by A national environmental agency has launched an innovative satellite-based emergency mapping service to improve its response efficiency to man-made and climate crises.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) unveiled its new Satellite Emergency Mapping Service (SEMS) at the first Space-Comm Expo in Glasgow on Wednesday, promising to revolutionise Scotland’s response to environmental emergencies.
By using cutting-edge satellite imaging technology to provide high-resolution data in real time, the company hopes to be able to respond to emergencies such as floods, wildfires, landslides and oil spills much more effectively.
SEMS is available to all emergency services and is in operation 365 days a year. The on-call service is available around the clock.
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Business Secretary Richard Lochhead said the launch of the service demonstrated Scotland’s innovative strength in developing solutions to some of the most serious challenges facing the country.
He said: “Scotland not only has a strong opportunity to reap major economic benefits from the growth of our space sector, but can also use the technology as a huge positive force for a range of important services and applications.
“The launch of SEPA’s groundbreaking Satellite Emergency Mapping service is the perfect example of how we can innovate, collaborate and deliver cutting-edge solutions to some of the most serious and significant challenges of our time.”
SEMS is part of the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, a global network of over 270 satellites from 17 charter members around the world committed to disaster relief.
SEPA is the only organisation in Scotland that can activate the charter and provide emergency services with access to vital satellite imagery.
The regulator hopes the new service will enable it to assess the full extent of damage in areas where weather or hazard conditions make on-site assessment impossible. This will enable it to identify critical hazard areas and prioritise those areas for intervention.
Claire Neil, chief scientist at SEPA, said SEMS will provide an unprecedented level of precision in managing environmental emergencies.
She said: “SEPA is proud to lead this initiative that will not only save lives and protect critical infrastructure, but also mitigate environmental damage during crises. Our work is a testament to the importance of collaboration across sectors to protect our environment.
“The ability to access stable, consistent and near real-time data from space brings unprecedented precision to our efforts to address environmental risks. The technology’s potential for both immediate crisis management and long-term planning is immense.”
SEMS will also help prepare for future crises by using baseline data collected by satellites to model possible scenarios, support long-term resilience planning and develop more effective response strategies.
Sarah-Jane Gill, chief of staff at the UK Space Agency, said the service was an example of the growth of Scotland’s space sector.
She said: “For the UK Space Agency, the development and launch of SEMS is a perfect example of how space technology can be used for disaster preparedness and to support public services.
“There are several international tools for satellite data, mapping and analysis in emergency situations, but these tools are most effective when integrated into operational services, as SEPA has done with SEMS.
“Scotland has a fast-growing space sector that is critical to the UK’s overall ambitions. As SEPA shows, innovation in this sector can help address environmental and climate issues, protect communities and infrastructure, and benefit citizens across the country.”
