Digital security fundamental for better and faster decision-making

As Vietnam advances its digital government agenda, geospatial intelligence is becoming a core tool for public planning. Abhay Swarup Mittal, CEO of Singaporean earth-observation imagery provider Aetosky, gave VIR's Nguyen Huong insights on how AI-driven earth-observation systems can help turn policy ambition into operational capability.

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Vietnam has set ambitious goals for AI and big data under its digital government roadmap to 2030. From your experience, what are the main challenges in turning these goals into real, working geospatial and AI systems?

The strategic direction set by the government is very strong and closely aligned with global trends. Across many countries, geospatial data has moved beyond being a supporting layer of infrastructure. It has become a daily operational requirement for governments.

Geospatial data is used constantly by transport systems, delivery platforms, urban services, and many other applications. This widespread usage creates a need for continuously updated data. Satellite and space-based data are the most effective tools for meeting this requirement, as they provide up-to-date information on changes to buildings, land, and infrastructure.

However, extracting value from satellite data requires more than access to imagery. A robust infrastructure is needed to process and analyse large volumes of data. Equally important is a regulatory framework that allows such data to be used securely and responsibly.

Vietnam already has a strong talent base, particularly in AI and software development, which can support automation and large-scale data processing. The remaining challenge lies in governance, putting in place the right infrastructure, standards and regulatory environment.

Climate risks such as flooding and rapid urban growth are major concerns for Vietnam. How are government agencies using satellites and geospatial data today, and how has this changed in recent years?

Five years ago, monitoring floods and other climate-related events was far more difficult. Climate change has increased both the frequency and unpredictability of such events, while access to satellite data was often delayed by several days. In disaster situations, that delay significantly limited the ability to respond effectively.