Global Real-Time Video Surveillance - EarthNow

By John Honovich, Published Apr 20, 2018, 09:42am EDT

A new company, EarthNow, with backing from Bill Gates, Airbus and more, is claiming that:

Users will be able to see places on Earth with a delay as short as about one second. This makes it possible to see and monitor events as they happen.

They are planning to launch a network of satellites, costing potentially a billion dollars for real-time, global monitoring.

In this note, we examine the potential impact for the video surveillance market.

Satellite ******** - *** **** ****

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EarthNow **** **** ** **********

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Resolution ****** *** ** ***** ************ *********

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*** ****** ***** **********, combined **** ***** *********** techniques, ** ******** **enable ***** ********** and tracking applications consistent with existing and future customer requirements. [emphasis added]

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Integrated ***** *********

*** ******* **** **** will incorporate ***** *********:

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Public *** **** **** ****

******** **** **** *** ** make the ************ ******** *********:

******* ******** ** * very **** ******** ******, we ********** ****** ** servemillions ** *********, such as via ** *** ** *** ******, allowing each user to see and interact with the Earth in real-time [emphasis added]

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Integrated **** *** / ******** *******

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Privacy ******** ****

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Political ******** ********

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Vote / ****

What ** *** ***** *** ****** **** **?

** *** ********, ****** share **** ** *** think *** ****** **** be ** ****?

Comments (15)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

04/20/18 02:03pm

I'm interested from a curiosity perspective, but I don't see this having a real impact on security.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 04/20/18 04:09pm

I'm interested from a curiosity perspective, but I don't see this having a real impact on security.

If anything it would be worthwhile for Google/Microsoft to pay to access the data to provide real-time/somewhat real-time satellite videos for items like Bing Maps and Google Earth.  I agree that there will be minimal impact on security in the near term as the resolution is likely to be low, the view is overhead/at odd angle, etc.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

04/20/18 02:36pm

Interested in trying it out, terrified that it will be used against me. #StalkerExWife

Undisclosed Integrator #4

04/20/18 05:36pm

It would be interesting to see if this could be integrated with a PSIM Solution. Imagine having an alarm come though the software and then being able to see pseudo-live satellite imagery of the site via the EarthNow API. Even if it is hours/days old that is still much better than some of the satellite imagery currently seen by the public. 

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 04/20/18 06:59pm

#4, that's an excellent point. We've heard a number of times people ask about whether our Calculator uses real-time imagery or whether VMSes with map integration do so. Of course, the answer is no and historically it has been a wishful thinking / impossible request but if EarthNow comes through, it could be used as a strong security systems 'background' / 'map'.

Shannon Davis

04/20/18 06:49pm

This would benefit us greatly for design work. Too many times when you go to a google earth image the structure you want isn't either there or is not up to date. Also the images from google maps on your iphone at least is more current than the PC version i found out the other day.

Jay Hobdy

IPVMU Certified | 04/20/18 08:35pm

The potential uses of this are so wide, it's scary. I can already see criminals using this. Criminals can see real time how far away the cops are, if an area is unprotected, dark areas, stalkers can stalk victims.

 

 

I think the next big investment is in underground cities....

 

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Jay Hobdy | 04/20/18 08:42pm

I am going to start selling industrial sized fog machines to obscure Big Brother from watching "Insert Companies Name" private property. Wanna buy in Jay H?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #5

04/20/18 10:01pm

I'll coin the term "crime storm" now. Criminal activity will skyrocket when there are clouds.

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
04/23/18 02:35pm

I think it will have minimal impact on my day to day workflow. The one way I can think of today is having much more accurate views of my client's sites, especially ones that are currently under construction or have made changes since the last Google Earth imagery was taken. This actually would have been useful this past week.

Jay Hobdy

IPVMU Certified | 04/23/18 06:40pm

Would this eliminate the need for Trump's wall?

Avatar

Robert Baxter

04/27/18 04:04pm

This will be a positive impact on following the path of crime events. We often have situations (daily) where the perpetrator leaves the site under surveillance before the police arrive. Once they leave the view of our cameras or PTZ we can help police with such a system to help them locate them regardless if they left on foot or by vehicle.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Robert Baxter | 04/27/18 07:01pm

we can help police with such a system to help them locate them regardless if they left on foot or by vehicle.

I am skeptical it is going to be that detailed but I suppose it could. If it is, it is going to generate a revolution in privacy concerns / issues.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

04/27/18 07:13pm

There is a company called Planet who provides near real time images of Earth.  This company owns a huge fleet of satellites designed in-house to cover entire Earth.

Planet

I am not sure if images the company provides have any value in the security industry.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #6 | 04/27/18 07:31pm

#6, thanks for sharing, I was not aware of them. If I am reading their website correctly (e.g., "The fleet can revisit any point on Earth at 0.8 meter resolution and sub-weekly cadence."), it is not real-time nor continuous. To be clear, that's not a criticism, this service exists and Earthnow is still not much more than an idea but it seems that Planet is not targeting real-time surveillance.

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