Subverting Our New Space Overlords

Complex financial information is hidden in plain sight all over the planet, according to James Crawford, CEO of Orbital Insight. The number of ships docked at a Malaysian port, even the color of a wheat field in western Nebraska, are actually signs, Crawford explained to me, visible indicators of economic activity, not just for a local region but for an entire global industry. Seen this way, mundane landscapes previously deemed unworthy of analysis can, in fact, be meticulously--and profitably--scrutinized. This newfound appreciation is not aesthetic, of course, but fiscal, as even the growing shadows of a Chinese construction site can be interpreted as valuable clues about the strength of the underlying economy. Crawford's company, Orbital Insight, is one of a new breed of market-research firms pioneering the use of high-resolution satellite imagery.