The Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology (MCAST) held a seminar on campus in Paola, to present the progress and results of the STREAM project.

The STREAM project is an MCST Space Research Fund project intended to bring satellite earth observations closer to users by providing data on demand with access through dedicated downstream services over smartphones and iPads. It takes advantage of the technology step shift in the value addition chain of data, transforming data into information, knowledge, and intelligence, providing sophisticated user experiences online, with faster delivery and service elaborations on a wider range of more affordable smart mass media like smartphones, tablets, and other wireless devices.

The launch of a data service on smartphones which revolutionizes data access, easy and fast even for non-professionals was announced during the seminar. Moreover,  as part of the project, a prototype digital platform to serve local stakeholders, operators, economic endeavours, and general users with specific innovative applications to aid, optimise, empower, and enhance their activities, operations, and products was launched.

Speaking during the seminar, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research, and Innovation Hon. Keith Azzopardi Tanti said, “This seminar represents a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance research and innovation. The STREAM project is truly innovative since it readily makes data easily accessible to diverse stakeholders. The STREAM project showcases, the power of collaboration between MCAST and other local SMEs. Projects like STREAM turn challenges into opportunities and ensure sustainable development for the benefit of our society.”

STREAM is mainly intended to enhance the level of access and application of space data with local users, including the citizen level, to facilitate the integration of such data into daily endeavors by operators and responsible entities, for decision-making, higher efficiency, and performance at reduced risks, delivering tailor-made and added value services needed at different scales, disciplines, and levels of society.

Project leader and MCAST senior lecturer Professor Aldo Drago explained, “The STREAM Project is intended to popularise the use of satellite data by making it widely available. The project is now starting to deliver marine data services needed by key stakeholders and supporting sustainable development and climate change monitoring at the local scale. The seminar is a sequel to the project launch last year, and we shall strive again to deliver an impactful event to further boost the use of satellite data in many applications serving society.”

The STREAM project is led by the scientific and technical inputs from the newly established oceanography section at the Institute of Engineering and Transport (IET) at the College. MCAST Director at the IET Ing Stephen Sammut said, “It is a pleasure to see academics from the IET Institute engage in such an innovative scientific project. Our research at MCAST needs to be accessable to the wider community and this project enhances this facet through the provision of personalised data on a smart phone to the user.”

The project also aspires to network key local players in satellite research to exploit synergies, capitalise on past project deliverables and generate new larger joint efforts. This forms part of the national R&I strategy to enhance access to and sharing of space-based data in favour of exploitation by private and, public initiatives, through specific services and applications, in support of notable social and economic benefits.

STREAM is supported by MST Audiovisual Ltd and THINK Design Ltd.