About Us

RSAC was established in 1986 to provide specialist services to developers and users of Earth Observation. The company continues to develop expertise in the use of remotely sensed data for land applications worldwide. In addition to image processing and analysis, this expertise encompasses GIS, field data collection and development of customised applications and services.

We apply computer-based satellite image analysis techniques operationally, maintaining a leading edge in this developing field through active participation in UK, European Union (EU) and European Space Agency (ESA) projects. The company is experienced with a range of satellite imagery as well as airborne data and aerial photographs, and specialises in developing methods for the effective use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, alone or in conjunction with optical imagery, for agricultural applications.

The company is constantly seeking to develop operational uses for remote sensing data where the unique capabilities and cost advantages of aerial and satellite imagery find practical application. Our work is supported by in-house development of customised systems that incorporate remote sensing, GIS, GPS and database technologies. This approach has underpinned the success of RSAC and other organisations to whom systems have been supplied.

We provide ESA with significant scientific and technical support for exploitation activities and campaign management. Since 2002, RSAC has provided daily acquisition planning for the CHRIS instrument onboard ESA's Proba-1 satellite mission.

RSAC is a privately owned limited company registered in England. The company is a member of BARSC (the British Association of Remote Sensing Companies), reflecting the company's objective of converting promising research in remote sensing into practical use on an industrial scale.

RSAC has a dynamic team composed of:

  • Staff located at our main office in Hampshire;
  • Staff working on extended secondment at ESA-ESRIN in Italy;
  • Associate staff on short-term, project-specific contracts.

All core staff have a higher education background and considerable experience in all aspects of geo-spatial information and interpretation. As the company's work is mainly project based, a skills database of remote sensing scientists and land applications specialists is maintained and short-term contracts regularly offered.


Mike Wooding


Mike Wooding - Founder and Managing Director
Mike has over 30 years’ experience of agricultural and land use mapping applications of optical and radar remote sensing. Mike currently leads the production of CEH Land Cover® plus Crop Map. He was the Project Manager for the Remote Sensing Control of Agricultural Subsidy Payments in England from 1996, and in Wales from 2006 and was Technical Manager for a project to create the England Rural Land Register. As Principal Consultant and Managing Director of RSAC, Mike has been involved in leading a large number of technical support and research and application development projects in the UK and Worldwide with UK Agencies, ESA and the EC.

Andrew Batts


Andrew Batts - Technical Director
Andrew's experience of image processing, GIS and management of remote sensing activity started in 1985. He has set up and now maintains RSAC's growing network of computing facilities. In addition, he has developed several customised GIS applications including an "Air Photo Retrieval, Catalogue and Geometric Correction System" and a module for the Quality Control checking of both satellite imagery and air photos. Most recently he has ported CROPINS to ArcView on PC which has been used for intensive operational agricultural monitoring in the UK. This system includes modules for extraction of multi-temporal SAR backscatter statistics and classification of land parcels.

Tim Pearson


Tim Pearson - Senior Consultant
Tim has worked in Earth Observation since 2000, with a focus on the exploitation of SAR and optical data for land applications, and provision of technical and scientific support. He manages a range of project activities for RSAC, including recent successes REDD-FLAME, an FP7 project to develop a system for the early detection of deforestation using radar data. Tim spent five years working in the Exploitation and Services Division of the Science, Applications and Future Technologies Department of ESA in ESRIN, Italy, where he provided expert support for a broad range of research and application development projects. He continues to work with ESA on the planning and execution of experimental campaigns in support of current and future satellite missions