A NATIONAL environmental regulator has launched an innovative satellite emergency mapping service in a bid to boost its response efficiency to man-made and climate crises.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) unveiled the new Satellite Emergency Mapping Service (SEMS) at the inaugural Space-Comm Expo in Glasgow on Wednesday as it promised to revolutionise the way Scotland responds to environmental emergencies.
Using state-of-the-art satellite imaging technology to deliver real-time, high-resolution data, it hopes to be able to combat emergencies like floods, wildfires, landslides, and oil spills much more efficiently.
SEMS will be available to all emergency responders and will operate 365 days a year with an on-call provision available 24 hours a day.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said the launch of the service illustrates Scotland’s innovation in creating solutions for some of the most serious challenges the country faces.
He said: “Scotland is not only well placed to reap huge economic benefits from the growth of our space sector, but to harness the technology as a tremendous force for good across a range of important services and applications.
“The launch of SEPA’s ground-breaking 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 more than 270 satellites from 17 charter members around the world, working to support disaster relief.
SEPA are the only organisation in Scotland able to activate the charter and give emergency responders access to critical satellite imagery.
The regulator hopes the new service will allow them to assess the full scope of damage to areas where weather or hazardous conditions make ground assessments impossible, helping them find critical hotspots, and prioritise areas for intervention.
Claire Neil, principal scientist at SEPA, said that SEMS will offer an unprecedented layer of precision in managing environmental emergencies.
She said: “SEPA are proud to lead this initiative, which will not only save lives and protect critical infrastructure, but also mitigate environmental damages during crises. Our work is testament to the importance of collaboration across sectors to safeguard our environment.
“The ability to access stable, consistent, near real-time data from space adds an unprecedented layer of precision to our efforts in managing environmental risks. The technology’s potential for both immediate crisis management and long-term planning is immense.”
SEMS will also contribute to future crisis preparedness, using baseline data collected by satellites to model potential scenarios, inform long-term resilience planning, and develop more effective response strategies.
Sarah-Jane Gill, chief of staff at the UK Space Agency, said the service showcases 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 risk reduction and to support public services.
“There are several international tools for satellite data, mapping and analysis in emergencies, but it is when these tools are integrated into operational services, like SEPA have done with SEMS, that they become most powerful.
“Scotland has a fast-growing space sector that is key to the UK’s overall ambitions. As SEPA are demonstrating, innovations in this sector can help address environmental and climate challenges, safeguard communities and infrastructure, and benefit citizens across the country.”
