GDP growth, energy consumption, industrial production…
When assessing the pulse of an economy, macro indicators only tell part of the story. The deeper truth lies within industrial processes - the engines that drive productivity and trade. We believe that this level can only be achieved by tracking global measurements hidden from view. With space-based thermal imaging, you can do just that.
Thermal imaging: the next-generation economic barometer
Unlike traditional optical and SAR data, which rely on what’s visible (like smoke from a factory or coal stockpiles), thermal imagery captures signals of what’s happening inside an industrial facility. This means we can monitor heat-intensive industries such as metal production, refineries, data centers and energy plants and get a direct view into how facilities are actually operating:
Monitoring heat signatures allows you to track operational intensity, detect unexpected shifts in production, and infer capacity changes, offering answers to key questions about the state, trends and prices of the industrial market. Ultimately giving you the opportunity to adjust your trading strategies early on and make better-informed decisions.
Hiding in plain sight
The image below, captured by our HotSat-1, reveals thermal signals indicating the operational status of key assets (like smelters and storage tanks) at a nickel smelter in Kalgoorlie, Australia.
Unlike the optical image which only shows the visible, you can see that the thermal imaging has captured heat signatures on the Kalgoorlie site. This shows us where there are high levels of energy output, and therefore activity.
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In the image above, you can see both the sulphuric acid plant and flash furnace emitting bright orange heat signals suggesting that the assets are active. If we were to take another thermal image on a different day, you might see lighter orange heat signals (or no heat signals at all). This would indicate a significant temperature drop, and therefore a potential shutdown of the flash furnace. Armed with the information, you could anticipate supply chain disruptions and make informed decisions to mitigate the potential impacts.
While a single thermal image can uncover valuable insights, the real power of our data is unlocked over time.
We will soon be sharing a case study from a steel plant in Dunkirk, where we dive into thermal time series data and how it allows us to track changes in industrial activity and validate key production events. The ability to monitor asset status in near real-time offers early, independent confirmation of disruptions before they hit the headlines.
With SatVu images, these insights - which are usually hidden - suddenly come into plain view, giving you far greater knowledge about current industrial activity than ever before.
Thermal imaging is the missing link between industrial monitoring and economic forecasting.
From tracking factory output to monitoring global energy demand, thermal data reveals the true pulse of the industrial world - with an independent, global and unbiased view. It allows you to make smarter trading decisions, monitor infrastructure globally, day or night, and detect early signals of economic shifts.
Want to see how SatVu’s data can inform your trading strategies? Let’s discuss how real-time thermal imagery can give you the edge in anticipating market movements. Reach out to thomas.cobti@satellitevu.com
