Unlocking the Power of Maxar’s Persistent Change Monitoring (PCM): Transforming Geospatial Analysis

What is Persistent Change Monitoring (PCM)?

Persistent Change Monitoring (PCM) is an innovative geospatial data tool developed by Maxar Technologies, designed to identify and visualize lasting changes on the Earth's surface. Unlike traditional methods that can be easily confused by seasonal fluctuations or natural variations, PCM uses patented algorithms to distinguish between persistent changes—such as the construction of new infrastructure, urban expansion, or deforestation—and temporary ones. This capability allows users to focus on critical, long-term developments without the distraction of "noise" or false positives.

By providing data as clear, color-coded geospatial layers, PCM significantly reduces the cost and time associated with manual image scanning and analysis—potentially by up to 90%. This enables you, as a professional, to monitor essential developments such as infrastructure expansion, environmental degradation, or resource management, all while enhancing your decision-making capabilities with reliable, scalable data.

How Does PCM Work?

PCM uses a time-series of satellite imagery to compare multiple observations, verifying that a change is persistent rather than temporary. This sophisticated analysis includes:

• Intelligent Filtering: PCM effectively filters out cyclical changes like seasonal vegetation, and highlights lasting, human-induced changes such as construction or deforestation.
• Historical Insight: Drawing on over 34 years of satellite imagery, PCM enables you to track historical trends and even predict future developments.
• Seamless Integration: Data is delivered as geospatial layers (e.g., shapefiles, KML, or GeoTIFF), integrating seamlessly into your existing workflows and systems.

Urban Planning Use Case: Tracking the Growth of Houston, Texas

Urban planning is a key area where PCM demonstrates its significant value. Let's examine how this technology was used to monitor the development of Houston, Texas. Over the last three decades, Houston experienced significant urban expansion, with farmland and forests transformed into residential and industrial areas. With PCM, analysts were able to monitor the progression of this growth, identifying hotspots of development and infrastructure expansion with unparalleled clarity.

Key Insights from Houston's PCM Analysis:

1. Historical Growth Patterns: PCM revealed outward urban expansion from the city center, with concentrated construction along major roadways.
2. Disaster Impact Analysis: Following Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, PCM documented the intensive rebuilding efforts, highlighting the city's ability to recover and adapt.
3. Infrastructure Development Timeline: PCM tracked the construction of George Bush Intercontinental Airport and new residential areas, providing detailed timelines of change.

These actionable insights enable urban planners to anticipate potential challenges, such as flood risks associated with decreased vegetation, and optimize infrastructure development for future needs.

Why Choose Persistent Change Monitoring (PCM)?

Persistent Change Monitoring is a game-changer for geospatial analysis. Its unique ability to pinpoint meaningful changes across vast areas—while filtering out irrelevant data—streamlines workflows, reduces costs, and delivers critical, actionable intelligence. With applications spanning urban planning, environmental monitoring, and beyond, PCM is an indispensable tool for professionals looking to understand and respond to the ongoing changes on our planet.

Maxar's Persistent Change Monitoring empowers industries to track, analyze, and act on the most important changes occurring in our environment and infrastructure. By leveraging decades of satellite imagery and cutting-edge algorithms, PCM ensures you have the data you need to make informed decisions with confidence.

Empower Your Analysis with OnGeo-Intelligence Satellite Reports

While Maxar's Persistent Change Monitoring (PCM) offers advanced insights into long-term trends, sometimes you need direct access to high-resolution satellite imagery to conduct your own detailed analysis. This is where OnGeo-Intelligence comes in. We provide you with quick, easy, and affordable access to satellite imagery of any location on Earth, empowering you to perform your own change analysis.

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Learn more about: Satellite Imagery Report

Simple Access to High-Resolution Satellite Imagery

OnGeo-Intelligence offers a straightforward solution for obtaining high-quality satellite imagery reports. Unlike other platforms, there’s no need for account registration, lengthy contracts, or complicated software. Simply select your area of interest, and we’ll deliver a detailed satellite image report directly to you in a user-friendly PDF format.

Conduct Your Own Change Analysis

With OnGeo-Intelligence reports, you can:

• Compare Images Over Time: Obtain satellite images from different time periods to visualize changes in land use, vegetation, or construction progress.
• Identify Key Changes: Pinpoint the exact locations and extent of development, deforestation, or other alterations.
• Analyze Growth Patterns: Track how urban areas expand, infrastructure develops, and environmental changes unfold over time, in a way that fits your unique needs.
• Confirm Trends: Cross-reference your observations with insights from other data sources to reinforce and validate your findings.