Satellite Earth observation to support sustainable rural development

• Operational integration of EO is critical to facilitating a transparent data system for sustainable rural development. Landsat and MODIS are the most routinely integrated satellite products leveraged at proxying socioeconomic conditions. Fusion capabilities among platforms in combination with other non-traditional underutilised. Transferability could be supported by complementarity platforms, but validation key. Temporal monitoring conditions using remains unresolved. Traditional survey census not sufficient measuring poverty progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Satellite Earth Observation (EO) novel source that has considerable potential augment To realise full as proxy conditions, end-users – both expert non-expert must able make right decisions about what use how it. In this review, we present an outline needs done operationalise, increase confidence in, development targets SDGs. We find approaches developed so far operate single spatial scale, point time, only one metric. Moreover, research been geographically focused across three main regions: West Africa, East Indian Subcontinent, which underscores need conduct into utility more regions, identify transferable proxies methods. A variety from different have such analyses, datasets proving utilised to-date. Meanwhile, there apparent underutilisation fusion disparate datasets, terms (i) RADAR data, (ii) geospatial population layers. five key areas requiring further encourage operational uptake conclude linking these technical implementational challenges identified review explicit recommendations. This contributes developing systems assemble high-quality required monitor spaces fine temporal scales.