Case Study: Vassar Labs helps ORSAC safeguard Bhubaneswar’s public land with Planet SkySat imagery

Leveraging Satellite Data to Spot Early Signals of Unauthorized Government Land-use and Encroachment

Vassar Labs, working with the Odisha Space Application Centre (ORSAC), faced the challenge of identifying unauthorized land encroachment on government property in the rapidly growing city of Bhubaneswar. The traditional system of detection lacked transparency and timely data, leading to significant revenue loss and unplanned development for the government. They turned to vendor Planet and its SkySat high-resolution satellite imagery to gain the frequent, current data needed for effective monitoring.

The solution involved using Planet's monthly SkySat imagery within an AI-powered system called BLUIS, developed by Vassar Labs. This system automatically detects and alerts officials to land-use changes, enabling prompt validation and action. Since implementation, the system has generated 313 alerts, allowing the government to identify and act on encroachments quickly. This early detection has resulted in significant financial savings by preventing revenue loss and reducing the resources required for enforcement.

Vassar Labs

Prafulla Kumar Mallick

Chief Executive Officer