Satellite intelligence company Ursa Space Systems (Ursa Space) is transforming the way business and government decision-makers use satellite imagery and geospatial data. Working alongside AWS Partner Element 84 and Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company is transforming raw satellite data into actionable insights, reducing analysis time for applications from commodity trading to disaster response. Using the scalability of AWS and Element 84’s suite of geospatial tools, Ursa Space’s solution has dramatically improved response times for critical missions: What used to take weeks can now be done in near real time.

Opportunity | Making Satellite Data Accessible for Decision-Makers

Ursa Space Systems was facing significant technical challenges in making satellite imagery accessible and useful for decision-making. “A lot of things that are simple for humans are actually quite difficult for computers,” says Adam Maher, founder and CEO of Ursa Space. “For example, a human might say ‘I’m looking for an area close to Boston.’ That’s a hard technical problem for a computer.”

The technical challenges extended beyond just processing images. Ursa Space needed to solve complex problems around data orchestration—from accessing satellite imagery to combining it with other geospatial datasets to create meaningful insights. This included managing data access, storage, and analysis, as well as the integration of multiple data sources to provide context for the satellite imagery. 

Solution | Using Generative AI and AWS Solutions to Create Actionable Insights

Working with Element 84 and AWS, Ursa implemented an innovative solution using cloud infrastructure and specialized geospatial tools. “We’re constantly creating and combining geospatial datasets to create insights for our customers, whether they’re trading in the commodities market or supporting a first responder,” says Maher. “By working with Element 84, we can display this data in maps like you would use on your cell phone and bring that to that level of accessibility to customers.”

By combining scalable AWS services with Element 84’s geospatial tools and expertise, Ursa Space can efficiently access, store, and analyze satellite imagery while seamlessly integrating it with other data sources. The solution uses a variety of AWS services, including generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities through Amazon Bedrock, a fully managed service that offers a choice of high-performing foundation models. Ursa Space uses both large language models—like Anthropic’s Claude in Amazon Bedrock —and video language models to power its interface, making it simpler than ever for analysts to access information. This combination allows the company to rapidly process and analyze satellite imagery while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to changing customer needs.

Outcome | Delivering Insights in Near Real Time for Critical Applications

The implementation has revolutionized Ursa Space’s ability to deliver timely insights. “When we started this business in 2015, going through the steps of purchasing a satellite image, creating sense from it, and delivering a result could take weeks,” says Maher. The company’s new solution has reduced this to near real time. The impact has been particularly significant for crisis response. “Every hour it takes to deliver that insight—where was the damage, what are the evacuation routes, what hospitals are available—makes a really big impact on the individuals in the field.” The solution has supported dozens of natural disaster response campaigns in the last year alone, demonstrating its vital role in emergency response operations. 

Ursa Space’s partnership with Element 84 and AWS exemplifies the power of collaboration and innovation in the field of satellite imagery analysis. By using Element 84’s geospatial expertise along with the scalability of AWS solutions, the company has created a solution that can deliver near real-time insights to customers across industries. The integration of generative AI with innovative solutions from companies like Ursa Space promises to further revolutionize the way we interact with and derive value from satellite data.