are best.There are many phenomena that can be measured on the ground but not directly from space,such as pH(potential of hydrogen)levels.Moderate sensitivity For moderate sensitivity across regional scales,drones with multispectral sensors can detect subtle environmental changes

81、 such as invasive species across diverse habitats.Low sensitivity For broad,less granular parameters,satellites provide extensive monitoring,detecting large-scale patterns like sea-surface temperatures,with capabilities improving at rapid rates.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic

82、Insights for a Changing Planet 11Response needs:Is timely information critical,requiring frequent data collection and rapid delivery to support fast decision-making,or is a slower response acceptable?Rapid response In emergencies like wildfires,airborne imagery provides timely data that allows for f

83、ast response.Moderate response Where frequent but not real-time data is required,drones are versatile,providing regular updates.Recent advancements in the development of smaller,cost-effective satellites have enabled frequent revisits and more real-time data.Delayed response For studies needing peri

84、odic data rather than immediate updates,satellites offer consistent revisit times and broad coverage,ideal for observing gradual changes like land-use shifts.Time-series analysis:Is there a need to analyse historical data to understand long-term trends?Short-term monitoring For studies that require

85、high-frequency data over shorter time frames,ground-based sensors are the most effective.This is especially valuable in settings where parameters can change quickly.For example,ground sensors can be used by hydrologists to track flood dynamics in real time during rainfall events.Seasonal to annual m

86、onitoring For time-series analysis across seasons or multiple years,drones can cover regions with periodic flights that capture data at specific intervals.They are a useful data source in studies on,for example,seasonal vegetation growth or erosion patterns across a forested landscape.Long-term tren

87、ds For time-series analysis spanning years to decades,satellites are ideal due to their consistent revisit schedules and ability to capture large-scale changes.EO solutions include satellite-based remote sensing with high temporal resolution that enables organizations to track changes over time.Loca

88、tion of interest:Is the problem located in a physically inaccessible area where non-intrusive data collection is needed to avoid disrupting sensitive ecosystems or endangering personnel?High accessibility If the use case covers easy-to-access areas,such as urban centres or fields,on-the-ground teams

89、 can more easily deploy specialized sensors for detailed monitoring.Moderate accessibility In partially accessible regions like forested zones,drones can be leveraged to monitor deforestation while camera traps and acoustic sensors can capture data on biodiversity.Low accessibility In remote or inac

90、cessible regions,such as those with strict regulations,conflict zones or polar areas,satellites are indispensable.Satellites can monitor glacier dynamics for example,bypassing the logistical requirements for human intervention or by complementing data collected by researchers.The Executives Playbook

91、 on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 12TABLE 2Best-suited tech based on featuresUse caseFeaturesDescriptionCoverageLocation of interestResponse needsTime seriesParameter sensitivityRecommended technologyClean-energy site selectionIdentifying optimal locations for renewable

92、energy projects such as wind,solar and hydroelectric installations needs analysis of environmental,geographical and social factorsSpace:Synthetic aperture radar(SAR)satellite imagery enables assessment regardless of weather or time of day,making it valuable across large geographic regions,providing

93、critical layers of information for assessing land suitability,solar radiation levels,wind speeds,topography and environmental impact zonesIllicit fishing monitoringEO aids in detecting and monitoring illegal fishing activities in protected waters or exclusive economic zonesSpace:High-resolution sate

94、llite imagery and AIS(Automatic Identification System)data enable tracking and monitoring of fishing vessels in remote areas to identify suspicious activities and patternsCroppingOptimizing crop yield and quality while minimizing resource use relies on an understanding of field variability and crop

95、health by detecting variations in chlorophyll content and water stressAir:Multispectral cameras on drones provide timely data on soil moisture to support day-to-day operations,particularly irrigation decisions,so crops receive adequate water without any wastageInsurance premium calculationAssessing

96、risk factors helps determine appropriate insurance premiums for properties and assetsSpace:Satellite imagery is used to evaluate environmental risks such as flooding,wildfires and other natural hazards,over a long period of time and on an ongoing basis to facilitate updating of premiums Heritage con

97、servationPreserving historical sites,buildings and landscapes requires assessments of structural integrity and gradual changesGround:3D laser scanning(LiDAR)creates detailed models of structures,capturing contour and surface features to enable conservators to monitor fine-scale changes(such as micro

98、cracks)EO can drive value across thousands of different applications.In practice,however,organizations should first identify whether the problem they are trying to solve belongs to a common category of EO use and then determine if that problem exhibits features best suited for EO.EO is most benefici

99、al when at least two or three of the following requirements are to be met:examining large areas,addressing problems that require frequent or timely data collection,spanning ecosystems,needing historical data to analyse trends,or the need to complement spatial data with non-spatial data.In addition,E

100、Os true value emerges when combined with complementary data like socio-economic data and sensor networks.This multi-source approach enhances accuracy,context and the ability to address multi-dimensional challenges.Of course,EO has valuable applications outside of the nine categories described in Tab

101、le 1,and not all these EO features need to be addressed for a single application to be a viable use of EO.For instance,if the area of interest is too large or remote for ground-based monitoring,EO could be an excellent solution even if timely data collection is not needed.Conversely,if organizations

102、 are dealing with hyper-localized issues that require very fine-grained data,EO might not be the best fit,even if the problem falls squarely within one of the identified categories.The purpose of these categories and questions is to help guide organizations decision-making process by highlighting sc

103、enarios where EO can be uniquely beneficial.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 13Bolstering strategic alignment:Connecting EO with executive priorities2This section addresses the following questions:In what ways does EO align with the core objective

104、s of different executive roles?Which approaches provide comprehensive support for EO adoption in various departments?How can EO initiatives be embedded into organizational missions as integral,long-term priorities?The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet

105、14Ultimately,the EO value proposition hinges on demonstrating a clear return on investment.Once the issue and its EO-relevant features are identified,the financial or strategic value generated by these insights should be outlined.To make this case,organizations need to connect the dots between EOs d

106、ata-driven capabilities and measurable benefits,highlighting how EO can be a powerful tool for sustainable growth across the functions and departments that come under the ambit of various leadership roles.Navigating conversations on adopting EO and cultivating internal champions requires a strategic

107、 approach that aligns EOs capabilities with the organizations long-term goals and priorities.EO presents an opportunity that adds value to every aspect of an organizations mission,and harnessing its full potential requires more than just data and technology it needs a collaborative,organization-wide

108、 commitment.Successfully implementing EO solutions is not the responsibility of a single department but an integrated effort involving many different leaders,each bringing a unique perspective and set of objectives that can amplify EOs impact when aligned with the organizations broader goals.Notably

109、,the following roles can gain a substantial advantage by leveraging EO solutions.Strategy executives,who define pathways towards long-term organizational competitive advantage.Financial executives,who focus on financial planning and fiscal compliance.Technology executives,who oversee data integratio

110、n and long-term product innovation.Operations executives,who aim to optimize efficiencies while minimizing risk.Sustainability executives,who look to achieve positive climate and nature outcomes.A multi-pronged,multidisciplinary approach is key to achieving impact with this kind of data.Bringing tog

111、ether points of view from finance,technology,sustainability and policy is critical to building durable solutions.Amanda Leland,Environmental Defense FundStrategy executives are responsible for guiding the long-term vision and growth of their organization,with a mandate that often cuts across executi

112、ve functions.Their focus is not only on charting the organizations future goals but also on guiding financial,technological,operational and sustainability strategies in a way that drives cross-functional innovation and competitive advantage.By leveraging the timely and precise insights of EO,the ent

113、ire executive team is empowered to make more informed decisions,positioning the organization for leadership in sustainable growth and innovation across all areas,but especially through the following:Market analysis and supply forecasting:EO provides strategy executives with insights into the availab

114、ility and health of key resources,such as crops or fisheries,allowing relevant organizations to better adjust sales strategies based on projected product availability.By leveraging satellite imagery and data analytics to monitor agricultural production or other resource outputs,sales teams can price

115、 products better to proactively match predicted supply with expected demand.Competitive market positioning:EO provides strategy executives with insights into untapped markets,emerging opportunities and competitor activity.By analysing EO-derived insights,organizations can make informed decisions to

116、enter new markets ahead of competitors,optimize resource allocation and adapt to shifting market conditions.As an example,an oil and gas company might analyse competitor expansion rates and its own rates of infrastructure and asset utilization(e.g.based on operational hours)to fine-tune its strategi

117、es and stay competitive by understanding and anticipating competitors moves.Catering to eco-conscious markets:EO empowers executives to provide clients with data-driven transparency across supply chains,helping them meet growing customer expectations for ethically and sustainably sourced products.EO

118、 can track the movement and origin of materials,identify environmentally harmful practices(e.g.deforestation and wasteful water use)and enable adherence to sustainability commitments in a more traceable manner.Strategy executives can use EO data to showcase where their products are sourced from and

119、how they align with environmental standards,maintaining trust for customer retention and potentially charging a price premium.For example,for certain products known to have adverse environmental impacts if sourced unethically(such as palm oil),companies can get an up to 30%price premium for verified

120、 proof of origin.82.1 EO for strategy executivesThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 15CASE STUDY 1AXAs wildfire risk prevention toolArticulating the value propositionThe increasing frequency and severity of wildfires,exacerbated by climate change,com

121、prises a complex and evolving risk that needs innovative solutions.Traditional risk models often struggle to account for the broad range of factors influencing wildfire behaviour,such as climate variability,land use changes and human activity.Using geospatial imagery and AI,AXAs new risk prevention

122、tool provides real-time,predictive insights that go beyond historical data.The use of satellite-based systems to monitor and analyse over 20 risk factors such as topography,vegetation and proximity to infrastructure enables a dynamic,forward-looking approach to wildfire risk management.This tool ena

123、bles continuous updates and the development of detailed risk maps,helping clients assess and manage their exposure to wildfire risk with unprecedented accuracy.Bolstering strategic alignmentBy using predictive analytics,AXA provides clients with actionable,timely insights,enabling them to proactivel

124、y manage risks rather than react to damage after the fact.This approach not only improves operational efficiency but also minimizes the financial impact of wildfires,which have caused billions in economic and insured losses globally.Additionally,offering this innovative service enhances AXAs positio

125、n as a leader in risk management solutions,demonstrating its commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology in addressing emerging environmental risks.Charting the execution strategyThe execution strategy for AXAs wildfire risk prevention service involved a strategic partnership with Kayrros,a lea

126、der in geospatial analytics,to develop a cutting-edge tool that integrates satellite data and AI-driven predictive models.This service is built on a“Digital Commercial Platform,”providing commercial clients with easy access to risk maps and analyses that are updated regularly.As the service expands

127、across Europe and globally,AXA plans to scale its offerings while ensuring the quality and accuracy of the data by continuously integrating new geospatial insights.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 16Finance executives are tasked with maximizing fi

128、nancial return while minimizing financial risk to maintain the long-term financial health of their organizations.For a financial executive,the key criteria when considering a new strategy or technology often include how it can enable effective risk mitigation,financial performance and regulatory com

129、pliance.EO can offer a range of economic benefits for organizations,including:Improved financial forecasting:EO provides valuable data that can enable a financial leader to forecast macroeconomic market trends more accurately,enabling more informed financial planning and investment strategies.Demand

130、 signals that manifest through physical characteristics such as the number of cars in a particular retail stores parking lot or the number of ships in a particular port can often be better understood using EO,leading to data-driven financial planning decisions.Increasingly effective risk mitigation:

131、Financial executives can use EO data to assess how extreme weather events,like floods and wildfires,might affect their assets.The United Nations estimates that$44 trillion of economic value generation is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services and,as a result,exposed to risks from

132、nature loss.9 Given this dependency,the loss of natural ecosystems and biodiversity poses substantial risks,including those pertaining to resource scarcity,ecosystem service disruption,regulation and reputation.Financial executives can leverage EO to gain an improved understanding of these risks and

133、 support the development and implementation of strategies to mitigate their financial exposure.2.2 EO for finance executivesTechnology executives play a critical role in ensuring that an organizations technology infrastructure is forward-thinking,efficient and aligned with strategic business goals.T

134、his responsibility includes managing the integration of new applications into the overall information architecture and technology strategy.EO can enhance an organizations existing technology suite to better enable broader strategic goals with:Timely insights:Unlike data-gathering methods that may re

135、ly on manual reporting or site visits that can take days or weeks to update,EO provides timely access to critical information,allowing for faster interventions.Moreover,many EO platforms complemented by burgeoning AI capabilities now offer pre-analysed,ready-to-use insights,allowing organizations to

136、 reduce the time-consuming process of data analysis.This equips business units with actionable intelligence on demand,improving their ability to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.Improved data quality:EO data enriches the depth and accuracy of insights by providing an additional layer

137、 of information that complements existing systems without overhauling them.It provides more context for decision-making,especially when combined with internal company datasets,such as operational,supply chain or sales data.Additionally,EO can serve as a secondary source of corroboration for ground-l

138、evel observation and reports.By cross-referencing EO data with existing datasets,organizations can validate findings so that decisions are based on reliable,accurate and traceable information.This view enables business units to make more informed,data-driven decisions that account for multiple varia

139、bles and contexts.Monitoring of environmental footprint:Today,achieving environmental,social and governance(ESG)targets and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)is a high priority within organizations,and according to Gartners 2022 sustainability survey,90%of executive leaders agree

140、 that technology is essential to improving sustainability.10 However,accurately tracking an organizations technology footprint remains a challenge.EO can help by providing comprehensive,up-to-date insights,including for high-energy and high-usage technologies(such as AI).This enables technology exec

141、utives to monitor their environmental footprint more effectively,manage resource consumption and align with ESG goals to ultimately support sustainable business growth and compliance.2.3 EO for technology executivesThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet

142、 17CASE STUDY 2GEOs Global Water Sustainability Initiative(GEOGLOWS)Articulating the value propositionGEOGLOWS,powered by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF)ensemble prediction system,addresses the pressing need for accurate and timely flood risk data in the insurance and r

143、einsurance industries.By delivering reliable 15-day ensemble forecasts alongside 80 years of historical streamflow data for rivers worldwide,GEOGLOWS enables proactive flood risk management.This innovative,open-access tool supports insurers by forecasting river discharge for live event responses,all

144、owing for quick estimation of flooding scope,prioritization of recovery efforts,and effective loss mitigation.GEOGLOWS global scale,high-resolution data,and flexible forecasting capabilities make it a vital resource for generating flood maps and optimizing coverage and pricing decisions.Bolstering s

145、trategic alignmentFor the insurance sector,GEOGLOWS enhances operational efficiency and supports risk mitigation strategies while contributing to broader environmental sustainability goals.By filling gaps left by traditional flood monitoring tools,particularly during the critical early stages of flo

146、od events,GEOGLOWS positions insurers as leaders in leveraging advanced technology for climate resilience.The integration of satellite water altimetry data from the National Centre for Space Studies(CNES),in-situ measurements and AI algorithms since 2022 has further enhanced the accuracy of global s

147、treamflow forecasts,adapting the service for local applications.This continuous innovation underscores the insurance sectors commitment to improving disaster response and fostering sustainable practices.Charting the execution strategyGEOGLOWS has established strategic partnerships with key organizat

148、ions,such as the National Centre for Space Studies(CNES)and other satellite data providers,to ensure the continuous provision of high-resolution river flow data across diverse geographies.These collaborations have enabled the integration of satellite water altimetry data into GEOGLOWS forecasting mo

149、dels,while partnerships with local hydrological agencies have facilitated the incorporation of in-situ measurements,enhancing forecast accuracy.The implementation has followed a phased approach,starting with pilot projects in selected regions to validate performance and refine integration processes.

150、These pilots have involved close collaboration with local stakeholders,including insurance companies,government agencies and community organizations,to ensure the tool meets regional needs.Training programmes and workshops have been conducted to build user capacity,ensuring effective utilization of

151、GEOGLOWS data and insights.Following successful pilots,the system has been scaled up to additional regions,with continuous monitoring and evaluation to assess impact and identify areas for improvement.By combining high-resolution hydrologic modelling with accessible open data,GEOGLOWS has empowered

152、insurers to respond effectively to disasters,improve risk assessments and keep insurance policies relevant and responsive to environmental changes.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 18For operations executives,whose main objective is to ensure busin

153、ess activities run in a smooth,efficient and cost-effective manner,EO can be a valuable ally by providing:Optimized logistics:EO can significantly enhance logistics management by providing timely data on transportation routes,weather patterns and resource availability.Operations executives can lever

154、age this data to optimize delivery schedules,minimize fuel consumption and reroute transportation in response to unforeseen disruptions.Together,this improves speed and cost-effectiveness in supply chain operations.Integrating EO data with existing supply chain control-tower data which provides end-

155、to-end,near real-time visibility across an organizations entire network,including suppliers,manufacturers and business partners allows for even greater logistics optimization.For example,by using EO to optimize ship route efficiency,companies can lower fuel consumption by up to 3%,11 resulting in re

156、duced costs and direct abatement of GHG emissions.Enhanced resource management:Effective resource management is crucial for operational efficiency,and EO provides valuable data to help executives identify optimal facility locations and resource allocation strategies.By analysing environmental condit

157、ions,demand patterns and geographical features,EO enables operations teams to make informed decisions such as where to place warehouses,production sites or renewable energy installations.For example,EO data may show areas where water is becoming increasingly scarce,which should inform manufacturers

158、that water-intensive production processes need to be relocated to areas with lower risk.2.4 EO for operations executivesSustainability executives look to enable their organizations to meet stated environmental goals,framing the strategic and tangible sustainability impacts of proposed changes for bo

159、th internal and external stakeholders,so that the full benefits can be understood.This can include contributing to conversations assessing how new implementations could impact growth,risk and operational strategy.The powerful combination of data-driven insights and reliable reporting that EO provide

160、s makes it an essential tool for sustainability executives to inform their strategies.Improved impact tracking:EO offers sustainability executives a reliable way to measure the impact of environmental initiatives through digital measurement,reporting and verification(dMRV).It provides accurate,quant

161、ifiable data by tracking key sustainability metrics such as carbon emissions,deforestation rates and land use changes at scale,with better efficiency than alternative technologies.This data can in turn guide decision-making,allowing executives to assess the effectiveness of their initiatives and adj

162、ust strategies as needed.Targeted environmental interventions:Using EO to monitor natural resources and environmental changes,sustainability executives can identify where restoration,preservation,conservation and mitigation efforts should be focused.EO data can help pinpoint regions suffering from r

163、esource depletion,land degradation or biodiversity loss,enabling the development of more targeted strategies to mitigate these issues.For example,water conservation efforts can greatly benefit from EO-derived insights,especially in remote areas,where the identification of areas of overuse or polluti

164、on can enable executives to implement measures to reduce waste and shrink the organizations environmental footprint.Regulatory compliance and trustworthy reporting:As new ESG standards and laws are implemented,sustainability executives will increasingly look for solutions like EO that provide them w

165、ith confidence to offer reliable reporting and meet new regulations.Over 50%of essential climate variables can only be measured at scale from space,12 which makes EO a critical enabler of ESG compliance at multinational organizations whose activities span multiple geographies.By incorporating EO dat

166、a into emissions tracking or resource usage reports,sustainability executives can deliver more trustworthy,externally validated information.This transparency not only strengthens regulatory compliance but also builds stakeholder confidence,ensuring that environmental commitments are backed by object

167、ive,direct data.2.5 EO for sustainability executivesThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 19CASE STUDY 3Radiant Earths“Fields of the World”Articulating the value propositionThe European Union Deforestation Regulation(EUDR)has created an urgent need for

168、 reliable information on global agricultural production to confirm that products are not contributing to deforestation.While EO data may not be universally applicable for monitoring all agricultural activities,it has proven invaluable in creating a scalable and trustworthy data product that would ot

169、herwise be unaffordable.Bolstering strategic prioritiesTo address this need,Radiant Earth set out to accelerate regulatory compliance by improving access to global field data,while leveraging open-source data instead of proprietary data or algorithms so that regulatory implications do not adversely

170、affect farmers livelihoods or agricultural sectors.Charting the execution strategyThis initiative has been bolstered by the formation of a consortium led by Radiant Earth and the Taylor Geospatial Engine,involving key stakeholders such as Bayer,Varda.ag,Microsoft,Planet,Arizona State University,Wash

171、ington University in St.Louis and the World Resources Institute.This collaborative effort,characterized as a“focused research organization”13 has been instrumental in establishing shared metadata standards,open-source code and open data,thereby facilitating rapid progress and broad participation.A s

172、ignificant milestone achieved by the consortium is the creation of a metadata specification,fiboa(field boundaries for agriculture),14 which enhances the interoperability of field boundary data.Additionally,the publication of methodologies,models and data through the Fields of the World project15 ha

173、s laid the groundwork for a foundational dataset,promoting further advancements in the application of EO data and ML in agriculture.It is designed to support the training of diverse models that can identify field boundaries in different geographical contexts.The Fields of the World data comprises 1.

174、6 million parcel boundaries and over 70,000 samples spanning 27 countries across four continents and is available for anyone to use.16The collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives undertaken by this consortium have not only addressed regulatory needs but also paved the way for a more sustainab

175、le and data-driven approach to global agricultural practices.As illustrated,EO presents opportunities across every aspect of an organizations mission and can deliver a variety of benefits that align with various executives goals.And although each of these executives has their priorities and related

176、functional targets,their roles and responsibilities often overlap and blend.A strategy executive should account for operational risks when determining a long-term vision,just as a sustainability executive should understand drivers for growth in the context of their own initiatives.To navigate these

177、cross-cutting opportunities,EO champions can consider multiple approaches for the execution of an EO solution,dependent on the specific needs of each organization.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 20Charting the EO execution strategy3This section a

178、ddresses the following questions:Which key factors contribute to an effective EO implementation strategy,from technical infrastructure to partnership models?How should an organization approach the build,buy or partner decision when adopting EO capabilities?Which operational and technical considerati

179、ons are critical to achieving a sustainable,impactful EO integration?The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 21After articulating an organization-specific EO value proposition and aligning that value with executive priorities,organizations can determine

180、the proper approach to strategically implement EO to solve the identified problem.To do so,it is beneficial to foster spatial thinking at an organizational level,not merely in isolated projects.Furthermore,like other specialized technologies,an entire ecosystem is available to support an organizatio

181、ns implementation of EO.In fact,because of the technically complex nature of most EO solutions,this support system often plays a vital role in many EO implementations.Effective EO implementation relies on three core pillars that support each other.These pillars readiness and resources,pathways to im

182、plementation,and durable impact create a flexible framework to guide EO adoption.Organizations can only become truly data-driven by adopting a multifaceted approach that values data as an asset,ensuring robust security,governance and privacy.Roland Scharrer,Stanford UniversityPillars of EO adoptionF

183、IGURE 5Sustaining EO initiatives over time calls for forming strategic partnerships and continuous improvement.Establish integration needs with enterprise systems to embed EO insights into day-to-day operationsEvaluate potential partnership opportunities by identifying strategic collaborations that

184、can enhance EO capabilities and reduce costs and risk through shared expertiseDevelop a change management plan to build EO literacy,champion a data-driven culture,and reinforce organization-wide adoption through capacity-building effortsMeasure impact and iterate byestablishing KPIs and continuously

185、 monitoring the effectiveness of EO data in achieving business and sustainability goalsDurable impactSelecting the right implementation pathway enables tailored EO adoption that meets organizational needs.to find Explore the role of open-source and commercial data and toolsthe right balance between

186、cost-effective and high-precision resourcesPathways to implementationUnderstanding readiness across technology,operational capabilities and resource allocation is important for effective EO integration.Assess technical and operational readiness by evaluating the infrastructure,data handling,storage

187、solutions and expertise needed to process,analyse and visualize EO data typesEstablish a governance structure tostrengthen alignment with organizational priorities and promote cross-departmental collaborationAlign EO adoption with financial planning by assessing cost structures,evaluating return on

188、investment(ROI)and exploring emerging models that make EO more accessible and cost-effectiveReadiness and resourcesneededDetermine the level of customization by evaluating if unique datasources or custom algorithms arerequired for the issue at hand Identify the level of control neededto maintain dat

189、a privacy and regulatory compliance,especially for sensitive,regulated sectors to decide if rapid,Understand the urgency of EO-derived insightspre-built EO solutions are of value or if a more tailored approach is necessaryThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing

190、 Planet 22Assessing technical and operational readinessMost EO implementations demand a robust technical foundation,which includes infrastructure and expertise in remote sensing,data science and software engineering.Accessing EO data typically demands expert involvement,which limits its reach to ind

191、ustries without geospatial knowledge and access to specialized tools.This dependency hinders the scalability of EO across industries that would benefit from it but lack in-house knowledge and resources.Assessing an organizations current infrastructure and expertise for handling these complex dataset

192、s is critical.A capability assessment should be conducted to evaluate the existing technical infrastructure,data-handling practices and human resources.Where gaps exist,organizations can partner with specialized EO providers,or even identify an end-to-end service provider to simply purchase the EO i

193、nsight itself.For organizations able and willing to develop in-house resources,given the rapid evolution of EO solutions,17 it is not sufficient to solely focus on current capabilities they should also anticipate future technological needs.For example,todays EO platforms leverage cloud-based storage

194、 and AI-driven analytics to process the terabytes of data produced by satellites,but soon,advances in edge computing may decentralize data processing closer to the satellite,reducing latency and enhancing timely decision-making.Increasingly,organizations need experts familiar with multi-source data

195、fusion(combining satellite,aerial and ground-based sensors).Organizations may also need the capacity to handle novel data types,like hyper-spectral imagery or synthetic aperture radar(SAR)data,both of which provide unique insights but may come with significant and specific data processing demands.Es

196、tablishing a governance structureA clear governance structure is essential for coordinated adoption of EO that aligns with organizational objectives.Appointing an EO champion at the executive level strengthens alignment with business goals and facilitates the integration of EO insights into strategi

197、c decision-making processes.This leadership role is crucial for cross-departmental collaboration,as it illustrates EOs value to actors across the organization,providing consistency in its use.To further embed EOs applicability and use across the entire organization,an EO working group consisting of

198、stakeholders from relevant departments such as sustainability,IT,compliance and operations should be established.This group would define key metrics(e.g.the accuracy of monitoring systems and required data latency)and promote alignment with corporate objectives,managing all aspects of EO implementat

199、ion,from data acquisition to ethical use policies.3.1 Readiness and resourcesWere very lucky to live in a time when we have such abundant EO data,but we need to close the gap between the C-suite and data specialists.We know more about our world than ever before and its imperative that we translate t

200、his knowledge into clear value,bridging the gap between observing the Earth and taking strategic action.Jed Sundwall,Radiant EarthAligning EO adoption with financial planningEO implementations typically include significant upfront costs related to high-resolution imagery,third-party software or cust

201、om analytics services.Traditionally,organizations have had to purchase large datasets,even when only small portions are needed.The traditional EO business model,which relies on a price-per-image framework,is inherently flawed and impedes the widespread adoption of EO technologies.Indeed,such a syste

202、m ties revenue directly to the number of satellites deployed,making it difficult to achieve economies of scale.Launching satellites into orbit is unlikely to become sufficiently affordable to support widespread adoption in industries requiring continuous monitoring,such as agriculture.Furthermore,th

203、e pricing structure for EO data often does not align with customer needs.Typically,data is sold in entire satellite scenes covering extensive geographic areas,whereas most customers require insights for smaller,more specific regions.This leads to prohibitively high costs for organizations operating

204、on narrow margins,limiting EO adoption to high-value,niche applications.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 23To compare it to the music industry,we are still in the 90s,when people bought albums to listen to a fraction of it,their favourite song.Max

205、 Gulde,constellrHowever,the influx of commercial entrants is driving innovation in business models,aligning EO investment requirements more closely with expected returns.The business model is shifting,and soon,organizations may only need to pay for the specific pixels or data they need.So,while cost

206、s can appear prohibitive at present,the long-term costs and return on investment through efficiency improvements,regulatory compliance and sustainability outcomes can vastly outweigh these costs.Understanding the urgency of EO-derived insightsWhen immediate access to operational EO tools is needed,s

207、uch as responding to regulatory pressures or unexpected environmental events,organizations may opt for pre-built EO solutions.This is especially beneficial when the organizations use case aligns with industry-standard workflows such as monitoring urban heat islands,assessing flood risk or managing d

208、eforestation.While it may lack deep customization,buying delivers speed,scalability and immediate integration into existing workflows,allowing organizations to quickly gain value from EO data.Identifying the level of control neededFor organizations handling sensitive data,EO systems may need to be b

209、uilt in-house to maintain control over the data life cycle.This is especially important when EO data intersects with data-sensitive and highly regulated environments like defence,financial services and energy.In-house EO systems can aid in compliance with privacy regulations like the EUs General Dat

210、a Protection Regulation(GDPR),Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act(HIPAA),or industry-specific regulations that dictate how geospatial data is handled.Furthermore,implementing robust encryption and secure APIs(application programming interfaces)for data sharing helps protect EO data t

211、hroughout its life cycle.This helps organizations avoid fines,legal action or reputational damage.Beyond protecting sensitive data,it is crucial for organizations to identify and leverage their existing non-EO data to drive business advantages.Understanding the types of proprietary data a company po

212、ssesses can help in creating a unique competitive moat.For instance,a seed business may have proprietary farmer data that can be used to train in-house EO and AI services for better crop estimates.By integrating EO data with proprietary datasets,organizations can develop more accurate models,enhance

213、 decision-making processes and create tailored solutions that provide a competitive edge in the market.3.2 Pathways to implementationThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 24CASE STUDY 4UNICEFs Childrens Climate Risk IndexArticulating the value proposit

214、ionChildren are uniquely vulnerable to climate and environmental hazards such as droughts,floods and severe weather,especially when they live in areas where these risks overlap.As these hazards intensify,UNICEF recognizes the need to identify regions where children are at the greatest risk,so as to

215、facilitate targeted responses to safeguard their well-being.Because of the need to monitor large-scale areas over a long period of time,UNICEF has identified EO to be best suited to understand the risk these particularly vulnerable populations face.Bolstering strategic alignmentLeveraging decades of

216、 EO data,UNICEF built the Childrens Climate Risk Index(CCRI).This in-house capability uses EO to model and assess a wide range of climate hazards at the sub-national level,providing comprehensive insights into the climate risks that children,and others around the world,face.UNICEFs efforts to build

217、an in-house solution began with a clear mandate from the Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan(SCAP)2023-2030,which underscored the urgent need for targeted mitigation in order to protect the most vulnerable children from the worst impacts of a changing climate and degrading environment.Char

218、ting the execution strategyFollowing the call to action,UNICEF established a dedicated Climate and Environment Data unit in 2023.They decided to build a tailored EO solution for their internal needs,building upon existing solutions from trusted and established partners.This allowed them to maintain

219、control,customize workflow and integrate with existing systems,which ultimately increased adoption of EO tools across their programmes.This initiative led to UNICEF generating the first comprehensive overview of childrens exposure and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change,developed to help

220、prioritize action to support those most at risk.This report compiled geographical data,which highlighted how exposed children are to different climate-related shocks,and ranks countries on a scale of risk,from low to extremely high.With CCRI,UNICEF has the insights needed to strategically protect ch

221、ildren,promote climate resilience programmes and empower youth advocacy,all of which support a safer and more sustainable future for the next generation.Determining the level of customization neededEO workflows are not one-size-fits-all.Certain sectors may require highly specialized analytics,such a

222、s precision agriculture or coastal monitoring,where customized algorithms track water salinity or crop health.Sometimes,third-party datasets may lack the specificity needed,necessitating custom data acquisition,such as commissioning satellite tasking for specific regions.If third-party datasets are

223、insufficient(e.g.lacking specific spectral bands or time-series resolution),organizations may need to acquire their own high-resolution imagery or collaborate with satellite operators to gather bespoke datasets.Exploring the role of open-source and commercial data and toolsLeveraging open-source EO

224、data such as Landsat of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA)and Sentinel satellites of the Copernicus programme,as well as open-source tools such as QGIS,may provide cost-effective alternatives for geospatial data analysis.These datasets and platforms are often sufficient for appl

225、ications concerning broad scopes and long-term historical trends but may lack the precision required to fully answer the issue at hand.(Precision refers to minimizing the error of a recorded measurement compared to its ground truth measurement,and temporal resolution refers to how often a measuremen

226、t is captured.)For certain use cases,this level of resolution can be crucial to elevate the data from merely informative to essential for decision-making.An active global community is working to create open-source tools that can be combined to create EO data analysis pipelines.NASA,European Space Ag

227、ency(ESA)and many commercial satellite companies are funding and contributing staff time to the creation of shared open-source EO resources such as the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library(GDAL),the SpatioTemporal Asset Catalogs(STAC)specification and the Sensor Tasking API(STAPI).The Executives Play

228、book on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 25These are lower resolution but powerful tools that can be combined to create powerful and scalable services that include both open-source and commercial offerings.The progression beyond basic feature detection further enhances the

229、value of EO data.Crossing a threshold of accuracy transforms the data from being informative to also being actionable.For example,constellrs high-resolution thermal imagery can capture detailed temperature variations across urban environments,agricultural fields and natural landscapes,providing insi

230、ghts that are crucial for applications such as urban heat island assessment,crop health monitoring and disaster management.Often when testing a new Earth observation use case,the best way is to start small with a pilot project,ideally with external partners or vendors.Many use cases might not be a g

231、ood fit for an organization,so it may only make sense to invest in building something in-house at scale after it has already been tested and validated.Rohini Swaminathan,United Nations Childrens Fund(UNICEF)The following image compares constellrs thermal imagery with open-source data from lower-reso

232、lution sources.highlighting the enhanced granularity of commercial data.Organizations can test an EO solution with open-source data and opt for commercial data when higher resolution is needed.Additionally,it is important to consider how small satellites and newer sensors often use open data from La

233、ndsat and other satellites for calibration and validation to improve quality control.Often,when deciding on an EO solution,a blend of publicly available and commercially available data and tools may enable an organization to maximize its return on investment.Furthermore,regardless of the data source

234、s and tools chosen,organizations will often still require EO expertise to analyse and interpret the insights from EO and have unique considerations when deciding how to best build,buy or partner to acquire their needed EO capabilities.Example of precision variability by data sourceFIGURE 6OPEN SOURC

235、ECOMMERCIALSource:ConstellrThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 26Integrating with enterprise systemsFor EO to drive long-term value,it must be fully integrated into an organizations existing data ecosystems,rather than operating in a silo.The transit

236、ion from data to analytics to actionable insights,which ultimately need to be executed to generate value,can be streamlined despite the challenges.Initial implementation may take place in sandbox environments to test EOs capabilities,but long-term success requires seamless integration into enterpris

237、e systems like enterprise resource planning(ERP),customer relationship management(CRM),human resources(HR)and analytics platforms.Establishing data pipelines that integrate EO data with existing platforms enables continuity in data-driven decision-making.Certain ecosystem players,like the Indian Spa

238、ce Research Organisation(ISRO)with its robust network of data dissemination centres,are working to make EO more easily integrated into existing systems.However,additional organization-specific work is essential to address potential obstacles such as gaps in time-series data(e.g.due to cloud coverage

239、),by tailoring data to meet precise customer requirements and ensuring compatibility between various data sources(e.g.different spectral,temporal and spatial specifications).Harmonizing EO data across different days and regions enables large-scale analysis,adding another layer of sophistication.The

240、computational effort required to derive insights from a set of images is often underestimated,but with the right tools and processes,it becomes manageable.Organizations may need to implement middleware or ETL(extract,transform,load)tools that can translate EO data formats into enterprise-friendly sc

241、hemas.Despite the current fragmentation of EO platforms and partial data standards,navigating through multiple interfaces and applications can be simplified,making seamless integration achievable.Evaluating potential partnership opportunitiesImplementing EO solutions may require strategic collaborat

242、ion with external partners,including EO data providers,analytics firms,technology vendors,academia,research institutions,private sector entities or public agencies that offer unique datasets,deep customization,niche expertise,shared risk and lower upfront costs.3.3 Durable impactEO is not a commodit

243、y;selecting the right partner can significantly impact an organizations long-term success.Bruno Sanchez,ClayThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 27Partnerships come in several forms,each offering unique value depending on the goals and resources of th

244、e organizations involved.Here are a few prominent types when it comes to EO:Focus research organizations,which involve collaboration between research institutions and private companies,and drive advancements in technology(e.g.foundation models)to help solve pressing environmental issues by combining

245、 academic expertise with commercial business processes.For example,the European Organization for Nuclear Research(CERN)recently partnered with EnduroSat,NTU Athens and AGENIUM Space to apply CERNs existing AI capabilities to enable real-time data filtering onboard EO satellites.A classic yet powerfu

246、l model,public-private partnerships(PPPs),bring together government agencies and private companies to co-develop EO solutions.These can unlock funding or access to government-led EO initiatives,reducing the burden on internal resources while enhancing the organizations capacity to focus on core busi

247、ness operations.For this model,within an EO context,governments often provide access to publicly funded data sources(such as from NASA or ESA satellites),while private entities offer technical expertise,data analytics and commercialization pathways.The Carbon Mapper coalition exemplifies this type o

248、f partnership.Backed by philanthropy,the coalition brings together NASAs JPL,Planet,California Air Resources Board,University of Arizona,Arizona State University and RMI along with funders,including High Tide Foundation,Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the E

249、nvironment,among others.Data-sharing partnerships focus on the mutual exchange of data between organizations to enhance EO capabilities.These partnerships can involve agreements where entities share satellite imagery,sensor data or analytical insights to create a more comprehensive dataset.Partnersh

250、ips to acquire,validate and ground-truth EO data can be crucial for building reference or training datasets.This can be achieved by engaging with customers,citizen science campaigns or local universities.Moreover,organizations possessing unique datasets but lacking in EO or AI expertise can signific

251、antly enhance their capabilities.By forming alliances with specialized technology companies,these datasets can be transformed into powerful training data,thereby unlocking new potential and driving innovation.Consortia allow multiple organizations often across sectors to join forces to tackle a comm

252、on goal related to EO.These consortia may focus on specific domain areas like climate resilience,renewable energy planning or agricultural monitoring,leveraging EO data.The complexity of establishing and managing partnerships means organizations must diligently structure these collaborations for ali

253、gnment on decision rights,data-sharing protocols,ownership of intellectual property(e.g.of proprietary algorithms or processing methods)and incentives(e.g.short-term output vs long-term return).Developing a change management planThe ingestion of spatial data may introduce new input into decision-mak

254、ing,organizational processes and frameworks and its successful integration requires an intentional approach to anticipate and address change.This not only involves training staff to analyse and visualize spatial data but also fostering a culture that embraces environmental intelligence and spatial d

255、ata-driven decision-making.It is also crucial for decision-makers to understand the limitations of spatial data,such as cloud cover in optical data,which can obscure important information,and low coverage or less frequent temporal resolutions,which may affect the timeliness and completeness of insig

256、hts.While teams can learn how to use EO insights without becoming EO experts,organizations will likely need to build some internal capacity over time should they look to scale.Executives should invest in capacity building through trainings,workshops and partnerships,to develop EO literacy at all lev

257、els.Measuring impact and iteratingTo monitor the success of EO adoption,tailored key performance indicators(KPIs)can measure the effectiveness of EO data in achieving business and sustainability goals.These success metrics should be established early in the process and scaled appropriately to the is

258、sue being solved.KPIs could include cost savings from operational efficiencies,reductions in environmental footprint and improvements in regulatory compliance.Regular reviews of EO data performance,alongside feedback from end users benefiting from the insights,will allow an organization to adjust it

259、s strategy and continuously improve EO implementation.By iterating on successes and learning from challenges,organizations can refine their EO strategies over time,achieving long-term value.Considering these factors enables executives to craft an EO strategy that is not only aligned with their organ

260、izations goals but is also equipped to drive lasting,scalable impact.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 28ConclusionIncreasingly,EO capabilities are evolving to provide insights throughout an organization;however,potential end users must remain dili

261、gent in identifying how EO can generate value for their specific contexts and follow a right-sized approach to implementation.EO is a strategic asset for organizations,transforming spatial data into actionable insights for addressing complex challenges.As economic uncertainties,environmental pressur

262、es and resource constraints intensify,EO offers a unique advantage illuminating patterns and dependencies that inform decision-making.Thanks to its diverse industry applications,EO also presents a compelling business case,strengthening resilience,driving operational efficiency and uncovering new gro

263、wth opportunities.For additional information on how to implement EO for specific use cases,the World Economic Forums Earth observation Use Case Library18 can be a useful resource and provide more details on data sources,expected value and other technical considerations for specific applications of E

264、O data.As EO technologies evolve,so too must organizations approaches.The path forward requires not only the ability to extract value from EO but also the capacity to remain agile and adaptive.This means continually monitoring technological advancements,evaluating new data sources and ensuring that

265、EO continues to align with shifting business needs and external challenges.Looking to the future,executives integrating EO in their strategic frameworks will position themselves to capitalize on emerging opportunities,respond to risks with agility and drive long-term value for their stakeholders and

266、 the environment.The adoption of EO in an organization represents a pivotal step in enhancing the organizations ability to take informed,data-driven decisions that contribute to strategic objectives.The broader adoption of EO across organizations can collectively increase capacity to better understa

267、nd the Earths systems,generating sustainable economic growth to address some of the planets most pressing challenges.The Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 29ContributorsAcknowledgementsAaron AddisonExecutive Director,World Geospatial Industry Council A

268、wais AhmedFounder and Chief Executive Officer,PixxelEdward AndersonSenior Resilience Specialist,World BankLuca BudelloGeospatial Lead,Innovate UK Rhett ButlerFounder,Chief Executive Officer and Executive Editor,MongabayAchyut ChandraLead,OI and Technology Venturing,HCLTech Simonetta CheliDirector of

269、 Earth Observation Programmes,European Space Agency(ESA)Bridget FawcettHead,Sustainability and Corporate Transitions,Investment Banking,CitiYana GevorgyanSecretariat Director,Group on Earth Observations(GEO)Max GuldeCo-Founder and Chief Executive Officer,constellr Himanshu GuptaChief Executive Offic

270、er,ClimateAi Helen KrauseManaging Director,Head of Global Data Insights,CitiAmanda LelandExecutive Director,Environmental Defense FundTony LongChief Executive Officer,Global Fishing WatchMatt OConnellOperating Partner,DCVCMasami OnodaDirector,Internal Relations and Research Department,Japan Aerospac

271、e Exploration Agency(JAXA)Deloitte Joey CoutureFellow,World Economic Forum;US Manager,DeloitteSarah HornUS Senior Manager,DeloitteGreta KaardalUS Consultant,DeloitteAmmar KhidrFellow,World Economic Forum;US Senior Consultant,DeloitteBrett LoubertUS Principal and Deloitte Space Leader,DeloitteWorld E

272、conomic ForumHelen BurdettHead,Technology for EarthValentin GolovtchenkoLead,Climate TechnologyEarth observation community membersThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 30Steven RamageChief Executive Officer,Committee on Earth Observation SatellitesMino

273、o RathnasabapathyResearch Engineer,MIT Media Lab,Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)Bruno Snchez-Andrade NuoExecutive Director,Clay.foundationRoland ScharrerFellow;Visiting Research Scholar,Stanford UniversityRitheesh ShettyDirector,HCLTech Jed SundwallExecutive Director,Radiant EarthRohini S

274、waminathanHead of Climate and Environment Data Unit,United Nations Childrens FundAllison WolffChief Executive Officer,Vibrant PlanetArthur AnglinUS Specialist LeaderJerry JohnstonUS Managing DirectorJamie SawchukCanada PartnerMichelle VarneyGlobal Senior Managing DirectorSteven WardUS Managing Direc

275、torShubham BhardwajCommunity Lead,Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution NetworkSebastian BuckupHead of Network and Partnerships;Member of the Executive Committee Ian CroninCommunity Curator,Advanced Manufacturing and Supply ChainsPedro GomezHead,Climate;Member of the Executive CommitteeNikolai

276、 KhlystovLead,Space TechnologyHazuki MoriLead,Space TechnologyProductionBianca Gay-FulconisDesigner,1-Pact EditionMadhur SinghEditor,World Economic ForumDeloitteWorld Economic ForumThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 31Endnotes1.NASA.(2024,September

277、11).NASA Finds Summer 2024 Hottest to Date.Retrieved from https:/www.nasa.gov/earth/nasa-finds-summer-2024-hottest-to-date/2.United Nations.(2022,September).Biodiversity-our strongest natural defense against climate change.Retrieved from https:/www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biod

278、iversity 3.World Economic Forum.(2024,September).Charting the Future of Earth Observation.Retrieved from https:/www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Charting_the_Future_of_Earth_Observation_2024.pdf 4.World Economic Forum.(2024,May).Amplifying the Global Value of Earth Observation.Retrieved from https:/www3.we

279、forum.org/docs/WEF_Amplifying_the_Global_Value_of_Earth_Observation_2024.pdf 5.United States Geological Survey.(2024,July 30).Earth Observing Satellites.Retrieved from https:/www.usgs.gov/calval/earth-observing-satellites 6.World Economic Forum.(2024,May).Amplifying the Global Value of Earth Observa

280、tion.Retrieved from https:/www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Amplifying_the_Global_Value_of_Earth_Observation_2024.pdf 7.World Economic Forum.(2024,January 31).How AI and Earth observation can help life on our planet.Retrieved from https:/www.weforum.org/stories/2024/01/ai-earth-observation-technology/8.Eur

281、opean Association of Remote Sensing Companies.(2022,February).Deforestation Monitoring for Sustainable Palm Oil Production.Retrieved from https:/earsc.org/sebs/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Deforestation-Monitoring-for-Sustainable-Palm-Oil-Production_vFinal.pdf 9.United Nations.(2022,September).Biodive

282、rsity-our strongest natural defense against climate change.Retrieved from https:/www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity 10.Gartner.What Is Sustainable Technology and Why Its Important.Retrieved from https:/ 11.Andersson,P.,&Ivehammar,P.(2016).Cost-benefit analysis of dynamic

283、 route planning at sea.Transportation Research Periodica,https:/ 12.World Economic Forum.(2021,September).Space for Net Zero.Retrieved from https:/www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Space_and_Net_Zero_2021.pdf 13.Convergent Research.(n.d.).About FROs.Retrieved from https:/www.convergentresearch.org/about-fro

284、s14.Cloud-Native Geo.(2024,April 17).Introducing fiboa.Retrieved from https:/cloudnativegeo.org/blog/2024/04/introducing-fiboa/15.Fields of the World.(n.d.).About Fields of the World.Retrieved from https:/fieldsofthe.world/16.Source Cooperative.(2024,August 27).About Fields of the World.Retrieved fr

285、om https:/source.coop/repositories/kerner-lab/fields-of-the-world 17.World Economic Forum.(2024,September).Charting the Future of Earth Observation.Retrieved from https:/www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Charting_the_Future_of_Earth_Observation_2024.pdf 18.World Economic Forum.(2025,January).Earth Observati

286、on Use Case Library.Retrieved from https:/initiatives.weforum.org/earth-observation/use-case-libraryThe Executives Playbook on Earth Observation:Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 32World Economic Forum9193 route de la CapiteCH-1223 Cologny/GenevaSwitzerland Tel.:+41(0)22 869 1212Fax:+41(0)22

287、786 2744contactweforum.orgwww.weforum.orgThe World Economic Forum,committed to improving the state of the world,is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.The Forum engages the foremost political,business and other leaders of society to shape global,regional and industry agendas.