Space research institute tests ‘Iran Zamin,’ an Iranian Google Earth alternative

The Iranian Space Research Center is testing a geospatial platform called Iran Zamin that its acting head, Nader Makari, describes as an Iranian version of Google Earth. Speaking at a press conference, Makari said the service would be unveiled soon, with separate public and commercial editions.

The public edition is intended to give users access to geospatial and satellite data. The commercial version would also offer tools for processing satellite data, extending the project beyond viewing imagery to working with it.

Makari cited interruptions to Google Earth access as a reason for developing the platform. His remarks did not specify what caused those interruptions. The announcement did not give a firm unveiling date, pricing, geographic coverage, imagery sources or image resolution, leaving the extent of the service's capabilities unclear.

A broader push into space applications

The center is also developing Raz, a platform intended to bring together its remote-sensing applications and provide researchers with access to data. Makari said researchers would be able to develop artificial-intelligence algorithms on the platform. Remote sensing involves gathering information about the Earth's surface from a distance, including through satellite observations.

Makari also announced that a separate platform for economic analysis of the space industry had begun operating.

These projects accompany a shift in the center's approach from developing technology alone toward applications that meet the needs of other organizations, Makari said. The center has begun restructuring and is working toward establishing an applications research institute.

It is also developing two 3D simulation programs intended to reduce the risk of space-mission failures. Makari said the software could be used to evaluate performance before launch and assist mission-control teams afterward.