--- title: "Nature: systems and technologies | Nexus Observatory" description: "Systems and technologies for forests, land and biodiversity: Water level, Discharge by velocity-area and rating curves, Acoustic Doppler current profilers…" url: https://observatory.global/industries/nature/systems/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-11-02 --- [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Nature](https://observatory.global/industries/nature/) / **Systems and technologies** # The systems behind nature. The technologies that carry this industry's observations, ranked against what it needs to observe and drawn from across the spectrum. [Plan a deployment](https://observatory.global/contact/deployment/) [Use cases](https://observatory.global/industries/nature/use-cases/) [Open the explainer](https://observatory.global/industries/nature/explainer/) 1. Nature · Systems and technologies Habitat, measured without disturbing it Bioacoustic and camera networks, forest-fire detection and fire weather, land-cover change from orbit and drone, and habitat monitoring that turns permit conditions and restoration commitments into measurements. Needs: species presence by sound and image, fire weather and ignition, land-cover and canopy change, soil and microclimate and evidence for permits and restoration. 2. Platform · Sensors & instruments Measurements that carry their own proof Weather and environment stations to WMO practice, RF spectrum sensing in the band, and calibration that is traceable, recorded and repeated. Every value leaves with its metadata, quality flag and provenance. Or buy the observations and leave the hardware to us: Sensing as a Service. [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/) 3. Platform · Earth observation & GeoAI The ground, measured and modelled Ground-segment downlink and processing at the edge, drone and imagery campaigns planned to the ground sample distance, site twins measured in 3D, and GeoAI trained and checked against field truth, with the source and licence of every layer in view. [Earth observation & GeoAI](https://observatory.global/earth-observation/) 4. Platform · Data & licensing Grid data, licensed for your use Research, commercial API, enterprise and government tiers, the licence of every source carried through to every product, routes from licensed to open release, and residency fixed by contract. It is delivered and supported by Nexus Observatory Inc. The evidence travels with the data wherever it goes. [Data & licensing](https://observatory.global/data-products/) 5. Platform · Edge compute & AI Inference beside the instrument A modular edge data centre at the foot of the tower, multi-access edge computing one hop from the radio, inference on the live stream, scientific models run where the data lands, and physical AI for drones and robots, inside published red lines. [Edge compute & AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/) 6. Platform · Connectivity Private 5G, AI-RAN and orbit, on site Standalone private 5G and O-RAN, AI-RAN on shared accelerated compute, LEO and GEO backhaul and 3GPP direct-to-device, LPWAN and mesh for sensors over kilometres, PTP timing inside the budget, and the spectrum route for each country. Every reading and every change leaves a record that can be checked later. [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) 7. Platform · Field services Survey to decommission, one accountable crew Ground, RF and power surveyed before anything is chosen, installation and commissioning to the plan, a Managed Site run for you, support by plan, training on your own site, and decommissioning with every part recorded. Changes are versioned, tested and reversible. [Field services](https://observatory.global/field-services/) 8. Platform · Digital twins and simulation Model the site before you build it The same design repeats from the first site to the last. It runs on the open Observatory Protocol, so other providers can join. Crews, software and records stay the same as the network grows. Changes are versioned, tested and reversible. [Digital twins and simulation](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/) 9. How it scales One base unit, repeated A programme starts with one base node and the instruments it reads. A station adds power and radio, a site adds a relay, a fleet repeats the proven site across many places, and a network federates fleets through edge and core. Capacity grows by adding units, never by replacing what works. 10. Updates Updates in rings, with rollback Software and configuration reach the fleet in rings: a canary site first, then a few, then all, each ring gated on health and data completeness. A failed gate stops the wave and returns each node to its last good release, without a site visit. 11. Field service One crew, from survey to repair The same crew surveys, installs, commissions, calibrates and repairs, working from the site's own record. Each visit updates it, so the next crew knows exactly what is there, when it was last checked and why it was changed. Spares and references are planned from that history. 12. What you get Biodiversity and habitat monitoring Acoustic sensors, camera traps that exclude people, eDNA sampling logistics and EO habitat change for nature programmes and disclosures. Delivered as managed service and data licence, for conservation programmes, corporates, lenders, agencies. Scale: Landscape scale. Service levels are written as numbers you can measure on your own dashboard. [Talk to sales](https://observatory.global/contact/sales-enquiry/) 13. Next step Plan a nature deployment Tell us the sites, the measurements and the people who will use them. We reply with a design and a scope for nature. An engineer replies with a survey proposal and a scope, and the plan grows from one site to the network you need, at your pace. [Plan a deployment](https://observatory.global/contact/deployment/) [Open the Studio](https://observatory.global/studio/) [Read the stories](https://observatory.global/stories/) **01** Remote sensing and Earth observation ## Processing levels and analysis-ready data. Remote sensing and Earth observation · Processing levels and analysis-ready data ### Level 0: raw instrument data Time-ordered packets as received, with communications artefacts removed. CCSDS 133.0-B (Space Packet Protocol) · CCSDS 131.0-B (TM synchronisation and channel coding) Remote sensing and Earth observation · Processing levels and analysis-ready data ### Level 1: calibrated and geolocated Radiometric and geometric corrections applied, sensor units and geolocation attached (L1A, L1B, L1C). NASA EOSDIS data processing levels · ISO 19115-2 (imagery and gridded data metadata) Remote sensing and Earth observation · Processing levels and analysis-ready data ### Level 2: geophysical variables Per-scene surface reflectance, temperature, backscatter, water or gas quantities at native resolution. CEOS ARD product family specifications Remote sensing and Earth observation · Processing levels and analysis-ready data ### Levels 3 and 4: gridded, composited and modelled Space-time composites on fixed grids, and model or assimilation outputs that fill gaps. NASA EOSDIS data processing levels · CF Conventions Remote sensing and Earth observation · Processing levels and analysis-ready data ### CEOS analysis-ready data Products pre-processed to threshold and goal requirements so they can be stacked and compared without expert reprocessing. CEOS ARD framework and product family specifications Remote sensing and Earth observation · Processing levels and analysis-ready data ### Atmospheric, terrain and radiometric terrain correction Removal of atmosphere, illumination and topographic effects so pixels represent the surface. CEOS ARD Surface Reflectance · CEOS ARD SAR (Normalised Radar Backscatter) [All 9 in this layer](https://observatory.global/technologies/eo/processing-levels-and-analysis-ready-data/) **02** Remote sensing and Earth observation ## Tasking, ground segment and access. **Frontier** · Remote sensing and Earth observation · Tasking, ground segment and access ### Optical ground stations Laser downlink terminals that relieve radio spectrum limits, with weather-diverse site networks. CCSDS 141.0-B (optical communications physical layer) Remote sensing and Earth observation · Tasking, ground segment and access ### Tasking, mission planning and revisit analysis Choosing what to acquire and when, modelling revisit, look angle and cloud risk against need. OGC API - Connected Systems Part 2 (commands and tasking) · OGC Sensor Planning Service 2.0 Remote sensing and Earth observation · Tasking, ground segment and access ### Orbit and conjunction data Standard orbit and conjunction messages used to predict passes and coordinate operations. CCSDS 502.0-B (Orbit Data Messages) · CCSDS 508.0-B (Conjunction Data Message) Remote sensing and Earth observation · Tasking, ground segment and access ### Ground stations and downlink Tracking antennas and modems for S, X and Ka-band downlink in Earth exploration-satellite allocations. ITU Radio Regulations (EESS allocations, e.g. 8025-8400 MHz, 25.5-27 GHz) · ETSI EN 302 307-1 (DVB-S2) · CCSDS 131.0-B Remote sensing and Earth observation · Tasking, ground segment and access ### Space link extension and station networking Standard services that let a mission use stations operated by others. CCSDS Space Link Extension (SLE) services Remote sensing and Earth observation · Tasking, ground segment and access ### Direct broadcast and edge processing Receiving and processing satellite data on site for minutes-latency products without a round trip to a central archive. WMO Direct Broadcast Network (DBNet) · CGMS direct readout guidance [All 9 in this layer](https://observatory.global/technologies/eo/tasking-ground-segment-and-access/) **03** Ground segment ## Ground-station-as-a-service and antenna networks. Ground segment · Ground-station-as-a-service and antenna networks ### Shared antenna networks Pay-per-pass access to antennas across many sites so missions do not have to build their own. CCSDS 910.4-B (cross support reference model) · CCSDS 911.1-B (SLE return all frames) Ground segment · Ground-station-as-a-service and antenna networks ### Space link extension services Standard services that deliver frames and accept commands between a ground station and a remote mission centre. CCSDS 911.1-B (RAF) · CCSDS 911.2-B (RCF) · CCSDS 912.1-B (forward CLTU) Ground segment · Ground-station-as-a-service and antenna networks ### Pass scheduling and resource management Booking, deconfliction and configuration of antennas and modems for each contact. CCSDS cross support service management Ground segment · Ground-station-as-a-service and antenna networks ### High-latitude and polar ground sites Northern sites that see polar-orbiting satellites on most orbits and cut data latency. ITU RR Appendix 7 · Rec. ITU-R P.618 Ground segment · Ground-station-as-a-service and antenna networks ### Ground segment cybersecurity Access control, segmentation, monitoring and recovery for command and control systems. NIST IR 8401 (satellite ground segment and the Cybersecurity Framework) · ISO/IEC 27001 Ground segment · Ground-station-as-a-service and antenna networks ### Federated and hybrid ground networks Combining owned, partner and agency antennas behind one scheduling and data interface. CCSDS 910.4-B (cross support reference model) [All 7 in this layer](https://observatory.global/technologies/ground/ground-station-as-a-service-and-antenna-networks/) **04** Ground segment ## Data downlink, processing and distribution. Ground segment · Data downlink, processing and distribution ### Level-0 to Level-2 processing chains Decommutation, calibration, geolocation and geophysical retrieval that turn raw downlink into usable products. CEOS Analysis Ready Data framework · ISO 19115-1 (metadata) Ground segment · Data downlink, processing and distribution ### Analysis-ready data production Products corrected and packaged to a common specification so users can analyse them without reprocessing. CEOS Analysis Ready Data product family specifications Ground segment · Data downlink, processing and distribution ### Catalogues and discovery Searchable catalogues of scenes and products with standard metadata. SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC) specification · OGC API - Records Ground segment · Data downlink, processing and distribution ### Cloud-native geospatial formats Tiled, chunked formats that let users read only the part of a large raster or array they need. OGC Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF Standard · OGC Zarr Storage Specification Ground segment · Data downlink, processing and distribution ### Calibration and validation Ground truth, vicarious calibration and uncertainty reporting behind every product value. CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation · QA4EO (CEOS quality assurance framework) Ground segment · Data downlink, processing and distribution ### Low-latency tasking-to-delivery pipelines Automated chains from request to delivered product for time-critical uses such as fire and flood. OGC API - Processes · OGC Sensor Planning Service 2.0 [All 8 in this layer](https://observatory.global/technologies/ground/data-downlink-processing-and-distribution/) **05** In situ sensors and instruments ## Hydrology and water. In situ sensors and instruments · Hydrology and water ### Water level Pressure, radar, bubbler and float sensors at gauging stations and reservoirs. ISO 4373 (water level measuring devices) · WMO-No. 1044 Manual on Stream Gauging In situ sensors and instruments · Hydrology and water ### Discharge by velocity-area and rating curves Current-meter gaugings and stage-discharge relations that turn level into flow. ISO 748 (velocity-area methods) · WMO-No. 1044 Manual on Stream Gauging In situ sensors and instruments · Hydrology and water ### Acoustic Doppler current profilers (river) Boat-mounted and fixed profilers for discharge, velocity fields and bathymetry. ISO 24578:2021 (acoustic Doppler profiler) · ISO 15769 (acoustic Doppler and echo correlation meters) In situ sensors and instruments · Hydrology and water ### Water quality sondes Multiparameter probes for temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity and fluorescence. ISO 7027-1 (turbidity) · ISO 5814 (dissolved oxygen, electrochemical) · ISO 7888 (electrical conductivity) In situ sensors and instruments · Hydrology and water ### Groundwater monitoring Piezometers and loggers for groundwater level, temperature and quality. WMO-No. 168 Guide to Hydrological Practices In situ sensors and instruments · Hydrology and water ### Soil moisture and soil temperature Profile probes for drought, irrigation, landslide and flood antecedent conditions. WMO-No. 8 Volume I (soil moisture) · International Soil Moisture Network practices [All 7 in this layer](https://observatory.global/technologies/sensors/hydrology-and-water/) **06** In situ sensors and instruments ## RF, acoustics, cameras and radar. **Frontier** · In situ sensors and instruments · RF, acoustics, cameras and radar ### Event-based and neuromorphic cameras Sensors that report changes per pixel at microsecond rates with very low power. EMVA 1288 (reference for characterisation) In situ sensors and instruments · RF, acoustics, cameras and radar ### Spectrum monitoring receivers Measured occupancy, interference and emissions across bands at a site. ITU-R Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring · ITU-R SM.1880 (spectrum occupancy measurement) In situ sensors and instruments · RF, acoustics, cameras and radar ### Direction finding and emitter geolocation Locating interference and unknown emitters by angle and time difference of arrival. ITU-R SM.854 (direction finding) · ITU-R Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring In situ sensors and instruments · RF, acoustics, cameras and radar ### Acoustic and noise monitoring Class 1 sound level meters and microphone arrays for environmental noise and event detection. IEC 61672-1 (sound level meters) · ISO 1996-2 (environmental noise) In situ sensors and instruments · RF, acoustics, cameras and radar ### EO/IR cameras Visible and thermal cameras characterised for sensitivity, noise and resolution. EMVA 1288 (camera characterisation) · ISO 12233 (resolution measurement) In situ sensors and instruments · RF, acoustics, cameras and radar ### PTZ and networked video systems Pan-tilt-zoom and fixed cameras for wildfire watch, sites and coastlines, with interoperable control. IEC 62676 series (video surveillance systems) · ONVIF Profiles S, T and M [All 9 in this layer](https://observatory.global/technologies/sensors/rf-acoustics-cameras-and-radar/) **07** Every domain ## The rest of the spectrum. The domains whose layers serve this industry, each with its full directory. [Layers · 8 · items · 61 In situ sensors and instrumentsInstruments placed in the air, water, ground and spectrum, from weather stations to seismometers, radars and cameras, with the calibration, metadata and quality control that make their readings evidence.](https://observatory.global/technologies/sensors/) [Layers · 8 · items · 67 Remote sensing and Earth observationEvery platform, sensor, processing level and ground-segment step that turns remote measurements of the Earth into calibrated, analysis-ready evidence for a site, a region or a network.](https://observatory.global/technologies/eo/) [Layers · 8 · items · 65 GIS, maps and GeoAIThe reference frames, formats, services, analysis methods, machine learning and 3D models that turn observations into located, queryable and decision-ready geographic information.](https://observatory.global/technologies/gis/) [Layers · 8 · items · 59 Data, software and interoperabilityHow observations move from the edge into stores, catalogues and APIs with their provenance, licence and residency attached, and how they interoperate through open standards and the open Observatory Protocol.](https://observatory.global/technologies/data/) [Layers · 8 · items · 65 Compute and edgeCompute placed where data is produced and decisions are needed: the device, far, near and regional edge tiers, multi-access edge computing, modular edge data centres including the AI tower in a box, servers and accelerators, storage, power and cooling, ruggedisation, fleet orchestration, OTA and GitOps, and the hardware trust that makes remote sites safe to run.](https://observatory.global/technologies/edge/) [Layers · 8 · items · 65 AI systemsAI 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.](https://observatory.global/technologies/ai/) [Layers · 8 · items · 62 5G and 6G radio access networksThe radio access network from site to spectrum: macro, small cells, DAS and repeaters, massive MIMO, NR bands and TDD synchronisation, NR features such as RedCap, positioning and sidelink, private and shared networks, Wi-Fi coexistence, 6G and ISAC, and the planning and assurance that keep it working.](https://observatory.global/technologies/ran/) [Layers · 8 · items · 60 AI-RAN and Open RANDisaggregated, software-defined and AI-assisted radio access: the O-RAN architecture and its open interfaces, 7.2x fronthaul, RAN intelligent controllers with xApps and rApps, SMO and O-Cloud, accelerated L1, shared GPU infrastructure for RAN and AI, AI/ML in the 3GPP air interface, energy saving, and the test and integration work that makes multi-supplier RAN deployable.](https://observatory.global/technologies/airan/) [Layers · 8 · items · 60 Core and transport networksThe networks behind the radio: the 5G core and its functions, slicing and edge breakout, IMS voice and emergency calling, fronthaul, midhaul and backhaul over microwave, E-band, fibre, free-space optics and satellite, IP/MPLS and segment routing, IPv6, automation and intent, and the security that holds it together.](https://observatory.global/technologies/core/) [Layers · 8 · items · 66 Satellite and space systemsThe space segment end to end: orbits and constellations, spacecraft buses, communications and Earth observation payloads, inter-satellite links, tracking and command, space safety, launch, and the licensing and filings that let a system operate over a site.](https://observatory.global/technologies/satellite/) [Layers · 8 · items · 63 Ground segmentEverything on the ground that talks to spacecraft: gateways and teleports, user terminals, modems and software-defined radio, shared antenna networks, CCSDS protocol stacks, mission control, data processing and the spectrum coordination behind each earth station.](https://observatory.global/technologies/ground/) [Layers · 7 · items · 59 Spectrum, timing and PNTThe shared foundations every network and sensor depends on: how spectrum is licensed, shared and monitored, GNSS positioning and its corrections, packet timing with PTP and SyncE, grandmasters and holdover, resilient PNT alternatives, and the detection of interference, jamming and spoofing.](https://observatory.global/technologies/timing/) [Layers · 8 · items · 54 IoT, LPWAN and meshThe radios, networks, gateways, device management and field protocols that connect low-power sensors and controllers to the grid, sized to a measured power budget.](https://observatory.global/technologies/iot/) [Layers · 8 · items · 66 Field operations and lifecycleEverything that happens on the ground across a site's life: survey, permits, design packs, logistics, installation, acceptance, training, operations, maintenance, upgrades, decommission and recycling, done safely and recorded as evidence.](https://observatory.global/technologies/field/) ## Bring us the site. Survey, design, deployment and operation for nature. The form names who receives your details. 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