The rapid evolution of commercial geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) was on full display last month at the GEOINT Symposium, where industry leaders showcased their latest satellite imagery and cutting-edge analytical tools. As satellite constellations expand and remote sensing capabilities become more sophisticated, commercial data is playing an increasingly vital role in defense, disaster response, and global cooperation.
Government leaders from the U.S. and allied nations emphasized that commercial GEOINT fosters greater transparency and enhances collaboration. “Commercial datasets can be shared swiftly and without classification barriers,” noted Katie Davies, a GEOINT officer with the UK Strategic Command. This accessibility also empowers governments to engage with the public, added Melissa Best, assistant secretary for intelligence and insights at the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organization.
“Today’s environment demands faster innovation, and commercial GEOINT is essential in meeting that need,” said Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, director of the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
A Glimpse Into Recent Advances
Wyvern: Unveiling the Eye of the Sahara
Canadian startup Wyvern released hyperspectral imagery of the Richat Structure, a striking geological formation in Mauritania often called the Eye of the Sahara. Captured by the Dragonette-001 satellite last July, the image reveals material fingerprints across the feature’s layers. Wyvern recently shared 25 hyperspectral images to encourage exploration and understanding of this emerging data type. “We want to help researchers and developers see what hyperspectral imagery can reveal,” said Kristen Cote, Wyvern co-founder and CTO.
Pixxel: Mapping India’s River Ganga
Indian startup Pixxel debuted images from its first three Firefly hyperspectral satellites earlier this year. Among them, detailed imagery of the River Ganga highlights channels, floodplains, and agricultural lands. Hyperspectral data assists farmers in assessing soil moisture and supports forest management. Pixxel aims to build a constellation of 24 satellites, delivering daily global coverage with five-meter resolution.
Iceye and Safran.AI: Automating Aircraft Detection
Finnish company Iceye, known for its synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, has partnered with France’s Safran.AI to automate image analysis. SAR, capable of penetrating clouds and capturing images at night, requires sophisticated processing. Safran.AI’s tools enable rapid classification of aircraft, ships, and other objects, helping analysts manage the increasing data volume. “AI is now mature enough to significantly enhance manual workflows,” said John Cartwright, Iceye head of data product. Iceye currently operates 48 satellites, with more launches planned through 2026.
Airbus Pléiades Neo: Enhanced Urban Imaging
Airbus is using artificial intelligence to enhance imagery from its Pléiades Neo satellites, which naturally capture images at 30-centimeter resolution. Through AI-driven sharpening, Airbus can produce images with detail down to 15 centimeters, improving object recognition and situational awareness in urban environments. The satellites collect both panchromatic and multispectral data in wide 14-kilometer swaths.
Maxar: Seeing Through Smoke with SWIR
Maxar Technologies recently demonstrated the power of shortwave infrared (SWIR) imagery in responding to natural disasters. During the Southern California wildfires earlier this year, Maxar’s Worldview-3 satellite provided crucial insights by penetrating smoke to reveal active fires, hot spots, and smoldering areas. SWIR technology, with a resolution of 3.7 meters across eight spectral bands, also supports applications in agriculture, forestry, and mining.
The Road Ahead
As commercial GEOINT capabilities grow, they are reshaping how intelligence agencies, governments, and even the public interact with geospatial data. The 2025 GEOINT Symposium made it clear: private-sector innovation is now a cornerstone of the modern intelligence ecosystem.