Flooding applications enabled by high resolution, high cadence imagery from the Planet Labs PBC constellation of satellites

Flooding is the most common and costliest global natural disaster, accounting for 43% of all recorded events in the last 20 years and expected to increase the global cost of flooding tenfold by 2030. Satellite imagery has proven beneficial for numerous flood use cases from historical modeling, situational awareness and extent, to risk forecasting. The addition of high resolution, high cadence satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC has been widely adopted by the flood community, from researchers in academia to private companies in the insurance and financial services. 

Planet Labs PBC currently operates over 200 satellites, comprising the largest constellation of Earth observation satellites. The PlanetScope dataset consists of broad coverage, always-on imaging of the entire landmass by 140+ Dove satellites at 3.7 meter resolution. Complementary to PlanetScope, the SkySat dataset includes 21 high resolution satellites imaging at .50 meter resolution with the ability to image and video any location on Earth via automated tasking commands. This presentation will highlight Planet’s capabilities serving the hydrological science community and cutting-edge flood research and technology.