Racing Toward Sustainability: ASTERRA Zooms into 2025

Like the thrilling wrap on the Formula 1 season when Lando Norris sped to victory, ASTERRA finished 2024 in spectacular fashion. We are just months after ASTERRA solutions located the 100,000^th water leak and surpassed one million MWH of saved energy, ASTERRA continues to speed ahead with solutions and collaborations which are enabling others to achieve sustainability goals. Since 2017, ASTERRA has saved more than 434 billion gallons of water, 1.09 million MWH of energy, and 278,048 tons of carbon in more than 64 countries.

In 2024, we worked with VINCI, a world leader in sustainable energy and construction, on a successful related to a major motorway in Strasbourg, France. By mapping subsurface soil moisture, we can detect issues early, preventing costly repairs, enhancing infrastructure resilience, and letting the cars speed on safely down the motorway. Further, ASTERRA and VINCI Autoroutes partnered on an Environment Prize. VINCI’s Environment Prize celebrates groundbreaking field initiatives that focus on reducing environmental impact; the initiatives are replicated globally to maximize their positive effects.

A major technological development in 2024 happened when we launched our new application programming interface (API). This API unlocks SAR analytics for collaboration with our Earth observation (EO) partners. The API offers insights, not just raw data, and ASTERRA intelligence can now easily integrate with other EO platforms. Our API launched just prior to GEOINT, the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation’s annual conference. It was exciting to learn more about the limitless innovative possibilities in geospatial technology and SAR analytics unlocked by our API.

In another part of the world, many countries in Latin America are dramatically improving their water security and asset management processes with ASTERRA. AEGEA, the largest private sanitation company in Brazil selected ASTERRA Recover solution in a three-year, $2M water initiative. Enjoy this video report on our collaborative efforts in Brazil.

We grew our relationship with Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2024. ASTERRA’s use of AWS enables us to deploy innovative solutions for detecting and reducing water loss, monitoring soil moisture gathering below and around infrastructure to mitigate failures before they occur, and more. Together with AWS, we overcame and are preventing computing capacity constraints to be more effective for users all over the world. Scalable solutions powered by AWS are increasing our positive impact for a more resilient future. Read more here.

While ASTERRA is locating water leaks and assisting with the monitoring of infrastructure, we continue to work with our Earth observation partners and explore this expanding ecosystem! At INTERGEO2024, we met with our valued partners at UP42. Collaborations like these push the boundaries of geospatial technology and pave the way for innovative solutions that benefit our planet.

ASTERRA was aware of the risks of water and infrastructure disasters in Spain even before the recent tragic floods. In this article, ASTERRA addressed some of these issues just prior to hosting guests at the 2024 International Water Association Water Loss Conference. The maintenance and expansion of Spain’s infrastructure had known issues such as water loss, wastewater exfiltration, and risk of damage to property. Implementing proactive technologies is vital.

In 2024, members of ASTERRA’s leadership team visited the China Urban Water Association (CUWA). CUWA is a national nonprofit organization that has been at the forefront of China’s water industry since 1985. It plays a crucial role in advancing water-related initiatives. We explored how ASTERRA satellite-based solutions contribute to water conservation, smart water management, and underground pipeline infrastructure resilience.

Often, news media, podcasters, and journalists reach out to ASTERRA for insights and information about using satellite intelligence to protect the people, climate, and natural resources on Earth. Included among the many articles was one in The Economist, outlining how technologies like ours are making it possible to monitor underground pipelines in new and collaborative ways, preventing costly water loss and ensuring communities stay resilient in the face of climate change.

We were also thrilled to be featured in a report by BlueTech Research. In this report, it explains how Earth observation technology is unlocking endless possibilities for managing water and critical infrastructure assets. The report explores its wide-ranging applications—from potable and wastewater leak detection and risk mitigation to the various industries using this technology. We appreciate that BlueTech Research highlights ASTERRA as one of the top innovators driving these advancements.

In South Carolina, Greenville Water faced new challenges and urgent action to provide potable water to those affected by Hurricane Helene. Together with the Water Environment Association of South Carolina and Jane Arrington, Director of Operational Technical Services, we shared an ongoing project with Greenville Water that tackles the critical challenges of reducing water loss.

We have so much gratitude for our global partners, who share the value of ASTERRA solutions in their home countries. Recently, we announced our new partnership with Integrored and joined them at the ANEAS de México A.C. Annual Expo & Convention. Our ASTERRA partner training brought together participants from Colombia, Panama, Israel, and Mexico for a journey of learning and collaboration. Our partners are a wealth of information. Together, we are bringing advanced water and wastewater monitoring solutions to more parts of the world!

Leak detection, infrastructure monitoring, and asset management all combine when it comes to dams and levees. This year, we worked with dams and levees worldwide; many dams in the UK and Japan average over 100 years old! As these structures age, the risks they pose to communities grow, making research, experimentation, and innovative thinking more important than ever. Paul Gagliardo, host of The Water Entrepreneur Podcast, shares information on ASTERRA’s work. Learn how satellite-based solutions are reshaping how we manage dam and levee safety and saving countless resources.

ASTERRA is also making an impact in Japan. Not only are we a part of earthquake recovery efforts, but our Japanese partner, J21 Corporation, hosted a Japan Tech Summit. With numerous water utilities at the summit, we shared compelling case studies demonstrating ASTERRA technology in action. Using satellite-based solutions, utilities can remotely detect water leaks and wastewater exfiltration, highlighting critical points of interest for prioritization.

This year, ASTERRA honored Arie Shavit for the ASTERRA Gives Global program, which is designed to recognize and empower ASTERRA’s worldwide partners and their communities. In accepting this award, Shavit requested a donation be made to ALUT, a charity supporting autistic children.

Follow us as we continue to drive innovation in 2025! Thank you for being an integral part of ASTERRA’s track to sustainability.