With much discussion around OSINT (open-source intelligence), IMINT (image intelligence), and SIGINT (signals intelligence) advances – and their fusion to gain the most complete understanding of threats in the multi-domain battle space, it made sense to speak with one of Europe’s thought leaders on data fusion innovations.
The following is the result of a conversation with Tim Van Renterghem, CEO and Founder of EMDYN’s bespoke geospatial intelligence fusion platform which draws together location intelligence data from an array of sources in a single application. This provides insights that help keep people safe and systems fully secure.
ESD: How does EMDYN uniquely help defence and security forces detect, process and understand threats?
Van Renterghem: EMDYN’s geospatial intelligence fusion Platform empowers professional analysts by transforming complex data into actionable intelligence, enabling faster, smarter decision making. Designed to overcome intelligence silos, EMDYN Platform integrates multiple data sources into a single, intuitive interface – connecting dots, uncovering hidden relationships and reducing blind spots. Built for the security and defence industry, it answers critical questions – who, what, when and where – through powerful location intelligence and advanced AI integration. EMDYN is committed to helping build a safer, more stable world through intelligent, collaborative analysis.
ESD: Why does EMDYN feel it is able to do this to a high level of competence and capability?
Van Renterghem: EMDYN has developed a highly advanced data intelligence tool that fuses vast amounts of geospatial and intelligence data from multiple sources – including OSINT, IMINT, SIGINT and more – at exceptional speed. EMDYN Platform is built to handle big data at scale, whether in near real-time or from historical archives, without overwhelming analysts. Its intuitive analytics uncover actionable insights quickly, revealing key relationships between people, places and organisations.
Unlike traditional systems that require dedicated data science teams, EMDYN Platform is designed for direct use by analysts, empowering them with high-speed GPU-powered analytics, secure collaboration tools and seamless integration with both commercial and classified data sources. EMDYN Platform also includes advanced role-based access control, entity and case management plus full support for streaming sensor data and satellite tasking. With its out-of-the-box capabilities, cross-system interoperability and intelligent data processing, EMDYN ensures users can act on intelligence faster, more accurately, and more securely, demonstrating a high level of operational competence and technological capability.
ESD: How do EMDYN solutions – and principles behind the technology underpinning the solutions – differ depending on deployment? i.e., naval, maritime, urban, multi-domain battlefield?
Van Renterghem: One of the many benefits of EMDYN Platform to our clients is that it is a one-stop solution which can be deployed in all these different situations. In that respect we see no difference in how we utilise the solution to meet the requirements of variable battlespaces; indeed, they are all likely to be multi-domain, whether on land or sea, in air or space.
ESD: Where will you find EMDYN security or defence solutions deployed?
Van Renterghem: Client confidentiality is paramount within EMDYN and we are not at liberty to name specific countries or organisations using our solutions. That said, EMDYN Platform has been deployed across many regions from Western Europe to Eastern Asia, covering multiple domains. It is utilised to help safeguard a country’s borders or critical infrastructure, monitor conflicts or threatening actions by hostile players and plan response options to escalating situations, whether manmade or caused by natural disasters. EMDYN solutions are used by professional analyst communities across sectors where actionable intelligence is absolutely critical.
ESD: Has EMDYN Platform benefitted from collaboration with users in the field?
Van Renterghem: EMDYN’s commitment to continuous improvement through close collaboration with our users has brought about real benefits. We actively encourage feedback from the field and many of EMDYN Platform’s enhancements have come directly from real-world user input. Our intelligence analysts work hand-in-hand with client teams to understand how our Platform is being used, what is working well and where improvements could possibly be made. These insights are quickly relayed to our product development team, allowing us to implement updates and new features with impressive speed.
From time to time, challenges identified during deployments, such as unique workflow requirements or specific data integration needs, have positively resulted in the development of new Platform capabilities. What once seemed initial constraints have become long-term strengths. This iterative, feedback-driven approach ensures that EMDYN Platform remains a truly dynamic tool, its capabilities evolving in line with the practical requirements of our clients at all times.
ESD:What is the role of data fusion in processing information for improved defence outcomes / effects?
Van Renterghem: Data fusion plays a critical role in defence by bringing together information from multiple sources – such as OSINT, SIGINT, IMINT and sensor feeds – into a single, coherent intelligence picture. By correlating and analysing these diverse data streams, data fusion enables faster, more accurate decision making and reduces the risk of blind spots or misinformation. Rather than analysing each dataset in isolation, the process allows analysts to uncover patterns, relationships, and anomalies that would not be visible otherwise. This leads to a deeper understanding of threats, environments, and operational dynamics, supporting both strategic planning and real-time response.
In practice, this means defence teams can act with greater confidence and precision, whether they are analysing patterns in movement or behaviour, assessing risk in a conflict zone or coordinating multi-domain operations. Ultimately, data fusion transforms raw information into actionable intelligence, significantly enhancing operational effectiveness and mission outcomes.
ESD: If one is not using EMDYN or a similar solution, then what are the alternatives and hindrances?
Van Renterghem: Without using EMDYN’s geospatial intelligence fusion Platform, or a solution somewhat equivalent, organisations face key challenges such as lack of integration, information overload, having to use multiple applications and over complication in analytical workflows. Systems lacking integration leads to inefficient and inaccurate analysis while analysts risk information overload. This could result in critical details being overlooked or too much weighting given to irrelevant data. Without a unified application, data remains fragmented, weakening context and creating blind spots. Additionally, overly complex systems designed for niche users create silos, limiting cross-domain intelligence sharing and collaboration.
ESD: What do you see as the next challenge for EMDYN / its customers on the horizon?
Van Renterghem: In the volatile security landscape we find ourselves in today there is a heightened need for actionable intelligence. A continuation and even escalation in hybrid warfare tactics is likely. Conventional and irregular warfare, cyber-attacks and information – or more accurately disinformation – operations, coupled with economic pressure from sanctions or trade wars, coalesce to create confusion, weaken the enemy and achieve strategic goals, without necessarily leading states to full-scale war.
The present ongoing conflicts in different parts of the world epitomises hybrid warfare, with every available tactic being used by the involved parties. The blurred lines between war and peace make it harder to opponents to respond clearly or decisively. The effectiveness of these combined tactics is clear for all to see daily in the media, hence our view that this is not only here to stay, but will likely escalate with other groups, organisations or nations following this now well-established playbook. The challenge is to adopt advanced intelligence models to enable rapid detection of threats and decisive action; to see, predict and shape events as they unfold rather than just react to them.
ESD: Thank you, sir.
By Curtis Hand
Tim Van Renterghem
CEO and Founder
See beyond the threat
www.emdyn.com