China’s Beijing-1 imagery satellite, launched in October, has begun operations, Xinhua reported June 8.

The microsatellite was built by England’s Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. for Beijing Landview Mapping Information Technology Ltd. The spacecraft can collect black-and-white imagery with a ground resolution of 4 meters and color imagery with a resolution of 32 meters.

The data will be used to survey land resources, for geological research and water resources research, to monitor floods and winter wheat, and by urban planners and archaeologists. Government departments also will use the satellite during emergencies.