Terra Bella vs. Planet Labs: To Image or Not to Image?
In this article, we take an unbiased look at the two major satellite imaging providers, Terra Bella and Planet Labs, and compare their strengths and weaknesses. As you know, satellite imagery plays an important role in fields such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, urban planning, defense, and disaster response. Hence it is crucial to select the right provider that fits your needs.
Coverage
Let's start with coverage area. Terra Bella, owned by Google, has a constellation of seven high-resolution imaging satellites that cover over 80% of the Earth's landmass every day. Planet Labs, founded in 2010, has a fleet of over 200 medium-resolution "Dove" satellites that can capture daily imagery of the entire Earth at 10-meter resolution. This gives Planet Labs a global coverage of over 300 million square kilometers per day, making it the largest Earth observation network in history.
Resolution
In terms of resolution, Terra Bella's SkySats can provide sub-meter resolution, which is ideal for detailed observations such as infrastructure analysis or crop monitoring. Meanwhile, Planet Labs' Dove satellites have a lower resolution of 3 to 5 meters, which can still provide valuable information about land use, change detection, and regional planning.
Frequency
When it comes to frequency, Planet Labs takes the cake with their daily imaging capability. Terra Bella, on the other hand, can revisit a particular area every 3 to 5 days, which is still impressive considering the high resolution of their imagery. However, if you need real-time monitoring of an ever-changing situation, Planet Labs would be the better option.
Pricing
Cost is often a major factor in selecting a satellite imaging provider. Terra Bella and Planet Labs have different pricing models and it ultimately depends on your specific needs. Terra Bella charges per square kilometer of imagery and has a monthly minimum spend of $1,000. Planet Labs, on the other hand, offers subscription-based plans that start from around $500 per month for unlimited access to daily imagery of an area of your choice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both Terra Bella and Planet Labs have their own strengths and weaknesses. Terra Bella is ideal for detailed observations of specific areas and infrastructure, while Planet Labs provides global coverage at a lower resolution but with a much higher frequency. When deciding, consider the geographic area of interest, the required frequency, the desired resolution, and the available budget.
References
- "Terra Bella - About Us." https://www.terrabellatech.com/about-us
- "Planet Data Sheet." https://www.planet.com/products/satellite-imagery-data-sheet/
- "Terra Bella Pricing." https://www.terrabellatech.com/purchase-imagery
- "Planet Subscription Plans." https://www.planet.com/pricing/