In recent years, more than a thousand satellites have been launched by space agencies and commercial parties with the aim of recording and analysing Earth's processes and changes as closely as possible. Some of these satellites use sensors that can detect microwave signals. These complex signals are used, among other things, to measure the amount of water in the soil.

During the presentation, I want to show how you can obtain useful information from these observations and what applications you can build around them. As an example, I want to show how my company VanderSat used this technology at the time to develop a drought insurance product for farmers. I also want to show how this kind of data can be used for water management and what we can expect in the future with regard to this technology. After the presentation, I would like to have a discussion with the circle on how they view this technology and where they see the added value and limitations.

Dr Richard de Jeu has a background in remote sensing and hydrology. He started his career at NASA in the United States and received his PhD from VU University Amsterdam in 2003. After a scientific career at the VU, he started the company VanderSat 2015 with the aim of getting his scientific work better into society. In 2021, he sold the company to US company Planet Labs. After a period at Planet Labs, Richard started working for himself again in 2024 and is working on the development of a new sensor that should be able to very accurately measure the water content of vegetation.

Drinks start at 18:00 and the meal follows punctually at 19:00, after which the lecture can start at 20:00. End around 22:00.

Further information, or to register, can be sent to: kringrotterdam@kivi.nl

Please note that a payment link to pay the participation fee for members will be sent in advance.