CASE STUDY
Airbus: Charting new territory with Google Cloud
Reduced image access time from hours to under 0.5 seconds
Scalable platform adding millions of square kilometers of imagery daily
Improved image analysis accuracy with advanced machine learning
Enhanced security and reliability through Google Cloud's infrastructure
The Challenge
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Traditional delivery methods required hours to process and distribute satellite images.
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Limited scalability hindered the ability to serve a diverse, global customer base.
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High infrastructure costs and complexity in managing large volumes of data.
The Solution
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Developed the OneAtlas platform using Google Cloud technologies.
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Utilized Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) for scalable compute resources.
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Implemented Cloud Storage to manage hundreds of terabytes of imagery.
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Employed Cloud Pub/Sub and Cloud Datastore for efficient data processing and messaging.
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Integrated TensorFlow to enhance image analysis, reducing cloud detection error rates from 11% to 3%.
Summary
By leveraging Google Cloud, Airbus transformed its satellite imagery services, enabling near-instantaneous access to vast datasets through the OneAtlas platform. This modernization not only improved operational efficiency and scalability but also democratized access to high-quality geospatial data, supporting a broader range of industries and applications.
Type
B2B Technology Provider
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
Headquarters
France
About Airbus
Airbus Defence and Space, a division of Airbus, specializes in satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence. Its Intelligence business unit serves over 1,200 customers across 100+ countries, including governments, NGOs, and commercial enterprises.
Overview
To meet growing demand for real-time, high-resolution satellite imagery, Airbus sought to modernize its delivery platform. The goal was to provide instant, scalable access to vast amounts of imagery, enabling clients to make timely decisions in sectors like agriculture, defense, and environmental monitoring.