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PEGASUS : BUSINESS MODEL FOR A STRATOSPHERIC 
LONG ENDURANCE UAV SYSTEM FOR REMOTE SENSING 
D. Fransaer , N. Lewyckyj, F. Vanderhaegehen, J. Everaerts 
Vito, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Boeretang 200, BE-2400 Mol, Belgium — (dirk.fransaer, 
nicolas. lewyckyj, francis.vanderhaeghen, jurgen.everaerts)@vito.be 
KEY WORDS: Database, Decision Support, Information, Internet, Standards, Economy 
ABSTRACT: 
The PEGASUS (Policy support for European Governments by Acquisition of information from Satellite and UAV borne Sensors) 
project’s aim is to provide an economic way to gather high resolution data (visual, IR and thermal imagery, laser altimetry, SAR, 
atmospheric measurements) from a high altitude platform. Because the platform will not be manned, it will be able to operate 
continuously for weeks or months. : 
The paper describes the business model for the data acquisition to information delivery flow. During the system's operation, it will 
acquire data for storage in a centralised database, where it's conformance to national and international standards is certified. The 
information derived from the data will be made available to the public via Internet. In case of emergency situations, the system will 
be able to provide data in near real-time, even in adverse weather. 
Special attention is paid to evaluate the economic viability of the project and the remote sensing applications for which information 
can be provided. 
RÉSUMÉ: 
Le projet PEGASUS (Policy support for European Governments by Acquisition of information from Satellite and UAV borne 
Sensors) a pour but de fournir des images à trés haute résolution spatiale au moyen de capteurs aéroportés (visible, infrarouge, 
thermique, LIDAR, SAR et mesures atmosphériques) placés sur une plateforme opérant à très haute altitude. De par le caractère 
inhabité de la plateforme, celle-ci pourra acquérir les données requises de façon continue durant des semaines, voir des mois. 
Le présent article décrit le plan de gestion du projet (business model), et ce de l’instant ou acquisition des données à lieu jusqu’à la 
livraison de l’information utile aux utilisateurs. Durant son fonctionnement, le système acquerra les données qui seront par la suite 
archivées dans une banque de données centrale. Celle-ci sera conforme aux standard nationaux et internationaux en matière de 
certification. Les informations dérivées de ces données seront mises à la disposition du public via Internet. Dans le cas de situation 
d'urgence (catastrophe naturelles et autres) le système sera habilité à fournir des données quasiment en temps réel, et ce même lors 
de conditions météorologiques défavorables. Une attention spéciale est fournie quant à l’évaluation de la viabilité économique du 
projet ainsi qu’aux diverses applications de télédétection pour lesquelles le système présenté est utile. 
This amount is estimated to 1 790 M$ (1 987 ME) for 2006, 
with 1 152 M$ (1 279 M€) for Governmental institutions, 605 
1. INTRODUCTION 
A thorough analysis of the present EQ market and the foreseen 
user requirements points to the need for data with a high update 
rate, high accuracy and high ground resolution but at an 
affordable, i.e. low cost. This would require the merger of the 
advantages of both aerial and satellite data without their 
respective setbacks. It is believed that High Altitude Long 
Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (HALE UAV) can fulfill 
this promise and thereby grab the foreseen growth in the EO 
market. 
2. REMOTE SENSING MARKET 
2.1 Market evolution 
The market outlook for commercial remote sensing (RS) data in 
Europe is that it will grow annually with a rate of nearly 9% 
(Frost, 2001). In 2001 the revenues from the total European 
Commercial remote sensing data end-user market, both satellite 
and aerial recordings, was estimated at 1 170 M$ (1 298 ME). 
  
Corresponding author 
MS (672 ME) for the Industry and about 33 MS (37 ME) for 
other consumers (Frost, 2001). 
2.2 Users 
The users of these data are well known to the remote sensing 
community and consist primarily of the traditional mapping 
agencies. However recent initiatives jointly undertaken by the 
EU and ESA Le. GMES (Global Monitoring of the 
Environment and Security) might add a new and potential 
important player to the market. These organisations will thereby 
also promote the use of RS data by the different users. 
Moreover, Homeland Security in its many forms will also 
contribute to the market growth in the USA. 
2.3 Evolution of the requirements 
To capture this growing market (in revenue and in users) there 
is a need for data with a higher update rate, a higher resolution 
and a higher accuracy. This is evident from the joint ASPRS-