We have fully implemented and operationalised our API, viewer and calculation system. DifSat, the patented core of our soil moisture algorithm, has been updated, improved and sped-up considerably. The DamSat operational satellite database has been enhanced and made suitable for a number of cloud services. Thus our system is now extremely scalable and operational costs have been reduced considerably. The system is now serving a number of clients operationally and the API has proven to be stable and scalable. The viewer is operational and is used by all clients. After moving our service to the Google Cloud Computing Engine we are now able to supply a full service to our clients at a low yearly fee. Furthermore our DifSat algorithm that delivers the high resolution in the VanderSat data has been patented.
In the first 9 months (phase 1) the main focus was on the execution of several customized Beta Programs; different test site locations in Europe, Canada and Brazil were defined, and a large database with ground data was compiled. The VanderSat satellite database was set up for the test site locations, and VanderSat satellite data products were then extensively tested using the scientific validation standards as demonstrated in several scientific publications. Besides showing the added value of VanderSat data for disease modeling, a goal of these-Beta Programs was to establish the requirements for integration of our data in several disease and crop yield modeling frameworks. The overall requirements did not differ much for our key customers, and based on these requirements the VanderSat Data Service was adjusted to ensure an optimal data integration. In Phase 2, covering the last 9 months of the project, the focus shifted to scaling up the VanderSat technology with a larger user base. The was reflected by several operational data service contracts that were set up with new customers, and the scaling with existing ones.
VanderSat has used the last nine months to test its go-to-market model and has started replicating this model across all verticals with dedicated teams for each of the market segments. We have launched a new website with a clear message at
https://www.vandersat.com(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie). Our website gets a steady 60 visitors per day (coming from 15 at the start of the project). When we do active PR our traffic reaches 300-500 per day. Our PR and marketing activities have been very successful which is demonstrated through the fact that so much of our traffic comes from social media and referrals. With 2523 external links (other websites linking to our website), over 17.000 individual people visiting our website and close to 27.000 sessions we are growing our online presence at a rapid pace.
