GISTDA’s National Space Data Center: Leveraging Space Data Utilization in Thailand

In the modern era, data from space plays a crucial role in facilitating and driving the daily lives of many people, as well as providing information for the management of various agencies at all levels. It can be said that space is no longer a distant concept.

GISTDA, or the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization), as Thailand's space technology agency, oversees the operations of the Thaichote and THEOS-2 satellites. This includes everything from imaging planning, satellite control, signal reception, and data production to quality control of satellite imagery. Furthermore, GISTDA procures data from various other satellites to create value and opportunities for people in the country to access this information. Consequently, the NSDC (National Space Data Center) was established to provide space data services to everyone.

When speaking of data from space, the most evident example is satellite imagery. This includes data from the Thaichote and THEOS-2 satellites, which are Thailand's high-resolution Earth observation satellites capable of distinguishing objects on the Earth's surface larger than 50 centimeters. These satellites continuously capture images over Thailand to support various applications.

In addition to satellite imagery in the visible light spectrum, the NSDC also possesses other types of space data. This includes data from satellites equipped with radar imaging systems, known as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), from partner satellite networks. These systems have the capability to penetrate clouds and fog, ensuring continuous data collection for the study and survey of Thailand during the rainy season. Other data includes land parcel boundaries and air quality information, integrated with monitoring stations from the Pollution Control Department and processed through geo-informatic analysis.

The services of the NSDC also extend to systems that monitor phenomena above the Earth's surface, such as the Space Traffic Management system (ZIRCON) and the Space Weather Forecast system (JASPER). It also includes platforms for data analysis and processing, namely AWAGAD, which provides satellite imagery, and SPHERE, which specializes in geo-informatics services. These platforms enable users to perform in-depth analysis and further processing, significantly enhancing the efficiency of agencies at both policy and operational levels.

Recently, NSDC's data has gained international recognition. From June 23-27, 2025, Mrs. Kandasri Limpakom, Deputy Executive Director of GISTDA, representing Thailand, participated in a discussion on the importance of utilizing data from the Thaichote and THEOS-2 satellites—a part of the data services offered by the National Space Data Center—at the Living Planet Symposium. This event, one of the largest Earth observation conferences, was organized by the European Space Agency (ESA), reaffirming the quality of the data available through the NSDC.

The National Space Data Center's database is a critical national infrastructure that not only stores and collects satellite data but also provides information to support operations. It serves as a learning resource, a platform for demonstrating further development, and a tool for policy-level decision-making. It offers benefits to the agricultural sector by reducing costs and increasing income for farmers. In disaster management, it aids in assessing damage and planning targeted relief for events like wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters. Furthermore, it contributes to efficient urban development with diverse data from Thai satellites and GISTDA's partners.

The NSDC is, therefore, a tool developed by GISTDA to bring the value and benefits of space to society. This aligns with the goal of upgrading Thailand's space industry infrastructure to promote and open opportunities for more agencies to participate in the space ecosystem. This, in turn, can generate economic value, enhance national innovation with advanced technology, and drive the Thai space sector forward sustainably. In the future, the NSDC aims to become a regional data hub, connecting research and development in space technology for organizations and agencies at an international level.

Currently, the NSDC is managed by the Space Mission, under the Satellite Operation Bureau at the Space Inspirium, Sriracha, Chonburi.