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Japan was one of the early entrants into the remote sensing industry with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) investing in Earth observation research as far back as the 1970s.

It’s only been in the past few decades, however, that the remote sensing community has really started to grow. Maxar’s Japan-based team members have played a critical role in that growth, lending their time and expertise to help mentor talented students and broaden awareness of the value of geographic information system (GIS) careers.

Most recently, Maxar welcomed 12 students from the Isesaki City Yotsuba Gakuen Secondary School as part of a “Career Discovery Day” experience in late March. These students, who were interested in learning more about the remote sensing industry, visited Maxar’s Tokyo office and listened to presentations about the company, the work we do and the impact of GIS. Students had many questions during the visit, including asking for a definition of Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) and more details on advancements in satellite imaging resolution and analytics.

Hiroyuki Takeda, Senior Regional Sales Manager, has been deeply involved in growing the industry since starting his career at the Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan in the late 1990s. Hiro has long been involved in two of the main academic societies in the country—the Remote Sensing Society of Japan and the Japan Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Over the years, he’s taken on various leadership roles in these organizations, and he regularly volunteers his time to mentor students and early-stage professionals through various society initiatives.

Maxar’s involvement in building the remote sensing community reflects its strong presence in the market. Maxar has served customers in Japan across both the government and commercial sectors for more than a decade.