On 26 October 2026, the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism signed a joint research agreement with QPS Institute and Synspective to develop technology for detecting fire damage using small SAR satellites. The project aims to improve the accuracy of identifying affected areas by comparing satellite data with the results of on-site surveys.
NILIM has signed a joint research agreement with QPS Institute and Synspective to develop technology for detecting fire damage. The two companies operate and provide the small SAR satellites QPS-SAR and StriX, respectively, combining satellite observation technology with disaster-prevention expertise.
The joint research will compare data from past large-scale fires with SAR observation data and examine methods for accurately identifying changes to the ground surface and buildings caused by fires and extracting affected areas. It will also examine how to optimise observation timing and methods according to the characteristics of actual damage.
A past example was a major fire in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, in which ALOS-2 data and AI were used to estimate the area burned. This demonstrated the potential of satellite data for assessing damage to a certain extent. The joint research will expand the range of cases studied and seek to support practical use in disaster response.
The research period runs through 31 March 2028 in accordance with the public call for proposals. The timing of commercialisation and specific service rollout have not been disclosed at this time. SAR satellites can observe day and night regardless of weather, but their data requires advanced analytical technology.
As the space industry advances the practical application of satellite data for disaster detection, integrating the technology and expertise of NILIM and Synspective may help address challenges going forward.