Saudi Arabia set up its first AI-powered satellite imagery analysis firm
SpaceGuardian could be Saudi Arabia's AI ticket to geospatial supremacy in the region.
Photograph: Shutterstock
Located 100 kilometers west of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia lies the nation’s most coveted asset: the Ghawar oil field, responsible for roughly 7 percent of the global oil supply. In 2008, a survey conducted by Sanford C. Bernstein examined the drilling activity in the Ghawar field. Using multi-temporal, high-resolution optical satellite imagery, the commercial capacities of the area were thoroughly mapped. Revealing an uninterrupted yield of 3.8 million barrels per day well beyond 2050. Satellite imaging plays a vital role in capturing a multi-dimensional aerial overview of an area. These snapshots from space have a whole host of applications, like forecasting the viability of a lucrative natural resource.
In the spirit of innovation, Saudi Arabia is venturing into AI-driven satellite imagery. Front End Limited Company, a Saudi Arabia-based investment and development company, has entered into a joint venture agreement with SpaceKnow Inc., a New York-based space tech company. Leading to the formation of SpaceGuardian, Saudi Arabia’s first AI-driven satellite imagery analysis firm. The joint venture between these firms leverages SpaceKnow’s proprietary AI-powered analytics engine to contextualize satellite images.
The deal was signed between Majid Alghaslan, Chairman and CEO of Front End Limited Company, and Jerry Javornicky, CEO and co-founder of SpaceKnow, at the International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) 2024 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, between February 12 and 14, 2024. As the first of its kind, SpaceGuardian offers real-time geospatial analysis of the nation using machine learning. Javornicky hopes to “revolutionize the AI-powered geospatial market [through SpaceGuardian] by starting with carbon sequestration, security, and infrastructure monitoring.”
AI-driven satellite imagery is diversified in its scope, offering valuable insights on the success of green initiatives and tweaking economic policies based on the conceptualized data from space. According to Majid, this “partnership embraces innovation and progress that will propel Saudi Arabia into a new era of digital transformation.”
To move beyond its reliance on and the glory of its oil revenue, the Kingdom’s strategic investments in artificial intelligence indicate a changing tide. Majid adds that “[SpaceGuardian] contributes to the development of the burgeoning space sector and supports the establishment of a robust space agency in Saudi Arabia. With a comprehensive suite of services catering to all industries and sectors. Saudi Arabia’s dive into the AI space is expected to usher in more than $5.3 billion in investments by 2030.
From better city planning to developing sustainable infrastructure, SpaceGuardian is cementing Saudi Arabia’s place in the digital age.
