From flood response to farming: 77 ways satellites could help transform NI public services
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured with Chair of Matrix Robert Hill.
Monday 21 September 2026
Northern Ireland could make far greater use of satellites to tackle flooding, monitor the environment, support agriculture and manage public infrastructure, with a new government-backed report identifying at least 77 potential applications across public services.
The Northern Ireland Space Enabled Region Pathfinder concludes that the region is well placed to become a UK leader in routinely using satellite-enabled technology, but says the challenge has shifted from proving what the technology can do to putting the systems in place to use it at scale.
From flooding to planning
The project identified ten broad data themes where space technology could play a role, including mapping, planning, enforcement, environmental monitoring, agriculture, flood response, afforestation, infrastructure management and public records.
In practical terms, satellite and Earth observation data can provide public bodies with frequently updated information about large areas of land and infrastructure, potentially helping officials spot changes, assess risks and make decisions without relying solely on inspections or separately collected datasets.
The report found some of the strongest opportunities arise when the same information can be shared across several public bodies rather than developed for a single department or purpose.
Northern Ireland’s existing advantage
The Pathfinder was commissioned by the Northern Ireland Space Office, funded by the UK Space Agency and facilitated by Matrix NI.
It points to Northern Ireland’s existing Geographic Information System, or GIS, capabilities and its policy environment as foundations on which wider adoption could be built.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said:
“I welcome this report and its insights into the opportunities presented by space technologies. With our strong expertise in engineering, manufacturing and technology, we are well placed to harness these innovations to support sustainable solutions and improve the delivery of public services.
“Space technologies can help government make better-informed decisions, strengthen resilience and deliver real benefits for people and communities across the north. My Department looks forward to working with industry and academia to turn this potential into practical outcomes that improve people’s daily lives.”
At least 77 potential uses
Matrix Chair Robert Hill said the work builds on the organisation’s earlier Space Scoping Study and demonstrates how widely Earth observation technology could potentially be applied.
He said:
“Picking up from where our Space Scoping Study left off, the report embraces earth observation technology and demonstrates its potential to address at least 77 use case scenarios. That is a highly significant number, spanning a wide range of scenarios, and shows just how much opportunity exists for the public sector to benefit from these technologies.”
The Pathfinder follows Matrix NI’s March 2025 study, Building on our Strengths – Northern Ireland’s Growing Space Industry, which examined the development and potential of the region’s space sector.
Turning the findings into action
Lydia Green, Head of Unlocking Space at the UK Space Agency, said:
“There is a significant opportunity for space-enabled technologies to support innovation and transformation across the public sector. By taking a place-based approach, the Northern Ireland Space Enabled Region Pathfinder has identified practical applications where satellite data and services can help tackle regional challenges, improve outcomes for communities and support economic growth.
“We were pleased to partner with the Northern Ireland Space Office and Matrix NI and look forward to seeing these findings translated into action across Northern Ireland and beyond.”
The report does not itself mean the 77 identified applications will now be introduced. Instead, it provides a roadmap of where satellite data could be used and argues that the next challenge is creating the conditions for public bodies to adopt successful applications at scale.
For people across Northern Ireland, the significance will therefore depend on what follows the Pathfinder — and whether potential uses in areas such as flood response, agriculture, planning and infrastructure are ultimately turned into working public services.
The full Northern Ireland Space Enabled Region Pathfinder report is available here.
