Advancing Sustainable Development Goals through Earth Observation Satellite Data: Current Insights and Future Directions

Abstract

The United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to address critical global challenges by promoting economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Earth observation (EO) satellites have become essential tools in advancing these goals, providing high-frequency, extensive data for tracking environmental changes, assessing ecosystem health, and supporting resource management. By analyzing publication trends and employing the remote sensing impact factor, the study reveals substantial growth in EO data applications and highlights key satellites, such as Landsat, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, and Sentinel, in monitoring climate action (SDG 13), biodiversity conservation (SDG 15), and other SDGs. It also explores the potential of EO data to foster synergies between SDGs by enabling shared data applications across interconnected goals. For example, Sentinel data support both marine ecosystem monitoring (SDG 14) and climate adaptation (SDG 13), while Landsat data contribute to food security (SDG 2) and water resource management (SDG 6). Additionally, the integration of big Earth data cloud platforms, such as Google Earth Engine, has facilitated data processing and analysis, underscoring the importance of open data policies and cross-platform collaboration for advancing SDG research. Despite existing challenges in data standardization, accessibility, and cross-platform compatibility, advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and collaborative frameworks are anticipated to optimize EO data use. This research underscores the essential role of EO satellite data in achieving the SDGs, providing a foundation for integrated, sustainable global development.