Open Surface

km² automatically monitored

monitored points of interest

verified change events

land use tags

Open Surface - Chilean Pilot Project

A pilot with the Chilean government and the IDB’s Natural Capital Lab, funded by IDB Lab and EIT Climate KIC, OpenSurface uses authoritative land records in conjunction with satellite imagery and ground- sourced data to help prioritise resource allocation.

The platform uses AI and Sentinel 2 satellite imagery to automatically compare planned, authorised activities with how forests are actually being managed or depleted. It then intelligently alerts staff at CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal) whenever and wherever the two diverge.

According to the special report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), emissions from agriculture, forestry, and land clearing make up around one quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Improvements in land management could not only offer drastic cuts in global emissions, but also enhance agricultural sustainability, improve food security, and safeguard biodiversity.

Funders

This project has been developed with the support of our funders

Inter-American Development Bank

The IDB works to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through financial and technical support for countries working to reduce poverty and inequality, we help improve health and education, and advance infrastructure. Our aim is to achieve development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way. With a history dating back to 1959, today we are the leading source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. We provide loans, grants, and technical assistance; and we conduct extensive research.

EIT Climate-KIC

EIT Climate-KIC is a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon, climate-resilient society. Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, we identify and support innovation that helps society mitigate and adapt to climate change. We believe that a decarbonised, sustainable economy is not only necessary to prevent catastrophic climate change, but presents a wealth of opportunities for business and society.

Mission

Our mission is to enable the next generation in digital MRV-driven land management, by linking what's happening on the ground to tailored alerts or results-based payments, and creating accurate, timely, automated services for different stakeholders. OpenSurface is placing the power to create new kinds of land-use products, services and applications – that are massively and affordably scalable – in everyone's hands. We're working with the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution to urgently change what's possible. To collaborate, or become a pilot partner get in touch.