Google Skybox For Good gives non-profits access to real-time satellite imagery

Real-time satellite imagery company Skybox, which was acquired by Google back in August, announced today that it will be making imagery available for some charities.

In a blog post today, the company said that it will contribute imagery to projects that “save lives, protect the environment, promote education, and positively impact humanity.”

One example where this kind of imagery would be useful is a organization that is monitoring forestry removal by a mining project; the data provided allows Appalachian Voices to monitor the expansion of the mine which is rapidly expanding and threatening the community.

During the beta program, Skybox will select a small number of organizations to receive imagery under Creative Commons and the company hopes to expand the program in the future.

Skybox said that as part of Google the company is “inspired by the opportunity to up our game and make a difference at a much larger scale.”