Forest Guardian
Combines Sentinel-2, PRSS-1, and drone validation for near-real-time alerts on timber harvest across KPK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
4h latency
Exploring multispectral and hyperspectral technologies for Pakistan's environmental and economic advancement
Live metrics from RegenX.eco operations showcase how fast Pakistan can act on remotely sensed intelligence.
Combines Sentinel-2, PRSS-1, and drone validation for near-real-time alerts on timber harvest across KPK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Hyperspectral cubes pinpoint sediment concentration and pollution plumes impacting irrigation channels.
Adaptive tasking over Balochistan mines to classify alteration minerals and predict extraction impact.
Understanding the fundamental differences between multispectral and hyperspectral satellite imagery is crucial for selecting the appropriate technology for specific applications.
Captures data in a limited number of broad spectral bands, typically 3-15 bands with bandwidths of 50-200 nm.
Captures data in hundreds of narrow, contiguous spectral bands, typically 100-420+ bands with 1-20 nm bandwidths.
Both multispectral and hyperspectral imagery find applications in various sectors, with hyperspectral providing more detailed analysis capabilities.
RegenX.eco fuses PRSS-1, Sentinel-2, and hyperspectral tasking to shorten response times across food, forests, and urban resilience programs.
Multispectral NDVI provides broad crop health assessments, while hyperspectral enables early detection of biotic stresses before visible symptoms.
Multispectral time-series analysis supports large-scale yield prediction, with hyperspectral adding precision through biochemical indicators.
Multispectral identifies broad soil characteristics, while hyperspectral enables detailed analysis of organic matter, moisture, and nutrient content.
Multispectral provides general forest classification, while hyperspectral enables precise species differentiation through unique spectral signatures.
Multispectral detects canopy-level changes, whereas hyperspectral identifies biochemical alterations caused by pathogens at early stages.
Multispectral vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI) offer effective canopy density assessment, with hyperspectral providing detailed structural analysis.
Multispectral detects algal blooms and turbidity, while hyperspectral quantifies dissolved organic matter and specific pollutants.
Multispectral supports land use classification, whereas hyperspectral enables detailed analysis of building materials and heat islands.
Multispectral provides rapid damage assessment, while hyperspectral supports detailed analysis of vegetation recovery and soil properties.
Cost considerations play a significant role in determining the feasibility of satellite imagery projects, especially for developing countries like Pakistan.
| Provider | Type | Data | Latest Pricing (Nov 2025) | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlanetScope AUM (Global 300 km²) | Commercial subscription | 3.7 m multispectral archive + new captures | $9,650/year for 300 km² AOI, all locations Source: Planet Pricing |
Planet Insights Platform (annual license) |
| PlanetScope AUM Tier Two | Commercial subscription | Multispectral (52 predefined regions) | $5,100/year (Area Under Management Tier 2) Source: Planet Pricing |
Planet Insights Platform (annual license) |
| PlanetScope AUM Tier Three | Commercial subscription | Multispectral (186 predefined regions) | $2,700/year (Tier 3 footprint) Source: Planet Pricing |
Planet Insights Platform (annual license) |
| Planet Platform Basic | Cloud-native analytics | Sentinel/Landsat + Planet add-ons | $1,320/year ($110/mo) incl. 70k processing units monthly Source: Planet Pricing |
Web platform & APIs (monthly/annual) |
| SkyFi Optical Tasking | On-demand commercial | High-res optical scenes | Starting at $25 per scene Source: SkyFi Pricing |
Self-serve purchase/download |
| SkyFi SAR Tasking | On-demand commercial | Synthetic Aperture Radar | Starting at $675 per acquisition Source: SkyFi Pricing |
Self-serve purchase/download |
| SkyFi Sentinel-2 Access | Public via aggregator | 10 m multispectral Sentinel-2 L2A | Free (refreshed every five days) Source: SkyFi Pricing |
SkyFi platform (free download) |
| Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem | Public / EU programme | Sentinel-1/2/3/5P archives | Full, free, and open access for citizens & organisations Source: Copernicus.eu |
Browser, APIs, cloud processing |
A hybrid approach leveraging free multispectral data (Sentinel-2) for broad monitoring and targeted hyperspectral acquisitions for specific applications would optimize cost-effectiveness while maximizing analytical capabilities.
Pakistan faces significant environmental and economic challenges that can be addressed through strategic application of satellite remote sensing technologies.
YoY increase detected around Sindh barrages since 2022.
High-risk hectares monitored with 10 m NDVI baselines.
Hyperspectral passes scheduled over copper & rare-earth prospects.
Pakistan should adopt a phased approach: first, maximize utilization of existing multispectral capabilities; second, develop partnerships for targeted hyperspectral acquisitions; third, build local AI/ML capacity for data analysis; and fourth, integrate findings into national policy frameworks.
Train 500 remote sensing specialists and establish 5 regional data centers
Deploy hyperspectral capabilities on PRSS-2 satellite and upgrade ground stations
Develop AI models for agriculture, water management, and disaster prediction
Fully integrate satellite data into all government planning processes
Advanced algorithms can extract maximum value from satellite imagery, enabling automated analysis and predictive modeling.
For Pakistan to effectively leverage satellite imagery technologies, a comprehensive approach is essential:
Combine freely available multispectral data with targeted hyperspectral acquisitions for cost-effective solutions.
Invest in education and training programs to develop local expertise in remote sensing and AI/ML technologies.
Form collaborations with international space agencies and commercial providers to access advanced technologies.
Establish computational resources and data processing capabilities to handle large-scale satellite data.
Incorporate satellite-derived insights into national planning and decision-making processes.