Methane Space Tracker

We are addressing the pressing issue of methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change and environmental degradation. Globally, methane emissions from various sources, including oil and gas operations, and waste management, pose significant challenges to sustainability efforts. Methane is approximately 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, exacerbating climate change impacts. Methane leaks from oil and gas infrastructure alone contribute to significant environmental damage, health risks, and economic losses (over $2B in USA alone). Oil and gaz industry have made a commitement at COP28 to reach 0% methane emission by 2030. By providing accurate and timely detection of methane leaks (weekly), we help industries, governments, and communities identify and address sources of emissions, thereby mitigating their adverse impacts on both local and global scales.

NextAV's Methane Space Tracker represents a groundbreaking solution in the field of methane emissions detection. Leveraging state-of-the-art super-resolution technology, our system enhances public satellite imagery to provide unprecedented insights into methane leaks. Unlike traditional methods that rely on private satellite fleets or airborne systems, which incur high costs and are applied infrequently (typically once per year or every few months), our approach offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative. By utilizing publicly available satellite data, we ensure widespread access to our monitoring capabilities, empowering a diverse range of stakeholders including oil and gas companies, governmental agencies, and NGOs to address methane emissions effectively.

At the heart of our solution lies the innovative application of generative AI algorithms to enhance the resolution of satellite imagery. Through meticulous training on a vast dataset comprising 160 Terabytes of data over several months, our AI model has been fine-tuned to unprecedented levels of precision. This enables us to identify methane leaks with unparalleled accuracy, even in remote or inaccessible regions. By super-resolving public satellite imagery, we achieve a rapid revisit time of 1 to 2 weeks, significantly expediting the detection and response to methane emissions. This swift detection capability plays a pivotal role in mitigating environmental impact and curbing economic losses stemming from prolonged leaks.

In contrast to traditional methods that rely on periodic aerial surveys or ground-based monitoring stations, our satellite-based approach offers continuous and comprehensive coverage of vast geographic areas. This enables proactive monitoring of extensive pipeline networks spanning thousands of kilometers, ensuring early detection of methane leaks before they escalate into larger environmental disasters. Additionally, our solution provides real-time data insights, allowing stakeholders to prioritize mitigation efforts and allocate resources more effectively.

One of the key advantages of our Methane Space Tracker is its cost-effectiveness. By leveraging publicly available satellite imagery, we eliminate the need for expensive proprietary satellite fleets or specialized airborne equipment. This democratization of access to high-resolution satellite data levels the playing field, enabling smaller organizations and government agencies with limited budgets to benefit from advanced methane detection capabilities. Furthermore, our solution operates on a subscription-based model, providing flexible pricing options tailored to the specific needs and budget constraints of our customers.

Our solution primarily serves two key groups: oil and gas companies and environmental regulatory agencies. Oil and gas companies, particularly those with extensive pipeline networks, face significant challenges in detecting and addressing methane leaks promptly. Traditional detection methods, such as manual inspections or periodic aerial surveys, are time-consuming, costly, and often ineffective at capturing leaks in real-time. Similarly, environmental regulatory agencies struggle to monitor methane emissions across vast geographical areas, leading to gaps in oversight and enforcement.

Our solution directly impacts these stakeholders by providing them with an advanced and cost-effective tool for methane detection and monitoring. By leveraging super-resolved satellite imagery and cutting-edge AI algorithms, we offer a rapid and accurate means of identifying methane leaks in near real-time. This enables oil and gas companies to proactively address leaks before they escalate, minimizing environmental damage and preventing economic losses. Additionally, environmental regulatory agencies gain access to comprehensive and timely data on methane emissions, empowering them to enforce regulations more effectively and hold polluters accountable.

Overall, our solution aims to fill a critical gap in current methane monitoring practices, ensuring that both industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies have the tools they need to mitigate environmental impact, protect public health, and promote sustainability. By providing timely and actionable insights, we strive to enhance operational efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future for all.

Our team at NextAV is uniquely positioned to deliver our solution to the target population due to our deep understanding of the challenges faced by oil and gas companies and environmental regulatory agencies. As co-founders, Hichem Mokni and Bilel Khlaifia, have extensive experience working in the geospatial industry and have witnessed firsthand the inefficiencies and limitations of existing methane monitoring practices. Additionally, our team includes experts in AI, remote sensing, and environmental science, enabling us to develop innovative and effective solutions tailored to the needs of our target population.

The idea of our product came from our engagement with local and international associations, including African Association for Geospatial Development AGEOS and Tunisian Talents United TTU. 

Additionally, we are fortunate to have Mr. Nejib Zaafrani as an advisor, bringing over 30 years of experience with Shell, including serving as Managing Director of Shell Middle East Division and the first elected CEO of Dubai Supreme Energy Council from 2010 to 2012. Mr. Zaafrani's invaluable insights and expertise further enhance our team's capabilities, ensuring that our solution is informed by the latest industry practices and global perspectives.

We have selected the Prototype phase for our product as it accurately reflects the current stage of development. At this stage, we have successfully built and tested an initial working version of our solution for methane detection. We have focused on validating our detection capabilities by inspecting a pipeline in southern Tunisia, which has provided valuable insights and feedback for further refinement.

Additionally, our participation as guest speakers at a side event during COP28 in the UAE showcased our product and its potential impact on methane emissions monitoring. This opportunity allowed us to engage with industry experts and stakeholders, further validating the relevance and importance of our solution in addressing environmental challenges.

Currently, we are actively engaged in pilot projects with two companies in our pipeline. These pilot projects serve as crucial testing grounds for our solution, allowing us to gather real-world data and refine our algorithms based on practical use cases. While we have not yet served a large number of customers or beneficiaries, our focus on pilot projects demonstrates our commitment to thorough testing and validation before scaling our solution further.

We are applying to Solve because we believe in the power of collaboration and innovation to address pressing global challenges. Specifically, we hope to leverage Solve's platform to overcome various barriers that we currently face in scaling our solution. These barriers include financial constraints, access to technical expertise, and navigating legal and cultural considerations in different regions.

Solve's network and resources can help us access additional funding opportunities beyond the initial grant, enabling us to further develop and scale our solution. Additionally, Solve's personalized support and cross-sector community can provide valuable guidance and mentorship as we navigate the complexities of bringing our solution to market.

Furthermore, our recent participation in the BRAIN 3.0 DeepTech Innovation Bootcamp in Cairo, Egypt, organized by Open Startup in collaboration with MIT Legatum Center and MIT Sloan School of Management, reaffirmed the importance of partnerships and mentorship from esteemed institutions like MIT. We were impressed by the caliber of MIT mentors we engaged with during the bootcamp, and we believe that continued collaboration with institutions like Solve and MIT will be instrumental in our success.

Our solution stands out for its innovative approach to addressing the problem of methane emissions detection. Unlike traditional methods that rely on costly private satellite fleets or airborne systems with limited coverage and long revisit times, we utilize advanced AI algorithms to enhance the resolution of public satellite imagery. By super-resolving this imagery, we achieve a short revisit time of 1 to 2 weeks, significantly reducing the time it takes to detect methane leaks. This approach not only improves the accuracy and speed of detection but also dramatically reduces costs, making methane monitoring accessible to a broader range of stakeholders, including oil and gas companies, governmental agencies, and NGOs.

Our solution has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts by democratizing access to high-resolution satellite imagery for methane detection. By lowering the barriers to entry, we can empower more organizations to monitor methane emissions effectively, leading to improved environmental outcomes and enhanced sustainability practices across industries. Moreover, our innovative approach could disrupt the market landscape by challenging the dominance of traditional detection methods and fostering greater collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the field of methane monitoring.

Our theory of change is based on the premise that by providing cost-effective, high-resolution satellite imagery for methane detection, we can facilitate timely and accurate identification of methane leaks. This, in turn, enables stakeholders to take swift corrective action to mitigate emissions and reduce environmental harm. By improving the accessibility and affordability of methane monitoring, we expect to see immediate outputs such as increased adoption of our solution by oil and gas companies and regulatory agencies. In the longer term, we anticipate outcomes such as reduced methane emissions, improved air quality, and enhanced environmental stewardship in communities and ecosystems affected by methane pollution.

Our impact goals center on achieving significant reductions in methane emissions and promoting environmental sustainability. Key indicators for measuring progress towards these goals include the number of methane leaks detected and mitigated using our solution, the percentage reduction in methane emissions observed over time, and the extent to which our solution contributes to broader climate action initiatives. We will also monitor indicators related to stakeholder engagement and adoption rates to assess the scalability and long-term viability of our solution.

Our solution leverages generative AI algorithms to enhance the resolution of satellite imagery for methane detection. This technology enables us to analyze vast amounts of public satellite data and identify methane leaks with exceptional accuracy and efficiency. By harnessing the power of AI, we can process large datasets quickly and cost-effectively, making it possible to monitor methane emissions on a global scale. Additionally, our solution incorporates cloud computing infrastructure to facilitate data processing and analysis, ensuring scalability and real-time monitoring capabilities.

Enhancing the Resolution of Satellite Imagery Using a Generative Model

One of our competitors: https://gamma.earth/

*) Team of 6 people including two co-founders, full time
*) 2 advisors

1 year

At NextAV, we are deeply committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture. Our leadership team reflects a range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, contributing to richer discussions and innovative problem-solving approaches. Currently, four of our team members are under thirty years old, demonstrating our dedication to providing opportunities for young professionals to thrive and grow within our organization.

While we have recently experienced some changes in our team composition, including the departure of two female team members, we remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting gender diversity and inclusion. We recognize the importance of ensuring equitable access to opportunities and advancement for all members of our team, regardless of gender or any other identity-based attribute.