Finnish satellite operator Kuva Space has published findings from a pilot project focused on tracking illegal crop cultivation from orbit. The company utilized its Hyperfield-1 satellites to examine agricultural plots in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.
The study integrated data from the EU Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites with 363 hyperspectral images captured by Hyperfield. Analysts reviewed approximately 250 000 agricultural plots and identified 8 835 potential poppy fields.
Kuva achieved a 75% accuracy rate in identifying poppy fields, compared to 71% for Sentinel-2. The company noted that its hyperspectral technology reduces false positives by detecting specific spectral signatures that conventional imagery often misses.
The firm plans to expand its capabilities to identify other illegal crops, including coca and cannabis. By screening large regions, the company aims to help international legal authorities focus high-resolution analysis on high-probability areas.
