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Bill Greer

@billfgreer.bsky.social
812 followers 402 following 40 posts

Building a dedicated satellite for humanitarian aid and disaster planning, mitigation, response, and recovery. Open data, GIS, Remote Sensing, and creating the best possible future.

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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
For the last year we've been building out the systems needed for a humanitarian satellite system, we jsut created this video to share with the public what that actually meansL youtu.be/Wx9y3gl4-Xo?...
youtu.be
Common Space Mission Overview
YouTube video by Common Space - Humanitarian Satellite
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alex pasternack @pasternack.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Thanks to @emilytripp.bsky.social, @godin.bsky.social, @obtusatum.bsky.social, @chrisosieck.bsky.social, Nathaniel Raymond at @hrl-yalesph.bsky.social, @slair.bsky.social, @evanhill.bsky.social, @billfgreer.bsky.social for their insights, and @sidhubaba.bsky.social & Betsy Morais for their edits
billfgreer.bsky.social
Bill Greer (@billfgreer.bsky.social)
Building a dedicated satellite for humanitarian aid and disaster planning, mitigation, response, and recovery. Open data, GIS, Remote Sensing, and creating the best possible future.
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alex pasternack @pasternack.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
New: U.S. commercial satellite imagery companies imposed an indefinite blackout over the Middle East, citing force protection But Iran has its own satellite imagery. I wrote about who's actually affected: The journalists & researchers trying to hold the US accountable: www.cjr.org/feature/blin...
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Robert Simmon @rsimmon.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Must-read perspective by @billfgreer.bsky.social on the censure of commercial satellite imagery of the Middle East. “The restriction doesn't eliminate the imagery; it just determines who gets to see it and who doesn't.” www.linkedin.com/pulse/view-h...
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Want to learn more about our plans for our Humanitarian Satellite Constellation, Join us tomorrow or Thursday! #humanitarian #emergencyresponse #satellites #space4good #remotesensing
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Just published this community needs assessment for an independent humanitarian satellite mission, I'd love your support in sharing this around, getting feedback on it, and any good vibes: www.commonspace.world/_files/ugd/1... #remotesensing #space #satellites #humanitarian #climate #conflict
commonspace.world
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The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 06/11/2025
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
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Radiant Earth @radiant.earth · 07/11/2025
We're honored to serve as fiscal sponsor for Common Space, as they work to build a high-res satellite constellation for humanitarian aid. If you use sat imagery for social good, fill out their survey to help shape their 🛰️ mission requirements @billfgreer.bsky.social docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
@commonspace.bsky.social Just won the Kluz Prize for Peace Tech! www.kluzprize.org/updates/from... We're humbled and completely stoked to have won this prize, which validates the need for the data, the mission we've set up to accomplish, but also highlights the massive challenges ahead! Lets Go!
kluzprize.org
Kluz Prize for PeaceTech
Unlocking the Power of PeaceTech
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
I was on a podcast talking about Common Space: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQof... I can't stand listening to myself speak, so let me know if i was any good.
youtube.com
Earth Observed | Episode 1: Bill Greer | How Nonprofit Satellites Could Change Everything
YouTube video by The Leadership Lab
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Common Space @commonspace.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Posting for reach because I dont know how the Blue Sky Algorithm works: The Moral Case for a Humanitarian Satellite: www.linkedin.com/pulse/moral-... It's about time that the space race included missions that actually help the people. #Remotesensing #CivilSociety #humanitarian #GIS
linkedin.com
A Moral Case for a Humanitarian Satellite: At what point does inaction become unconscionable?
What does it say about our world when we spend over $54 billion a year on defense and intelligence satellites to spy on each other - yet cannot dedicate even one satellite to saving lives? We take pic...
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Making the moral case for a humanitarian satellite: www.linkedin.com/pulse/moral-... #remotesensing #space #GIS #geospatial #GIS4Good
linkedin.com
A Moral Case for a Humanitarian Satellite: At what point does inaction become unconscionable?
What does it say about our world when we spend over $54 billion a year on defense and intelligence satellites to spy on each other - yet cannot dedicate even one satellite to saving lives? We take pic...
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Hi @bsky.app, At @commonspace.bsky.social we’re building a hi-res satellite for humanitarian aid & disaster response. If you use satellite imagery for good, help us validate the need by taking our survey: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... #Sat4Good #HumanitarianTech #geospatial #remotesensing
docs.google.com
A satellite for the people // demand assessment
Welcome! We're with Common Space, a nonprofit dedicated to catalyzing an independent, people-focused satellite mission. Read more about our thinking here > www.commonspace.world Thanks for taking the ...
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Went to Yemen, it was nice #socotra
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Bill McKay @mckay4senate.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
The New York Times is the first to put out comprehensive estimates on the cost of a year without U.S.A.I.D. and they’re higher than I thought: - 1.65 million deaths from AIDS - 500,000 from lack of vaccines - 550,000 from lack of food aid - 290,000 from malaria - 310,000 from TB
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Hell Yea! You're going to be amazing!
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Helen Mask 🔜Oddities Expo Denver 🔜Geek Girl Con @hemask.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
Life is about to make a big change for me. I will be leaving my full time graphic design job (that I have worked in for the past 14 years) in early April to vend and freelance full time. I am scared, but really desperate to make art. I love drawing.
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Arrrrrrrr you feeling better? 🏴‍☠️ Seriously though, heal up quick!
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
And like a silly goose i forgot to link to the article! www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2025...
thenewhumanitarian.org
The data streams that underpin humanitarian response are about to collapse
Famine warning, needs assessments, health data: Humanitarian action will be groping in the dark if vital data sources are allowed to crumble.
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Common Space (@commonspace.bsky.social ) is trying to create a new, consistent and reliable data stream (Satellite Imagery) to support and create a new baseline for humanitarian action. This article by @newhumanitarian.bsky.social calls out exactly why that mission is so important. Time to step up!
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Unclear if Maxar will be able to sell the imagery to Ukraine outside of the GEGD contract, but it would get complicated. Where should Ukraine get data now? Airbus - VHR data from 🇫🇷 Wyvern Space - 🇨🇦 Hyper spectral MDA - 🇨🇦 SAR SkyWatch - 🇨🇦 Imagery platform ICEYE - 🇫🇮 SAR Who did I miss?
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
ESA satellites can be used, but they are 10meter resolution as compared to Maxars 30cm Resolution... so very different use cases. If you want operational data you are generally going to need high resolution, higher revisit, and lower latency.
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
We’re making it happen… but the need and timing seems to be accelerating, EO data is an incredible value, and the barriers to entry have been lowering for a while now. The time is now!
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
3/ Please share your thoughts here! And if you're interested in how you can help, please read our concept notes on building a dedicated Humanitarian Satellite Constellation here: www.commonspace.world/_files/ugd/2...
commonspace.world
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
2/ The commercial market cannot be expected to act independently of its primary defense and intelligence customers. As a result, humanitarian organizations and independent actors cannot rely on the current systems, even when we know this data has the power to save lives.
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
One of the reasons we started Common Space was to make high-resolution optical data open & accessible for humanitarian aid. Right now, the commercial imagery market is dominated by defense & intelligence—which means access is limited, even when lives are at stake. kyivindependent.com/maxar-techno...
kyivindependent.com
Maxar Technologies reportedly restricts Ukraine's access to satellite imagery
Kyiv has relied on high-resolution satellite images for defense and strategic planning, tracking Russian troop movements, assessing battlefield conditions, and monitoring Russian infrastructure damage...
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
SatCamp Tickets are Live! Join us for SatCamp 2025: Resilience Through Uncharted Terrain! 📍 Boulder, CO | Sept 24-26 🎟️ Register now: satcamp.xyz Let’s shape the future of geospatial together! 🌍🔥 #SatCamp2025
satcamp.xyz
SatCamp 2025
SatCamp is a conference unlike anything you have ever attended. September 24-26, 2025. Boulder, Colorado, USA.
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
I dont normally re-read books, but just re-read these: The Death of Expertise by @radiofreetom.bsky.social The End is Just the Beginning by @peterzeihan.bsky.social Winner Takes All by @anandwrites.bsky.social Capital and Ideology by Thomas Piketty All Bangers, all relevant, and recommended.
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Things that know where they are can act on their location. Spatially enabled things have increased financial and functional utility. So far that has been people, with the hope that AI will get there soon, with #geoAI. Is spatial reasoning necessary for General AI?
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Talking about a vibrant Denver, while also returning that one block on Larimer back to car traffic. god forbid we have a part of town where we can actually walk around.
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
This is me… come hang out at the North51 Conference (www.n51.ca) in Canmore, Canada 🇨🇦 This conference has been one of the most consistently thought-provoking conferences in the geospatial schedule. Let me know if you’ll be there as well! @north51conference.bsky.social
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Dr. Brianna R. Pagán @briannaritapagan.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
When my house and community burned - where was the satellite information? A very raw blog post I am putting up so folks in the satellite, geospatial and tech fields can listen firsthand why I think we are failing the situations that need us the most. www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-o...
linkedin.com
When our community burned where was the satellite information?
Video of our home burned down taken by a neighbor after the Palisades Fire. I am writing this as a follow-up to my brief post last week showing a video of our home destroyed by the Palisades fire.
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Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · 10/01/2025
Satellite Imagery is used extensively in open-source investigative research, in this guide tech-fellow Agnes Cameron explains how some satellite images reveal more than the eye can see. www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...
bellingcat.com
A Beginner’s Guide to Seeing More With Satellite Imagery
Multispectral satellite images can reveal useful information about the world, such as mining activity and changes in vegetation.
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Doug Johnson 🇨🇦 @smikooman.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Maxar satellite imaging captured the destruction of the Los Angeles fires. In Altadena, California, entire neighbourhood blocks were completely burned (l). Shortwave infrared imagery is blended into the (r) image showing the hundreds of fires that consumed the community.
Satellite image of the destruction that occurred in one neighbourhood comparing January 6th and January 8th 2025SWIR thermal emissions from fires and penetrate smoke. 
Satellite image from January 8 ©2025 Maxar Technologies
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Business Insider @businessinsider.com · 09/01/2025
Satellite imagery shows houses burned down, roads closed, and the fires spreading across Los Angeles.
businessinsider.com
Satellite images show the scale of the destruction from LA's wildfires
Satellite imagery shows houses burned down, roads closed, and the fires spreading across Los Angeles.
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Happy New Years Everyone!
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
congrats!
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Awesome to see so many methane/carbon environmental detection & monitoring satellites out there - wasn't able to read the full article, but curious what the criticism was? casting doubt on the science? or the execution of reduction? Name and Shame vs. boots on the ground?
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Interesting to see the 2024 National Plan for Civil Earth Observations. Highlight for me was "Goal 1. Advance Science-Informed Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Activities" Lots of conversation about direction, but it all feels strategic, not tactical. www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
whitehouse.gov
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
I like the experimental projects... but, outcomes from Large Earth Models sounds great too. Follow your heart ❤️
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
spacenews.com/why-the-eart... Nice to see a lot of agreement on the problem, and some new solutions to how to fix it, i'm not sure i'm convinced of this approach, but love to see the focus on solutions.
spacenews.com
Why the Earth observation business model is flawed – and what must change
Despite its huge potential, the $6.8 billion Earth observation industry continues to struggle to establish a sustainable and scalable business model. New space companies are eager to democratize th…
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Landsat and Sentinel get most of the airtime (from what I see in the geo world) but important to remember that there are a bunch of other important scientific missions out there that the commercial world hasn’t really even started to go after, leading to huge gaps. www.nytimes.com/2024/05/03/c...
nytimes.com
What Happens When NASA Loses Eyes on Earth? We’re About to Find Out.
Three long-running satellites will soon be switched off, forcing scientists to figure out how to adjust their views of our changing planet.
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Yea, I think that’s what I’m wondering about… I’d heard a comment a while ago that the only 2 real competitive advantages left are cash and government influence. Elon has those tied up. Psyched about the new business models and tech, but need a viable on-ramp for these business to get going.
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Questions i've got for the next administration: How do new policies impact the NRO / NGA / DoD turfwar? Will this admin be better for the incumbentsor startups? The potential cuts to FEMA will be bad for US response everywhere, how can we as an industry help? www.disaster-ology.com/blog/2024/12...
disaster-ology.com
Project 2025 & Emergency Management: Direct Impacts to FEMA — Disasterology
If we have not met, here are my credentials: I have been involved with disaster work for nearly 20 years beginning with the recovery of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and the levee failure. I wor...
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Alright, Blue Sky - Curious about what you think the trends in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation will be over the next year. This article calls out some potential changes from the new administration for Space in general, but what about EO? - finance.yahoo.com/news/10-pred... Lets discuss.
finance.yahoo.com
10 predictions for the space economy in 2025
2025 could prove to be one of the most transformative years on record for the space economy. As we look ahead, here are 10 predictions for the space capital markets in 2025.
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Ben (DrTruffleMaps) Tuttle @bentuttle.com · 21/11/2024
Just registered for #GeospatialRiskSummit looking forward to an amazing discussion. Hope to see you there! geospatialrisk.com
geospatialrisk.com
Home | Geospatial Risk
Geospatial Risk Summit How does the private sector approach geospatial in risk management? Hear from industry leaders in finance, insurance, energy, healthcare, and supply chain. Learn how the commerc...
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Kiri Carini @kiricarini.com · 21/11/2024
Hi 👋 I'm the human behind the @developmentseed.org account. I do my best to share our work so that the things we are building and learning can be helpful and useful to as many people as possible. Give the DevSeed account a follow for me, and share our posts if you find them useful. 🚀
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Agreed, nice simple interface showing data over time... measurements and quantification of the problem. #carbonmapper #remotesensing
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Bill Greer @billfgreer.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
So rad seeing CarbonMapper (data.carbonmapper.org) show off its data to the world... CO2 emissions globally, delivered everywhere. Check it out.
data.carbonmapper.org
Dashboard | Carbon Mapper
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