720176EarthImages; making earth images accessible to existing and new usersClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKFor several decades, earth-orbiting satellites have been used as platforms for imaging the earth. This technology has now created a wide ranging market for satellite imagery that is in excess of £600M,and growing at a compound rate of 13% p.a., with applications as diverse as pipeline routing, land use assessment, real estate, iceberg tracking and insurance assessment. However, the market is being constrained by users finding it difficult to select from the wide variety of imagery available. We will address this constraint by providing EarthImages, which will be an impartial web-based broker service for satellite imagery incorporating an innovative user-oriented image search engine, and the ability to order imagery from multiple image suppliers. This addresses the expressed need from users of satellite imagery for a more efficient method of accessing the data and will be a timely response to the anticipated growth in the number of earth imaging satellites that will be launched in the coming decade. The proposed service will be implemented by UK-based start-up GeoCento, which is a joint venture established by Taitus Software, who own the underpinning image planning technology required for this service; Thomas Lefort, who has designed the innovative image search engine, and Kim Partington, who has developed the business concept. The ultimate goal is for the service is to become THE access route for earth imagery and this SMART project will result in a prototype that will help to bridge the gap to market.