The world is becoming more data-driven than ever, and one of the most ambitious geospatial projects in history has reshaped how we understand Australia’s built environment. In a groundbreaking initiative, Maxar Technologies’ DigitalGlobe partnered with PSMA Australia to create Geoscape, the first-ever high-resolution, continent-wide mapping dataset of Australia. This project marked a significant milestone in geospatial intelligence, leveraging cutting-edge satellite technology and artificial intelligence to deliver unparalleled insights into Australia’s landscape.
In 2016, DigitalGlobe secured a contract to launch this large-scale project, with the first phase completed in April 2016. By 2018, the company had successfully mapped 7.6 million square kilometers of Australian territory, analyzing over 15 million buildings. The primary goal was to provide an accurate, data-rich representation of Australia’s urban landscape, enabling businesses, government agencies and researchers to make data-driven decisions with unprecedented precision.
Geoscape was designed to address a critical gap in Australia’s location data framework: the lack of comprehensive and up-to-date information on the built environment. By delivering detailed, uniform geospatial data, the project aimed to support industries ranging from infrastructure and real estate to emergency services and environmental monitoring.
How was Australia mapped?
To accomplish this ambitious mission, DigitalGlobe used its advanced WorldView-3 satellite, equipped with a shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensor. This state-of-the-art satellite allowed analysts to identify building footprints, rooftop structures and other key attributes, such as solar panels and swimming pools. The project leveraged artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cloud computing to process and extract insights from terabytes of high-resolution satellite imagery. By integrating these technologies with crowdsourced data and geospatial analysis, DigitalGlobe transformed raw satellite images into a rich dataset containing 105 property attributes.
The use of AI and ML was particularly crucial in automating the extraction of building footprints, heights, and surface materials from satellite imagery. Without these technologies, such a vast undertaking would have been nearly impossible to complete with traditional manual mapping techniques.
Unprecedented insights and key findings
The results of the Geoscape project were staggering. The dataset revealed insights never before available at this scale, including:
- 15,243,669 buildings mapped in total
- 1,279,438 buildings with swimming pools
- 1,251,083 buildings equipped with solar panels
- Comprehensive data on building footprints, heights, roof complexity, tree locations, and land cover
With this data, analysts were able to determine land use patterns, urban expansion trends and the distribution of key infrastructure elements. The dataset also provided invaluable insights for environmental and sustainability studies, revealing the growing adoption of solar energy across Australian households and businesses.
The impact of Geoscape on various industries
The Geoscape dataset has since revolutionized multiple industries. It plays a crucial role in urban planning, infrastructure development, insurance risk modeling and emergency response strategies. Telecommunications companies are using it to optimize 5G network rollout, while local governments are leveraging it for taxation and policy development.
How businesses and governments are using Geoscape data:
- Urban Planning: City planners use Geoscape data to model future developments, ensuring that infrastructure growth aligns with population trends.
- Infrastructure Development: Construction firms and engineers utilize the dataset to design efficient road networks, bridges and public utilities.
- Telecommunications: The dataset has become essential for companies deploying 5G networks, as accurate building height and density data improve signal propagation modeling.
- Insurance & Risk Assessment: Insurers leverage Geoscape’s data to assess flood risks, fire hazards and structural vulnerabilities with greater accuracy.
- Emergency Services & Disaster Management: The ability to map every building in Australia helps responders efficiently plan evacuations and allocate resources during natural disasters.
- Environmental and Energy Studies: Analysts use the dataset to track the growth of solar panel adoption, enabling better forecasting for renewable energy policies.
Geoscape project remains a great example on how cutting-edge satellite technology, AI-driven analytics and global collaboration can reshape our understanding of the world. In the coming years, improvements in satellite resolution, AI algorithms and cloud-based analytics will likely enhance the quality and speed of geospatial data collection. This may not only expand the capabilities of Geoscape but also set new standards for how countries worldwide approach geospatial intelligence and urban planning.
With the success of this initiative, the potential for similar projects across other continents and regions grows stronger. As more organizations and governments recognize the value of high-resolution geospatial data, we can expect a future where real-time, AI-driven mapping becomes a standard tool for decision-making on a global scale.
