Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a leading provider of daily data and insights about Earth, today announced a new structure and scale for its education and research (E&R) program, with the goal of increasing global access to their satellite data and services.
Starting today, the program offers a new packaging model with a global tiered pricing system and high-resolution SkySat data, a first for an undergraduate program in the satellite data industry.
Launched in 2017, Planet’s E&R program is approaching its sixth year of operation. The program is designed to provide opportunities for students, researchers, and professors from accredited universities to access the company’s data and services via satellite to meet their unique research needs. As of December, researchers from more than 1,000 universities in more than 100 countries are accessing Planet data through E&R software, including Rutgers University and MIT in the US, Utrecht University in the Netherlands, the University of Toronto in Canada, and Yamaguchi University in Japan.
To continue this global momentum, Planet has upgraded this software to operate with a three-tiered pricing system. Campuses will now be offered a package price based on their country’s economic context. This change is intended to create opportunities for universities around the world to obtain affordable satellite data, thereby increasing the diversity of research generated by Planet’s unique satellite data and giving insights into the world’s most pressing questions.
“Our goal is to put Planet data into the hands of as many young researchers and scientists from around the world as possible. We believe this increased accessibility will spur new discoveries about our changing natural world and complex social systems,” said Joe Mascaro, Director of Science Strategy and Programs. A backbone of geospatial research, students and academics demonstrate innovative analytical approaches to industries around the world, and we are excited to see how this upgraded program will open new doors.”
In addition, the E&R program extends Planet Satellite Services to users, providing broad access to archived data from the high-resolution SkySat constellation. This service will be a first for the program and will enable researchers to explore the world in high-resolution (50 cm) images, reviewing data captured at the same location multiple times a day. This improved view will allow researchers to observe everyday experiences in fine detail and monitor data on rapidly changing events, such as volcanic eruptions.
To date, users of the Planet education and research program have demonstrated some of the most innovative use cases for Planet’s satellite data, and the huge variety of projects has demonstrated the value of the program. For example, Curious researchers have made use of Planet satellite data to monitor the thawing of permafrost in Tibet, map urban forests in the United States, model the effects of the war in Tigray on Ethiopian markets, and simulate potentially dangerous lava flows in Eritrea. Other projects ranged from urban air quality monitoring in India and kelp forests in California to cultural heritage sites in Azerbaijan and rice paddies in Japan.
In the past year, the E&R program has also seen an increase in integrated multi-university research projects, including a program focused on monitoring Canadian boreal forests and their biodiversity through the University of Alberta, the University of Yukon and the University of Calgary. And in September, the E&R program announced a multiyear contract with Saint Louis University to support the Taylor Geospatial Institute (TGI), a leading geospatial research collaborative in the US Midwest focused on agriculture and security.
Every day, researchers advance human knowledge by asking bold science questions and exploring Planet’s datasets. Planet Data has now contributed to more than 2,500 academic publications in ten different languages since 2016. This number includes users from their education and research program, their NICFI satellite data program, their acquisition of VanderSat, and Planet’s partnerships with NASA and DLR. Last year alone, nearly two papers a day were published using planet data. Through this newly expanded education and research program, Planet expects these numbers to continue to grow and advance our understanding of this world.
around a planet
Planet is a leading provider of daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions. Planet works with a mission to picture the world every day, making change visible, accessible and actionable. Founded in 2010 by three NASA scientists, Planet designs, builds, and operates the world’s largest fleet of Earth observation imaging satellites, capturing more than 30 terabytes of data per day. Planet provides mission-critical data, advanced insights, and software solutions to more than 800 clients, including leading agriculture, forestry, intelligence, education, finance, and government agencies, enabling users to extract unique value simply and effectively from satellite imagery. Planet is a public benefit company trading on the New York Stock Exchange as PL. To learn more, visit www.planet.com and follow us on Twitter.
Forward-looking statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, the ability to capture market opportunities and achieve Any of the potential benefits from current or future education and research programmes. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as the assumptions it has made, and information currently available to them. Because these statements are based on expectations about future events and results and are not statements of fact, actual results could differ materially from those projected. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risk factors and other disclosures about the Company and its business included in the Company’s periodic reports, proxy statements and other disclosure materials filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Available online at www.sec.gov, and on the company’s Web site at www.planet.com. All forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date such statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.
Contacts
Planet Press
Lauren Neville
Planet Labs BBC
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Planet Investor Relations
Chris Ginoaldi, Cleo Palmer Boronnier
Planet Labs BBC
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