Aspia Space: The science behind a new era of Earth observation
Aspia Space is pioneering a new way to understand the planet. By combining observational science, deep learning, and advanced analytics, Aspia transforms complex observation data into trusted, scalable insights about Earth – revealing what is happening, when, and why it matters. Built on research developed at the University of Hertfordshire by astrophysics professor Jim Geach, Aspia applies techniques originally designed to study the furthest galaxies to solve real-world challenges here on Earth.
From a Cornish pub to global innovation
Aspia began with a simple “what if?” conversation in a pub in Duloe, Cornwall. Astrophysics professor Jim Geach and his lifelong friend, a local farmer, wondered whether the same techniques used to study distant galaxies could be applied to understand Earth itself. That conversation sparked the idea behind Aspia: to bring the power of observational science down to Earth.
“Our goal is to help organisations see what’s happening on the ground, when it matters most, and why it matters to their business.”
Professor Jim Geach,
Chief Scientific Officer
Revealing change at every scale
Aspia doesn’t just provide static snapshots. Its patented ClearSky deep learning algorithm removes cloud cover to reveal continuous views of change over time. Models operate across multiple scales, from hyper-local intelligence down to 10 metres, to insights spanning entire countries over days, months, or years. Every insight is validated and designed for easy consumption. Customers simply provide the area and dates of interest, and Aspia delivers the rest – whether that’s data on the health of farmland in the US or information about flooding trends for the insurance and financial services sector.
Turning academic insight into practical solutions
The company’s foundations are deeply rooted in research developed at Herts, where Professor Jim Geach refined the observational techniques and analytical methods that now power Aspia’s technology. This academic expertise honed through decades of astrophysics research, provided the scientific backbone that enabled Aspia to reimagine how Earth observation data could be interpreted and applied. Today, that research continues to inform the company’s models and methodology, demonstrating the real-world impact of the University’s research in driving innovation, supporting industry, and shaping the future of land intelligence.
Professor Jim Geach
Chief Scientific Officer
Professor Jim Geach was a Royal Society University Research Fellow based in the Centre for Astrophysics Research, specialising in the field of galaxy formation and evolution. After gaining his Ph.D. from Durham University (2008), he held post-doctoral positions at Durham and McGill University in Montreal, where he held one of the first Banting Fellowships. His research focuses on the evolution of cold gas in galaxies, and the role of environment on galaxy evolution. Geach is regularly awarded observing time on major international telescopes, and he is one of the principle investigators of the VISTA-CFHT Stripe 82 Survey - one of the largest near-infrared extragalactic imaging surveys of its depth.