Weekly GEOINT Community News

Planet and BASF Partner on Agricultural Monitoring; ICEYE Releases First X2 Image; Dewberry to Complete LiDAR Mapping of Florida; More

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Planet and BASF Partner on Agricultural Monitoring

Planet and BASF announced a commercial deal to deliver daily satellite imagery and data to European farmers to enable more effective agronomic decision-making. BASF will use Planet’s global satellite imaging to develop analytics for its digital farming platform xarvio, which helps growers determine the best crop inputs to optimize yields. The partnership will kick off in early 2019.

ICEYE Releases First X2 Image

Just days after launching ICEYE-X2, ICEYE released the first image taken by its second satellite in orbit. The image captures 500 square kilometers of Spain’s Aralar and Aizkorri-Aratz natural parks, including forests, roads, and mountain ranges at three-meter resolution. ICEYE plans to have a network of 18 synthetic aperture radar satellites by 2020, and CNBC reports the startup plans to launch as many as eight more in 2019.

Dewberry to Complete LiDAR Mapping of Florida

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) selected Dewberry to complete a LiDAR mapping project for the state of Florida. The contract is valued at roughly $20 million and includes airborne LiDAR data acquisition, ground survey, and preparation of point cloud and digital elevation model products. The resulting data will be used to support response, recovery, and preparation for future storm events. Data collection is scheduled for completion by March 2019, with deliverables beginning September 2019.

Lunarline Awarded NGA Cyber Contract

Lunarline, Inc. was awarded a five-year contract to support the Cybersecurity Integration and Software Assurance program at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Lunarline and partner Castalia Systems will provide integration and software assurance support to NGA’s Chief Information Security Office.

Engility Wins Numerous Intel Contracts

Engility received $54 million in contract awards with the U.S. intelligence community in the fourth quarter of 2018. Services will range from intelligence analysis to mission support to secure systems engineering.

Air Force Seeks Data and SIGINT Processing Tools

The U.S. Air Force released a broad agency announcement seeking new technologies and methods for real-time data processing and collection of cyber and signals intelligence communications. The announcement remains open through September 30, 2021, and the Air Force plans to release a nearly $100 million multiple-award contract for the program.

IARPA Seeks Deep Learning Research

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) released a request for information on research efforts in the area of machine learning with a particular focus on deep learning. The RFI specifies IARPA is interested in research at the Top Secret/SCI level. Responses are due January 17. 

Engility, ManTech, Noblis, SAIC to Provide R&D for DHS

Engility, ManTech International, Noblis, and SAIC secured positions on a potential five-year, $325 million contract to provide research and development support for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Tasks under the Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance III (SETA III) contract include technology scouting, program planning, vulnerability and risk assessment, budgets and performance, and more. 

Peer Intel

Maxar Technologies announced the retirement of Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Tim Hascall, effective December 31. Jeff Guy was named senior vice president of integration and performance, while Jeff Robertson is now senior vice president, chief information officer, and chief risk officer.

Photo Credit: ICEYE

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