Source: Mount Taranaki, Planet Labs PBC, 2022

When most people think of Earth Observation (EO), they think of complex systems, long lead times, and imagery that’s already out of date by the time it’s delivered. Historically, satellite data has been the domain of specialists, slow to access, expensive to use, and challenging to scale.

Planet takes a different approach. Built for speed, accessibility, and insight, Planet provides a fundamentally more agile Earth Observation capability. It’s designed to meet the needs of decision-makers, analysts, and operations teams who don’t just want data; they want answers, quickly.

At NGIS, we’ve seen firsthand how Planet’s near-daily imagery and cloud-first platform can allow users across government, conservation, infrastructure and emergency response.

Here’s why Planet is setting the benchmark for modern EO:

Near-Daily Imagery

With the Dove constellation comprising hundreds of satellites, Planet captures imagery of almost everywhere on Earth, every day. This near-daily measure separates Planet from traditional EO providers and allows use cases that weren’t possible before. Whether monitoring vegetation clearance, assessing storm impacts, or detecting unauthorised land use, the PlanetScope imagery captured by the Dove constellation provides the ability to observe change in near real-time, delivering a critical advantage.

For our clients, this means faster insights, more confident decisions, and the ability to respond proactively, not just reactively.

Pelican Constellation

A platform built for users, not just analysts

Planet’s next-generation Pelican constellation delivers sharper, more detailed imagery with faster tasking capabilities. Designed for applications requiring rapid insights, Pelican is ideal for monitoring dynamic events, including disaster response, compliance, and landscape changes.

A platform built for users, not just analysts

Planet Insights Platform is a cloud-native Earth Observation data and analytics platform that transforms how teams work with satellite data. With intuitive browser-based tools and flexible APIs, the platform offers scalable, reliable, and accessible cloud hosting, streaming, and computing for both Planet’s datasets and public imagery sources. The platform supports quota-based consumption models, making it easily scalable across teams and projects, whether you’re analyzing broad changes across a catchment or running site-level checks for compliance. With its integrated APIs, machine learning capabilities, and powerful analytical tools, Planet delivers insights that can be operationalized quickly. This empowers analysts, planners, and decision-makers to move faster—from image to insight to action—all within a single, integrated platform.

Flexible licensing

One of Planet’s most significant shifts from traditional EO providers is its licensing model. Planet offers quota-based access, meaning organisations can purchase only what they need, with no minimum order requirements or inflexible terms. This allows teams to integrate satellite imagery seamlessly into their workflows, whether it’s for a short-term pilot or an ongoing monitoring program.

For tasking needs, Planet’s unified platform, which includes SkySat Flexible Tasking, allows users to define precisely where and when they want imagery collected, tailored to operational timelines and areas of interest. In the near future, Pelican imagery will operate with continuity and flexibility within this unified system. With scalable license agreements, Planet ensures organisations can start small and expand access as project needs evolve.

Why It Matters

At NGIS, we work closely with organisations to build scalable EO solutions that create impact, from biodiversity monitoring and sustainable sourcing to flood response and vegetation compliance. Planet is one of the tools helping us deliver those solutions faster, with greater accuracy and at scale.

If you’re looking for a satellite solution that supports real-world decision-making, not just data archiving, Planet offers a more innovative, more responsive approach to Earth Observation.