20 March 2023

Identifying regional space capabilities in natural capital monitoring

Amelia Magistrali

Associate Fellow

Amelia Magistrali

Associate Fellow
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UK Space Agency study update

When I started working at NICRE in October as a Research Associate in Rural Innovation, I wasn’t expecting that my first blog post would be about a regional project involving space technology, but that’s exactly what this is about!

Earlier this year the UK Space Agency announced funding for 18 projects across the UK to boost the space sector, which included a scoping study led by NICRE and Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (SNES). From January to March, the three-month scoping study has set out to determine demand for, and feasibility of, a North East regional impact project to develop and increase adoption of space capabilities in natural capital monitoring and management. As we approach the end of the scoping study, as project manager I wanted to take the opportunity to share some of what we did, what we’ve learned and what we’re doing next!

What we did: design-thinking approach

With the Rural Design Centre as a partner, the approach was led by design-thinking, with two facilitated events informed by one-on-one interviews with more than 40 organisations representing land stewardship and management interests, space sector and satellite application businesses and relevant research expertise.

Individual discussions and the design-thinking events focused on the broader opportunities and barriers in managing and monitoring natural assets and then considered the potential for using satellite application technology capabilities and the specific challenges in their application in natural asset management.

 

Across the events in Durham and Hexham, 35 people gathered to discuss these challenges and consider how to frame them, including considering solutions. A total of 96 ‘challenge cards’ were collected, outlining a specific challenge, its importance and who it affects. Thirty of these challenges were framed to consider what technology and developments already exist to address them, as well as additional solution ideas, continuing barriers and the explicit value of overcoming the challenges.

From the one-on-one interviews and design-thinking events, we started to consolidate key challenge themes to inform a regional impact project in North East England, with some very wide-ranging priorities emerging in the context of some specific regional needs.

What we've learned: priority challenge themes

Quite early in the scoping study, it was clear that the focus for building regional capability in satellite applications for natural asset monitoring is not on improving the capability of satellites themselves, but in how the data is understood and accessed and used in the space sector. Additionally, a big theme for land managing organisations is in metrics and indicators for land management schemes, particularly biodiversity net gain. An emphasis on upskilling and building understanding of what can and cannot be measured/analysed with space and satellite technology also came from study participants. As a summary, the broad priority challenge themes emerging are:

  1. Metrics and indicators (connecting land management programmes with what can be measured with space technology)
  2. Understanding and capacity (upskilling and building knowledge base in both earth observation & land management sectors)
  3. Marketplace and exchange (data access and affordability through data sharing/collaboration and knowledge exchange)

 

The design-thinking events also highlighted very specific challenges in the region, which we attempted to capture in four priorities as potential case studies to focus on building regional capability. Broadly, these include:

  1. Biodiversity and habitat quality (managing for improvement, including restoration)
  2. Extreme events (storm damage, wildfire, flooding)
  3. Water quality (coastal, large and small waterbodies)
  4. Species monitoring (e.g. deer damage, invasive species, pests and disease)

The challenge now is to develop a specific project covering these themes!

What comes next: still time to get involved

 A three-month scoping study passes by in a flash, but there’s still time to get involved if you’re interested. We’re seeking feedback on the key themes and regional needs, which you can provide by completing the short linked form. Through the form you can express your interest in participating in a session to formulate a grant for further funding from the UK Space Agency, and if you’d like to have an opportunity to speak about this study and longer-term next steps, please contact me at: amelia.magistrali@newcastle.ac.uk

While being part of a project like this was unexpected at first, I've truly enjoyed diving in and it's been exciting for NICRE to work with partners on this study to harness innovation through connecting the space sector with organisations and businesses vital to the stewardship of our natural environment.

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