Maxar and Ecopia Launch Revolutionary AI Mapping System

Maxar Intelligence has unveiled a groundbreaking mapping product named Vivid Features, developed in collaboration with Ecopia AI. This innovative system utilizes satellite imagery to create detailed two-dimensional and three-dimensional maps, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of geospatial data collection.

Advancements in Mapping Technology

The Vivid Features product leverages Maxar’s extensive satellite imagery archive alongside Ecopia’s advanced artificial intelligence software. It automatically identifies and outlines key features such as buildings, roads, vegetation, and water bodies. Unlike traditional raster images, which rely on pixels, vector maps represent the world using geometric shapes—points, lines, and polygons. This method allows for precise location data storage through mathematical equations, making updates easier and more accurate.

Historically, maintaining current vector datasets has been a labor-intensive process. Maxar and Ecopia aim to address this issue by streamlining the update process, which has been known to take days and often overlooks critical developments. In a release dated September 17, 2023, Maxar stated, “Mapmakers are stuck with laborious processes to update vector maps that reflect the ground truth.” The new Vivid Features product promises to change this paradigm by delivering precisely aligned vector maps that can be relied upon by mapping systems and AI models.

Transforming Geospatial Data Utilization

According to Peter Wilczynski, Maxar’s chief product officer, “Vivid Features, powered by Ecopia, solves one of the most persistent challenges in digital mapping—the time-consuming process of producing consistent vector map data of every place on Earth.” This product eliminates the need for thousands of hours typically spent on manual vector creation and alignment. The result is a dynamic basemap suite that retains fidelity as real-world conditions evolve.

The applications of Vivid Features are vast. Government agencies can utilize accurate geospatial data for emergency planning, disaster response, and infrastructure management. In the commercial sector, industries such as insurance rely on this data for risk modeling, while telecommunications can use it for network planning and tracking population growth. For military applications, the vector maps serve as a fundamental component of geospatial intelligence, informing mission planning and decision-making processes.

Jon Lipinski, president and co-founder of Ecopia, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, “Gaining an up-to-date, three-dimensional understanding of our planet and how it is changing is one of the most complex challenges our customers face.” He acknowledged the challenges many organizations face in developing and maintaining current 3D vector maps, despite the millions of square kilometers of satellite images captured daily.

With their combined expertise, Maxar and Ecopia aim to provide unprecedented access to up-to-date 3D vector maps globally. Maxar, headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, operates a fleet of high-resolution imaging satellites and has established a strong presence in both commercial and governmental sectors. Meanwhile, Toronto-based Ecopia AI has carved out a niche in applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to geospatial challenges, already collaborating with major industry players.

This partnership marks a significant advancement in the field of digital mapping, promising to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of geospatial data utilization across various sectors.