GIS, maps and GeoAI
Terrain analysis
Slope, aspect, curvature, roughness and exposure from elevation models for access, stability and siting.
We design and operate.
ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards (elevation data) · ISO 19123-1
/
Digital twins and simulation/
Scenario simulationFloods, heat, load and failure, run before they happen.
Scenario simulation, inside Digital twins and simulation: terrain analysis, hydrological modelling, flood inundation and hazard mapping, viewshed and line of sight and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards (elevation data) to ISO 19123-1, and runs on the open Observatory Protocol.
Plan with usArchitectureThe protocol- Technologies
- 9
- At the frontier
- 0
- Protocol functions
- 3 of 8
- Industries served
- 9
Reference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn · hover a part
01What it is
Spatial analysis and siting.
The reference frames, formats, services, analysis methods, machine learning and 3D models that turn observations into located, queryable and decision-ready geographic information. AI from model to accountable operation: edge inference and model optimisation, foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial work, time-series and sensor AI, multimodal fusion and supervised agentic operations, federated and privacy-preserving learning, physical AI and robotics within stated red lines, MLOps, evaluation and model risk, and the governance frameworks that apply to each. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against.
GIS, maps and GeoAI
Hydrological modelling
Flow direction, accumulation, catchments, height above nearest drainage and stream networks.
We design and operate.
OGC WaterML 2.0 · OGC HY_Features conceptual model
GIS, maps and GeoAI
Flood inundation and hazard mapping
Combining terrain, hydrology and gauges into flood extent and depth for site risk.
We design and operate.
WMO-No. 168 Guide to Hydrological Practices
GIS, maps and GeoAI
Viewshed and line of sight
What can be seen, or reached by radio, from a mast height over terrain and clutter.
We design and operate.
ITU-R P.526 (propagation by diffraction)
GIS, maps and GeoAI
RF propagation and coverage prediction
Path loss over terrain and clutter for links, gateways and cells, used to place masts and size networks.
We design and operate.
ITU-R P.1812 · ITU-R P.452 · ITU-R P.530
GIS, maps and GeoAI
Network analysis
Routing, travel time, service areas and location-allocation for crews, spares and coverage.
We design and operate.
ISO 19133 (tracking and navigation) · ISO 19134 (multimodal routing)
GIS, maps and GeoAI
Spatial statistics and interpolation
Autocorrelation, hot spots, kriging and uncertainty for observations that are sparse in space.
We design and operate.
ISO 19157-1:2023 (data quality) · JCGM 100:2008 (GUM)
GIS, maps and GeoAI
Multi-criteria siting (MCDA)
Weighted, constrained suitability surfaces with consistency checks and sensitivity analysis for site shortlists.
We design and operate.
Analytic Hierarchy Process (Saaty) consistency ratio · OGC API – Processes (execution)
GIS, maps and GeoAI
Geocoding and addressing
Matching addresses and place names to locations for permits, logistics and asset records.
We integrate.
ISO 19160-1 (addressing)
02Architecture
Where it sits, and what it speaks.
Scenario simulation draws on 3 domains and 24 layers of the spectrum; the highlighted layers carry this area. It speaks 3 of the protocol’s 8 core functions.
Reference systems and geodesy
7
Vector, raster and array formats
10
Tiling, maps and visual services
7
APIs, catalogues and discrete global grids
8
Spatial analysis and siting
10
GeoAI
10
3D, BIM and digital twins
8
Metadata, quality and publication
5
Platforms and orbits
8
Optical, spectral and thermal sensors
8
Radar, lidar and microwave sensors
10
Processing levels and analysis-ready data
9
Calibration and validation
8
Tasking, ground segment and access
9
Data cubes, analysis and archives
7
Frontier and research
8
01JoinIdentity, attestation quote, signed policy.
02AdmitAdmitted for a stated scope, nothing wider.
03DescribeWhat, where, how and by whom, with calibration.
04TimeOne clock across the grid, with its error bound.
05ObserveEvery value with quality and provenance.
06QualifyTested against the specification, state on record.
07FederateSigned exchange across grids and trust domains.
08OrchestrateSoftware and configuration by signed plan.
03On the grid
The ground, measured before it is modelled.
Real elevation, line of sight, an orbit swath and a GeoAI pass, each an interactive explainer on open terrain data with its source shown.
Line of sight
A 30 m mast against the terrain.Relief
Terrarium-encoded DEM, contours by marching squares.Hillshade and slope
One gradient, a sun you can move.Geodesic grid
Stations counted into 10,242 cells.04In the field
Where this runs, sector by sector.
1 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on scenario simulation.
AgricultureFarm or cooperative agromet network with crop models
Compact stations and soil probes feeding irrigation, disease and frost models.05Open and enterprise
Open by default. Enterprise by contract.
The open counterpart lives on the main site for anyone to read and run. The enterprise service is designed, deployed and operated with you, under contract.
Open, on the main site
- Simulation methods with worked examples
- Open terrain and grid layers
Enterprise, on this site
- Drone survey and 3D site twins
- Network planning studies
- Scenario studies
06The rest of the line
Digital twins and simulation, area by area.
Digital twins and simulationSite twins
The site in 3D, measured to scale.Digital twins and simulationNetwork twins
Coverage, capacity, power and timing, simulated.Digital twins and simulationEarth twins
Terrain, hydrology and atmosphere, on live observations.Digital twins and simulationPlanning
From the twin to a plan you can tender.Bring us the site.
Survey, design, deployment and operation for scenario simulation. The form names who receives your details.
Talk to uscontact@observatory.global