ABS Wavesight, a maritime software as a service (SaaS) company, was seeking to improve its risk management platform, ABS My Digital Fleet™, by integrating high-resolution historical and forecast weather data. The company aimed to provide actionable insights to its users to help them understand and lower fuel consumption, improve bunker costs, and reduce carbon intensity levels. Additionally, ABS Wavesight wanted to highlight the potential structural impacts from weather exposure during a ship’s voyage to better understand and mitigate risk. The challenge was to find a suitable partner that could provide accurate and hyperlocal weather data that could be seamlessly integrated into their existing platform.

Anglian Water, the largest water and water recycling company in England and Wales, faced significant challenges in managing weather data. The company's operations required a large number of weather data sets to inform decision-making, but the multiple weather data providers they relied on were complicated and inconsistent. This led to data discrepancies that affected decision-making processes and brought financial and administrative challenges. Additionally, the different providers required data to be collected in various ways, which was technically demanding and time-consuming. These issues prompted the company to streamline its operations by replacing most of its previous providers.

The Swiss Academic Space Initiative (ARIS), an educational association founded by students from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH-Zurich) in 2017, is training future engineers and project managers for the growing aerospace market. The association, which now includes students from six different Swiss universities, aims to place a small-scale satellite in orbit using an in-house developed bi-liquid launcher within the next decade. To achieve this, ARIS needs to conduct in-orbit experiments and research, and regularly participate in international competitions with other aerospace engineering student organizations. However, the launch and recovery of spacecraft are significantly affected by Earth's weather conditions, including temperature, wind speed and direction, rain, hail, lightning, cloud cover, and electric fields. ARIS needed accurate weather data to conduct flight simulations, assess initial conditions in the launch area, and estimate the rocket's highest height, landing location, and the danger zone for people on the ground.

Clouds play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate, and understanding their microphysics is key to more accurate climate projections. However, clouds and cloud-aerosol interactions are major sources of uncertainties in these projections. Questions such as how clouds will change in a warming climate and their influence on Earth’s radiation budget are yet to be fully answered. The Atmospheric Physics group at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) is dedicated to studying the formation and evolution of clouds, particularly cloud-aerosol interactions. Their project, CLOUDLAB, aims to improve understanding of cloud microphysical processes and precipitation formation. However, the data collection process for cloud particles, wind, and aerosol concentration has evolved over the years, with each method presenting its own challenges. Ground-based measurements were influenced by the ground and blowing snow, while measurements on a cable car and tethered balloons offered limited vertical structure and location possibilities.

Severe weather events often cause significant damage to buildings, accounting for about a quarter of home insurance claims in the UK. The challenge lies in validating these claims accurately and efficiently. Home Repair Network (HRN), an independent contractor manager in the UK's property damage industry, specializes in managing networks of approved local surveyors, tradespersons, and building contractors. They streamline the process of handling less complex building damage claims for both insurance companies and homeowners. However, the process of validating weather-related damages can be complex and time-consuming, requiring precise and dependable assessment of the damages.

The defence sector has always been significantly impacted by weather conditions, often determining the outcome of pivotal battles throughout history. Today, most military forces closely monitor the weather to avoid risks, ensure weaponry and vehicle performance, and increase operational success. However, the data from national meteorological services and traditional weather forecasting methods often fall short in providing accurate data, especially from the lowest part of the atmosphere where hazardous events form. Satellites, ground stations, and radars can only take remote measurements, while balloons and aircraft are limited to short timeframes and specific locations. Furthermore, national services cover limited domains and use different weather models, leading to inconsistencies and inaccuracies in weather forecasts. The military needs a more reliable and accurate weather forecasting solution to ensure the success of their operations.

Navily, a digital platform for recreational boaters, was facing challenges in providing accurate and timely weather forecasts to its users. The app, which serves as a cruising guide, booking platform, and sailing community, was relying on a weather data provider that was not delivering precise forecasts due to its reliance on a single weather forecast model. This lack of precision was a significant issue as weather conditions are paramount to sailing, defining the success and safety of a journey at sea. The decision of where to anchor is heavily influenced by weather conditions, and unfavorable or rapidly changing conditions can lead to accidents, potentially putting passengers' lives at risk. Navily's goal was to simplify this decision-making process for its users by providing a recommendation score for each anchorage, taking into account user ratings, the weather forecast, and the natural protection offered by the anchorage. However, the lack of accurate weather data was hindering this process.

Schweizer Hagel, a leading provider of agricultural insurance coverage in Switzerland, France, and Italy, faced the challenge of accurately assessing environmental risks to agricultural crops due to weather events. The company needed to determine insurance premiums that were both equitable for policyholders and adequate to cover insured losses. This required precise local weather information, including historical data spanning up to 30 years, and parameters related to drought, heavy rain, hailstorms, lightning, and storms. The company was in search of a reliable weather data solution that offered flexibility, comprehensive weather parameters, and access to historical weather data. Additionally, Schweizer Hagel required a provider that offered reliable customer service to address specific issues and inquiries promptly and proficiently.

Spottitt, a cloud-based solution provider, leverages satellite data and advanced AI models to offer insights for the energy, utility, and infrastructure sectors. The company's services are crucial in identifying potential points of failure in critical infrastructure such as transmission grids, pipelines, and substations, and in developing strategies to minimize downtime and mitigate the risk of catastrophic damages. However, extreme weather events like heatwaves, severe cold snaps, heavy rainfall, and windstorms pose significant threats to infrastructure, leading to equipment damage, power outages, wildfires, and safety risks for power grids and utility pipelines. Additionally, the performance and efficiency of renewable energy systems are dependent on weather conditions. Therefore, there was a need for a solution that could provide high-resolution weather information to monitor rapidly changing weather and climate conditions around critical infrastructure.

Stadtwerke München, one of the largest energy and infrastructure companies in Germany, was facing challenges in accurately forecasting solar power production. The production of solar power and other renewable energies is highly dependent on weather conditions, making it difficult to predict the amount of electricity that can be produced. This unpredictability posed a problem for Stadtwerke München's day-to-day electricity trading business and the integration of solar power into the electricity market. Inaccurate forecasts could lead to increased costs as balancing energy, usually purchased at a high price, would have to be used if there was a deviation from the specified amount of electricity that a company could provide. Furthermore, accurate power forecasts are essential for the successful and economical integration of renewables into the electricity market, especially as solar power and other renewables continue to expand.

Toyota, a leading automotive company, is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and conserving the environment. As part of its 'Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050', the company aims to reduce CO2 emissions, protect water resources, boost recycling, and conserve biodiversity. One of the key areas of focus is the operations sector of its European plants, where the company aims to eliminate CO2 emissions and reduce energy costs. The challenge lies in managing the energy consumption of these plants, which is directly influenced by weather conditions such as outside temperature, humidity, and wind. These factors affect the ambient temperature inside the facilities, which must be kept stable for the equipment to function properly. Furthermore, as the factories transition to renewable energy sources, their supply capabilities become sensitive to weather variations. Therefore, accurate weather forecasts are crucial for effective planning of energy systems.

Unmanned aerial vehicles such as drones and future autonomous air taxis lack an onboard pilot who can respond directly to weather changes and impacts. The response to weather changes is instead controlled by software and autopilot. This necessitates the availability of live weather data during a flight and weather forecast data for safe and efficient pre-flight planning. If the weather poses increased or unacceptable flight risks, the flight route or departure time needs to be adjusted accordingly. This challenge is further complicated by the need for industries without aviation expertise, such as agriculture, logistics, traffic management, and surveillance, to operate drones safely and efficiently in a commercial context.

The Australian Office of National Intelligence (ONI) was established in 2018 with the aim of ensuring Australia has an agile, integrated intelligence enterprise to meet evolving security challenges. As part of its commitment to innovation, ONI partnered with Spire to develop and deploy a CubeSat with advanced machine learning capabilities. The challenge was to efficiently understand and process the large influx of data sent to Earth from space. Traditional methods of data processing were proving to be inefficient and resource-intensive, burdening ground stations and other infrastructure. The goal was to develop a system that could autonomously prioritize downloads, direct sensors, and provide actionable insights.

DeepSea, a leading AI-powered maritime entity, was faced with the challenge of enhancing its vessel-specific performance models with a highly accurate and detailed source of ocean weather data. The goal was to predict the impact of wind, waves, currents, and other nautical phenomena on fuel consumption. However, the task was not without its difficulties. A significant 80% of the world's oceans remain unmapped and unobserved, presenting a considerable gap in the data required for accurate predictions. Additionally, the data on ocean wind and wave conditions that is available is often inconsistent. This is because it is gathered from instruments deployed on buoys and traveling ships, leading to discrepancies in wind-weather observations.

The U.S. Space Force Space System Command (SSC) was facing a significant challenge in their space technology development portfolio. Traditional methods for testing technologies in orbit were proving to be expensive and time-consuming. However, on-orbit demonstration is a critical step in proving technology readiness. The SSC, through their Science and Technology Directorate (SSC/ZAD), was in need of a solution that could provide a low-cost platform for testing technologies in orbit. They required a solution that could rapidly integrate and operate science and technology experiments in space. The specific mission was to test EnerSys® ZeroVolt™ 18650 battery cells in orbit, which required a platform that could accommodate the integration of these battery cells and facilitate their operation in space.

Jacobs, a leading provider of technical, professional, and construction services, was faced with the challenge of testing and demonstrating a new type of commercial space-based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) onboard a Spire 3U satellite. Traditional methods for testing technologies on-orbit were proving to be expensive and time-consuming. However, on-orbit demonstration was a critical step to prove technology readiness. Jacobs saw an opportunity to reduce risk, maintain control, save time, and decrease costs by hosting its payloads on Spire’s 3U satellite buses. The challenge was to find a low-risk, highly secure, cost-effective and rapid path to orbit.

The Company, a US-based IT services firm, relied heavily on cold email outreach as its primary sales channel. Over the years, the company expanded from 2 to 45 mailboxes and ran numerous email campaigns. However, they began to encounter significant issues with their email domain. Their open rate and delivery rate started to plummet rapidly, with most of their emails ending up in spam folders. The company was unsure of the cause of these issues and sought assistance from Folderly, an email marketing solution provider. The challenge was to identify the root cause of the problem, restore the health of the existing domain, and ensure the smooth running of their email campaigns.

The United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) relies heavily on the World Magnetic Model (WMM) for a variety of essential public and military systems, including mobile navigation applications, surveying tools, antennas, solar panels, and GPS. The WMM is a representation of the Earth’s magnetic field, and its accuracy is crucial for the functioning of these technologies. The data for the WMM was being collected by the European Space Agency Swarm mission, which was launched in 2013 and was expected to conclude in 2021. Given the impending conclusion of the Swarm mission and the critical importance of the WMM, the NGA launched the MagQuest competition to find sustainable, reliable, and accurate data collection alternatives for the future.

Mantle Labs, a pioneering agri-fintech platform, faced a significant challenge in acquiring high-quality weather data from across the globe, including remote locations. The effectiveness of their AI-powered platform, Geobotanics, was limited by the quality of its inputs. They had to engage with multiple data sources that varied in terms of granularity and consistency, which restricted the scope of grid coverage they had access to. There were numerous under-observed territories that lacked the means or the skillset to invest in weather data infrastructure and methodology. As a result, Mantle Labs was unable to fully explore the potential of its digital agricultural solutions on a global scale.

The maritime industry faces numerous challenges, including the need for real-time performance analysis and proactive decision support. These challenges are complex and multifaceted, impacting global trade and supply chains. Factors such as weather conditions, fuel economy, travel speed, and route selection can significantly affect vessel performance. The industry needed a solution that could provide maritime customers with an intelligent, quality product, designed specifically for vessel performance optimization. This was easier said than done, considering the number of factors that impact vessel performance.

NASA, the United States’ civil space program, is a global leader in space exploration. It works with U.S. contractors, academics, international and commercial partners to expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity. One of the significant challenges NASA faces is supporting climate research and earth science. In 2017, NASA initiated the Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program with the Private-Sector Small Constellation Satellite Data Product Pilot Project. The program aimed to identify, evaluate, and acquire commercial datasets to support NASA’s Earth science research and application goals. However, the challenge was to establish continuous and repeatable processes to bring on new commercial data vendors, enable the sustained use of purchased data, establish data management systems and processes, and coordinate with other U.S. Government agencies and international partners on the evaluation and scientific use of commercial data.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an American scientific and regulatory agency, was tasked with improving weather modeling and computing capabilities as part of its commitment to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017. The agency recognized the potential of commercially sourced Radio Occultation (RO) data to enhance weather forecasting and understanding of climate change. However, before awarding contracts to commercial aerospace companies, NOAA needed to assess the accuracy, reliability, and overall impact of commercial RO data on weather forecasting applications. A pilot program was initiated for this purpose. The initial assessment found that Spire Global's Level 2 products were mature and stable, with a marked positive impact on the Day 1 forecast.

Orbitare, a company focused on providing global connectivity, was in the process of developing a new satellite-based data transport network, SPACELOOP. This network aimed to deliver IP messaging, email, and file transfer to users anywhere in the world, including remote areas where terrestrial networks are inaccessible. However, the project faced a significant challenge: it lacked an existing infrastructure in space to support the testing and development of the application. The need for a solution was urgent, as instantaneous communication has become a basic need for many, including mariners, polar explorers, journalists, NGO workers, and adventure travelers. These individuals often find themselves in remote areas where connectivity is difficult to obtain.

The increasing risk and intensity of wildfires worldwide, exacerbated by climate change, necessitates a robust and efficient defense strategy. The challenge lies in the need for real-time monitoring and early detection systems that can help authorities shorten wildfire response times, swiftly implement evacuation plans, and provide firefighters with the necessary support. Additionally, these systems would aid the forest sector in identifying future risk areas and proactively patrolling them. However, the rapid response required necessitates data from remote areas, which can only be gathered from space. This is where OroraTech, a satellite wildfire monitoring start-up based in Germany, and Spire, a leading provider of nanosatellites, come into play.

SpaceChain, a pioneer in exploring the possibilities of blockchain in space, faced a significant challenge. As cryptocurrency became more widely used, the company sought to add an additional layer of security and encryption to the already secure distributed and decentralized infrastructure of blockchain. They were in search of a global solution that could help them scale their application coverage in space. The company needed a partner that could not only take their application to space but also ensure the secure transmission of data. This was crucial as SpaceChain had received funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) to create a satellite-based multisignature wallet for ultra-secure cryptocurrency payments in FinTech and for businesses.

In late August 2017, Hurricane Harvey hit the South Texas coast, causing unprecedented flooding and destruction. BBVA Compass, a U.S. banking company with nearly 25% of its 649 branches located in South Texas, was significantly impacted. The hurricane affected employees' personal lives, closed administrative buildings and branches, and knocked ATMs offline. As one of the top 25 largest U.S. commercial banks, it was crucial for BBVA Compass to maintain operations with minimal interruption to serve all communities and clients. Business disruptions, regardless of their size, can have long-lasting and negative effects on both employees and clients if not properly planned for. Therefore, business continuity planning was critical for BBVA Compass to ensure employee safety and business survival during such disasters.

In the fall of 2017, a container transportation company, a client of StormGeo, was planning a transatlantic voyage from Halifax to Bremerhaven in northern Europe. The Master of the vessel had planned to sail via the English Channel due to pilotage considerations, intending to follow a route via 40N 40W en route to the Channel. However, this route posed significant challenges. It would have exposed the vessel to significantly heavier head conditions associated with a lower-latitude storm system. This would have forced the Captain to increase speed and thus fuel consumption to maintain the scheduled arrival time. Additionally, the harsh conditions could have resulted in damage to the vessel and its assets, as well as posing safety hazards to the cargo and crew.

Norwegian electricity distributor Elvia faces significant challenges in maintaining the stability of their power grid during severe weather conditions. These conditions, which include strong winds, heavy snow, ice on power lines, and lightning, often lead to power outages and interruptions. The unpredictability of these weather events, particularly lightning, adds to the complexity of the situation. Elvia's challenge is to anticipate these weather-related threats and prepare accordingly to minimize the impact on their power grid. The company's ability to respond effectively to these threats is critical to its operations and service delivery. Therefore, Elvia needed a reliable way to predict and prepare for severe weather conditions that could potentially disrupt their power supply.

The International Maritime Organization has set a goal to reduce annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050 and carbon intensity by 70% by 2050 as compared with 2008. With new requirements addressing GHG emissions expected to enter into force on 1 January 2023, shipping companies need to start planning for decarbonization now. Many shipping companies realize the economic and reputation benefits that sustainable operations bring as well. Evaluating, monitoring and reporting their sustainability improvements has become more important than ever. However, achieving these goals requires effective strategies and tools to measure and monitor vessel performance and condition.

International Paper, a leading producer of fiber-based packaging and pulp, operates a facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, a region frequently threatened by hurricanes and tropical storms. These severe weather events pose significant risks to business operations and employee safety. The Wilmington plant, which employs close to 600 people and produces 2,200 tons of fluff pulp daily, has experienced disruptions due to storms like Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Florence. Accurate and timely weather forecasting is critical for the company to ensure logistics planning and personnel safety. Prior to implementing a solution, International Paper relied on reports from power companies and general media, which often lacked the necessary details for making informed operational decisions.