ASTERRA

Asterra, formerly Utilis, is based in Israel and specializes in satellite-based infrastructure intelligence, using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology to detect underground soil moisture and assess infrastructure conditions. Using Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) and AI, Asterra transforms satellite data into decision support tools. 

Asterra offers three key solutions using SAR technology for subsurface moisture detection: (1) "MasterPlan" assesses pipeline deficiencies, guiding maintenance and replacements, (2)"Recover" detects water leaks, contributing to significant water conservation, (3) "EarthWorks" monitors underground moisture to prevent infrastructure failures in roads, railways, dams, levees, and mines, and (4) the EO Discover platform integrates the information and insights from all the aforementioned products.

These products leverage PolSAR’s data and AI-driven insights to provide detailed visualizations of subsurface conditions, aiding water utilities, government agencies, and industries in maintaining critical infrastructure​. 

Asterra’s EO Discover platform integrates satellite-derived PolSAR data to monitor soil moisture and infrastructure conditions, including the data derived by Asterra’s other solutions. It features real-time data access, online training, and compatibility with GIS systems like Esri. 

In April 2024, Asterra launched an API that enhances the use of SAR analytics through collaboration with Earth observation and GIS-based partners. This API was the first commercial L-band SAR technology to offer insights rather than raw data, making it easily integrable with other platforms. Initially available on marketplaces, it connects satellite operators, data providers, and end users, expanding access to commercial L-band SAR analytics. 

As of April 2024, Asterra's technology had served over 600 customers in 64 countries, identifying over 100,000 leaks, conserving 368 billion gallons of water, cutting 235,520 metric tons of CO2, and saving 920,000 MWH of energy, supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Key customers and partnerships

Notable clients include Pennsylvania American Water, Vivaqua, SES Water, and the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority.

Another key customer of Asterra is SUEZ; they have been working together since 2017 to serve water utilities in the UK. Most recently, in March 2024, they agreed to collaborate on water and wastewater through the implementation of ASTERRA Recover and Wastewater solutions. Their combined efforts since 2017 had conserved 196 million cubic meters of water, cut carbon emissions by 23,128 metric tons, and saved 90,160 MWH of energy in the UK as at March 2024.

Noteworthy partnerships include collaborations with NVIDIA, whereby Asterra leverages NVIDIA GPUs via Amazon Web Services (AWS) to create and execute its machine learning algorithms, with Orbital Insight to offer remote sensing analytics to water utilities (August 2022), and with VENG, an Argentinian company that brings products and data derived from Satellites for Observation and Communication (SAOCOM) to market to protect natural resources (July 2021).