Indra to implement an Earth observation center

Indra is working with the Ministry of Finance and the National Survey Authority of the Ministry of Defence of the Sultanate of Oman on the implementation of an advanced Earth observation center to provide the country with critical capacity to boost the competitiveness of its economy and improve the services provided by the authorities to its citizens. The project forms part of the Sultanate of Oman Vision 2040 plan promoted by the country’s government to modernize its infrastructures, diversify the economy and create high-quality employment.

To generate products and services based on images collected by the Sentinel constellation

The new center will be equipped with Indra software capable of generating high value-added products and services based on satellite images, particularly those collected by the Sentinel constellation of the European Copernicus program, one of the most advanced currently in existence. The company will provide advice on designing the center’s business strategy and help define the lines of development to be followed in the coming years. The areas it will focus its activities on include maritime traffic safety, the protection of critical infrastructures, land use control, analysis of the growth of urban areas and environmental protection.

To make the Sultanate of Oman one of the main competitors in the international Earth observation market

The ultimate goal is to make the Sultanate of Oman one of the main competitors in the international Earth observation market, a sector that’s steadily expanding as the number of satellites and the quality of the data they collect increases and the costs fall. At the same time, the huge value of these data when it comes to defining public policies and business strategies means that the demand is growing exponentially all over the world. According Domingo Castro, Indra’s Defence Systems & Space Director, “Earth observation satellites are the most powerful tool that exist for accessing accurate and fully updated information on a city, region or the entire planet at high speed. With the implementation of this center, the Sultanate of Oman will embark on a journey into a sector of the future based on the intensive use of knowledge and high technology, a task that’s essential as we move towards a more sustainable world”.

To train digital talent

Indra will train the specialists who’ll take over the management of the new facilities and introduce them to the space agencies, research centers and universities throughout Europe they will work with. The project also opens up a new avenue for the career development of young Omanis, who will work with technologies linked to cloud computing and artificial intelligence and contribute to the development of the
entire local business fabric. In order to contribute to the development of an innovative ecosystem that attracts and connects the talent of professionals, companies and government agencies, Indra will organize outreach activities and hackathons to accelerate the initiative.