Forests and agricultural fields will now be monitored directly from space. Russia is launching a satellite agroecology monitoring project that will make it possible to obtain precise data on the state of nature and crops without on-site visits. The experiment is called "Agroecology. Satellite Monitoring of the Conditions of the Forest Fund and Agricultural Crops." Its launch was announced at the "Geoscan Technologies" conference.
A key element of the project will be the small satellite "Lobachevsky" in the CubeSat 16U format, which is part of the Space-pi project constellation. Its main task is to collect satellite spectral data for remote sensing of the Earth. With its help, scientists will be able to track the condition of agricultural crops and the forest fund.
For this purpose, the satellite uses a hyperspectral short-wave infrared camera and multispectral equipment. Such technologies make it possible to obtain highly accurate data on the condition of vegetation and soils.
Particular emphasis is placed on data processing. The project plans to develop satellite image analysis technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence.
In addition, the consortium will build a scientific and educational foundation in the field of working with space data and spatial analytics.
The project is expected to improve the efficiency of monitoring natural and agricultural territories, expand the use of space technologies in the agro-industrial complex, and create new opportunities for research and specialist training.
The project is being implemented by a scientific and educational consortium that includes leading Russian universities and the company "Geoscan." Among the participants are Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Alekseev Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University, Nizhny Novgorod Agrotechnological University, Orel and Kuban Agrarian Universities, the State University of Land Use Planning, Korolev Samara University, and Saint Petersburg Agrarian University.
The consortium remains open, and new scientific and educational organizations may join it in the future.
The "Lobachevsky" satellite itself was launched into orbit on December 28, 2025. It was originally intended for agroecological research in different regions of the country.