Satellite Technologies are proving to be game changers in our mission towards fighting climate change, monitoring natural hazards, adopting smart agricultural practices and in a myriad of other applications !

Arya Pratap Singh, our next pathbreaker, works as Machine Learning Researcher at Satsure Analytics, a satellite manufacturing company which is working on one of the India’s first edge computing missions.

Arya talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about the vast potential that is yet to be explored at the intersection of data science and remote sensing !

For students, space technologies are growing by leaps and bounds and so are the opportunities to leverage their capabilities. And don’t forget to cultivate your hobbies along with your career.

Arya,  Your background?

I am from a small town called Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. Since childhood, I wanted to be an astronaut, but due to lack of awareness and guidance I couldn’t be one. I was more into sports, until my mom gifted me a guitar when I was in 9th standard, and I learnt to play it. I wasn’t serious about my studies until Covid hit and I prepared for the IIRS-ISRO exam, got AIR 4. Then space science became my life and I found my passion. I am still a sportsperson and a professional guitarist (on weekends). 

What did you do for graduation/post graduation?

I studied BTech in Computer Science and then did my PGP (Postgraduate Diploma) from IIRS (Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)) in Spatial Data Science

It is a course that combines Remote Sensing with Data Science. Remote sensing is a field where we study how to analyze and process satellite data. Anything and everything that can be done from a satellite through its applications.

What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional career in Remote Sensing?

Since being an astronaut wasn’t a possibility, I thought the closest call would be studying about space using my existing knowledge of computer science.

I did an internship at Kathmandu Living Labs, where we mapped the entire city of Indore’s medical and healthcare facilities using open source platforms. That was my first exposure to spatial data and mapping.

I consider APJ Abdul Kalam, Srinivas Ramanujan, Alan Turing, Newton, John Nash as my role models.

How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path

I always wanted to study at the best institute in India, so I prepared for that

I did my BTech in CSE from Acropolis as that was the only option since I didn’t perform well in JEE. But IIRS was a game changer, and I got to work with the best scientists in the world. 

Beautiful Tomorrow is my NGO which works for problems focused on conservation and replenishment of environment, rain water harvesting installation, education for the poor etc.

How did you get your first break?

IIRS had made my profile so strong that wherever I applied, I was accepted. I had applied on my own to companies where there were overlapping interests.

I joined Satsure.

Satsure uses satellite data and provides solutions to Earth based commercial and social problems like crop monitoring for giving analysis of a farm to the banks so that they approve loans for farmers. This data is also used to monitor climate and large scale infrastructure etc.

What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?

Challenge 1: Social Media addiction– I deleted my accounts

Challenge 2: Overuse of phone – Asked my mom to take charge

Challenge 3 : Bad health –  Started exercising everyday

Where do you work now? 

I work at Satsure Analytics.

We are a satellite manufacturing company which is working on one of the India’s first edge computing mission. Edge computing is a technology which integrates computers in the satellite itself to give near real time analysis of the data.

I work on Earth based problems from Space.

What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills? 

Remote Sensing, Coding, Geospatial

How does your work benefit society? 

My work helps farmers get loan for the hard work they do.

Their farms are monitored from space over the span of “x” years, and we assess the actual cause of yield which tells us if the crop was grown well due to farmer’s efforts or not, or vice versa, if the yield was less due to climatic factors or lack of good practices from the farmer.

Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!

Got awarded by DST in a competition organized by DST which was held nationwide.  

Your advice to students based on your experience?

Focus on studies/ your passion as early as possible. Life becomes very smooth

Future Plans?

I don’t plan my future at all.