SaSCA | ESA Space Solutions

Objectives of the service

Current construction monitoring depends on geodetic surveys and drone or handheld LiDAR, requiring on-site visits, permits, and specialized personnel—leading to high costs and CO₂ emissions. SaSCA offers a scalable, remote alternative using open-access EO data (e.g., Sentinel) and commercial imagery to monitor construction progress without fieldwork. It provides sufficient accuracy for project tracking at lower cost, integrating with 3D/4D/5D digital twin models.

Designed for large-scale industrial and logistics developments, SaSCA automates weekly progress reporting, detects misalignments, and supports decision-making by identifying deviations early. It reduces manual checks, enables timely rescheduling, and provides independent, time-stamped records for legal use. Unlike traditional methods, SaSCA eliminates the need for drone permits and surveyor supervision, offering a scalable solution compatible with CDEs and advanced BIM platforms. Services are customizable, with basic tiers using Sentinel data and premium tiers incorporating commercial EO sources. Customers receive weekly updates including BIM model status and dashboard metrics. The customer will be provided with weekly progress reports with 4D/5D BIM model update about construction status and a dashboard update

SaSCA offers a modular service portfolio with basic and premium tiers, enabling scalable monitoring based on customer needs and available EO data

Users and their needs

SaSCA is useful to industrial and logistics real estate developers and construction supervisors planning large scale (>10 ha) development projects.

Developers and supervisors can

enhance deviation detection by increasing the frequency of construction monitoring
eliminate the need for frequent on-site visits and save project costs using satellite data integrated with cloud based digital twin Platform
have independent verification
autonomous verification, improving issue detection
receive weekly or daily monitoring updates

Service/ system concept

SaSCA offers a modular service portfolio with basic and premium tiers, enabling scalable monitoring based on customer needs and available EO data:

Basic construction monitoring (relies on open satellite data – mostly relies on technology that has to be tested in the feasibility study)
- Infrastructure installation (built/not built, timestamp)
- Material Stockpile (existing/not existing, change detection, timestamp, 100m2 resolution)
- Earthwork (built/not built, change detection, timestamp, 100m2 resolution)
- Slab progress (built/not built, change detection, timestamp, 100m2 resolution)
- Roofing completion (built/not built, 100m2 resolution)
- Column construction phase recognition
Premium construction monitoring (relies on open and commercial satellite data – mostly relies on technology that must be tested in the feasibility study)
- Infrastructure installation (built/not built, misalignment detection, timestamp)
- Material Stockpile Monitoring (medium sophistication)
- Earthwork and Landscaping (medium sophistication, misalignment detection)
- Foundation progress (medium sophistication, misalignment detection)
- Slab (built/not built, at least 5x5 m slab, at least 1 m misalignment can be detected)
- Roofing (built/not built, at least 5x5 m roof, at least 1 m misalignment can be detected)
- Column construction phase recognition

Space Added Value

SaSCA leverages Satellite Earth Observation (SatEO) to deliver scalable, remote construction progress monitoring. By reducing the reliance on manual site visits, drone permits, or ground surveys, the service enables cost-effective, weather-independent, and regionally scalable updates, particularly suited for large or multi-site projects. Integration with BIM-based digital twins further enhances interpretability and value.