TIANJIN, CHINA--(Marketwired - Jun 27, 2016) - Orbital Insight, a US-based geospatial intelligence company, was today awarded as one of the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers, a selection of the world's most innovative companies. Orbital Insight uses artificial intelligence technologies to analyze satellite imagery of Earth and extract information about socio-economic trends. The company's technology can be used to monitor signals -- like the number of cars in retail parking lots, oil supply levels, or signs of deforestation in rainforests -- to gain a better understanding of current global situations.
Orbital Insight was chosen by a professional jury among hundreds of candidates as one of the 30 selected companies. Thanks to its selection, it will have access to an influential and sought-after business and political network worldwide.
"We welcome Orbital Insight in this group of extraordinary pioneers," said Fulvia Montresor, Head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum. "Orbital Insight is among those companies that help shape the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work and relate to one another. Through the platform of the World Economic Forum, it will be able to scale and share its technology and achieve a larger impact."
"We are excited to be recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum," Dr. James Crawford, CEO of Orbital Insight, said. "This award will help us continue to forge partnerships and pursue opportunities that maximize the benefits and applications of our technology to understand the Earth at scale."
The Technology Pioneers were selected from among hundreds of applicants by a selection committee of 68 academics, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate executives. The committee based its decisions on criteria including innovation, potential impact, working prototype, viability and leadership. Past recipients include Google (2001), Wikimedia (2007), Mozilla (2007), Kickstarter (2011) and Airbnb (2013). More information on past winners can be found here.
All information on this year's Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers
About Orbital Insight: Orbital Insight works at the intersection of big data and the commercialization of space and is the first mover in large-scale analysis of satellite and UAV imagery. The company has developed algorithms to count and measure cars, roads, airplanes, clouds, haze, freshwater lakes, agricultural fields, buildings, and oil tanks to provide a big-picture understanding of the world quantitatively grounded in observation. Orbital Insight works with more than 60 asset management firms, several U.S. government agencies, and two global non-profit organizations.
About the World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).