One new start-up has created what could be called a “one-stop-shop” for satellite imagery and has ideas as to how mining companies could put them to use in unexpected ways.

Sydney-based Arlula has access to 17 satellites and 34 unique data collection sensors, such as cameras and radars, and can provide a “library of data” that is regularly updated.

It is currently providing its data to clients in the agriculture, real estate and environmental consulting spaces, but wants to tap the mining sector as well.

Miners already use satellite imagery, but it’s more likely to be from one or two satellites rather than a whole bunch.

CEO Sebastian Chaoui told Stockhead satellite data can show everything from the volume of stockpiles on the ground to potential pollution and runoff that miners need to keep on top of.

“There are also companies that exist today that we have a quite close relationship with that look for potential hazards, like cracks in dam walls from space or potential landslides,” he explained.

Arlula is also soon starting a trial to see if it can use its data to predict malaria outbreaks.

Basically, the trial involves taking satellite data that looks for variables in things like weather, humidity, temperature, water stillness and quality and then pairs that to ideal environments in which mosquitoes that might be carrying malaria would breed.

Arlula is looking at setting up a text message alert service and has partnered with telco Mobimedia, which has various locations in the Pacific, and Melbourne-based data analytics firm Northraine.

While initially the service would be aimed at health officials and non-governmental organisations, Mr Chaoui said there’s no reason why miners and other companies couldn’t eventually use the service as well to monitor health conditions on remote sites.

Arlula has been in talks with major miners like Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) and BHP (ASX:BHP) and is also investigating the interest from the junior end of the sector.

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