27 October 2026 – Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization), or GISTDA, together with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and international partners, convened the Satellite Applications for Societal Benefit Working Group (SAWG) meeting at Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel Bangkok. Held under the 32nd Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-32), the meeting provides an important platform for connecting advances in satellite technologies with applications that benefit society, including positioning and navigation, agricultural monitoring and environmental management.

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The meeting was opened by co-chairs Dr. Sirikul Hutasavi, Head of Strategic Spatial Information Division at GISTDA, and Tomomi Nio, Senior Chief Officer of Earth Observation Mission at JAXA. The opening session included welcome remarks, a review of the previous SAWG meeting and adoption of the agenda, connecting the network’s ongoing activities with the issues to be discussed at this meeting.

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At the heart of SAWG is cooperation to apply space technologies to the needs of users on Earth through the exchange of data, methods and experience among space agencies, researchers and other stakeholders. These discussions help connect satellite system capabilities with institutional and societal needs, from access to reliable data to the development of practical applications and personnel capable of putting these technologies to use.

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The first part of the meeting was the GNSS Session, chaired by Nobuaki Kamei of JAXA. It covered Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), which provide Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services supporting a wide range of activities on Earth. Key items on the agenda included “Proposal for a New SAWG Initiative on PNT Resilience” by Yuichi Saida of JAXA, introducing a proposal for cooperation to strengthen resilience against disruptions to positioning, navigation and timing services. This was followed by “Impact of Ground-Based GNSS Interference on Spaceborne GNSS Receivers” by Moeko Hidaka of JAXA, addressing the effects of interference originating on the ground on GNSS receivers aboard satellites. Together, these topics extend the discussion of system reliability to both users on Earth and equipment operating in space.

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The importance of these issues lies in the continuity and reliability of services that depend on positioning and timing information. When GNSS signals are disrupted or unavailable, systems that rely on them may be affected. Strengthening resilience and maintaining service continuity therefore connects satellite technologies with the operation and safety of activities on Earth.

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Regional GNSS cooperation was also reflected in “Multi-GNSS Asia Annual Conference 2027 and Geo-Connect Asia in Singapore,” presented by Dr. Akihiko Nishino of SSIL, Japan, and Jimmy Hua Seng Tan of the Singapore Land Authority, who participated online. The programme also included “TIGORS-II Project” by Shusaku Nakamura of Pacific Consultants, Japan. These presentations reflect SAWG’s role in exchanging plans and project updates among research institutions, government agencies and private companies across the region. GISTDA also plays a significant role in advancing international cooperation in this area.

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The GNSS Session also highlighted the use of satellite signals to study the environment through “GNSS-IR Reflector Height in Rice Paddies: Low-Cost vs Survey-Grade Receivers” by Keito Yoshida of JAXA. The presentation compares low-cost and survey-grade receivers using field trials conducted at a lake and rice paddies near Tokyo. Another presentation, “GNSS-SAR Integration for Understanding Ground Conditions” by Dr. Daiki Kobayashi of NTT, addresses the integration of GNSS with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to understand ground conditions. These topics illustrate approaches that combine different technologies to improve understanding of areas and their environmental conditions.

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The GNSS discussions converged on the development of secure, efficient systems with reliable resilience to interference. This represents an important global trend, supported by practical assistance from organizations such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

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This was followed by Session I of SAFE, or Space Applications for Environment, co-chaired by Dr. Bimal Kumar Bhattacharya of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Dr. Shinichi Sobue of JAXA. SAFE is a cooperative framework that promotes the use of space technologies and ground-based data to study environmental issues, alongside international exchanges of data, tools and knowledge to develop applications that address regional needs.

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A key focus of SAFE Session I is the relationship between rice cultivation, water management and methane emissions. The session begins with “Overview & Status of CH4Rice Project” by Dr. Lam Dao Nguyen of the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC), who is scheduled to present an overview and progress report on CH4Rice. This is followed by “Integrating Remote Sensing and Portable Methane Sensors for Climate-Smart Rice Monitoring in Japan” by Prof. Wataru Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo, connecting remote sensing with portable methane sensors for climate-smart monitoring of rice paddies.

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Another presentation linking satellite data with environmental cooperation is “ISRO’s Updates on CH4Rice & NISAR S-band Data for SAFE Projects” by Dr. Bimal Kumar Bhattacharya of ISRO. It covers progress on CH4Rice and NISAR S-band data for SAFE projects. Taken together, the three presentations reflect key elements in developing practical applications, from regional project coordination and field measurements to the combined use of satellite data.

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CH4Rice aims to develop methods for monitoring water conditions in rice paddies and estimating methane emissions using satellite data together with measurements collected in the field. The value of this approach lies in connecting observations over broad areas with field data to study the relationship between water management and greenhouse gas emissions, while supporting the development of evidence-based monitoring and assessment methods.

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For Thailand, where agriculture and rice cultivation are important to the economy and everyday life, these topics provide opportunities for agencies and researchers to exchange approaches to satellite data applications with regional partners. These include monitoring agricultural areas, studying water conditions and developing methods to assess environmental impacts. Meanwhile, the GNSS discussions are relevant to the development of surveying applications and services that depend on reliable positioning and timing information.