Ideation Method for Satellite Image Applications with Three Axes Data Representation and Cause-Effect Chains

This study aims at proposing a method to support generating satellite image utilization ideas. Recently, expectations for potential values of satellite image utilization have been increasing. However, the use of satellite images is still limited to specific fields. One of the reasons is the difficulty in generating utilization ideas, but none of the ideation methods previously developed addresses the difficulties involved in creating satellite images application ideas. Therefore, the authors developed a method consisting of four sub methods; supporting clarification of what can be seen from satellite images, supporting extraction of what can be understood from satellite images, supporting identification of potential users and supporting consideration of potential users’ issues to be solved. To evaluate the method, the author conducted experiments of idea generation with the method. The result indicates that the method is effective to generate novel ideas with unobvious connection between satellite images and addressed issue.