Satellite images have been used for decades to get a variety of information about the surface of the Earth, such as tracking surface vegetation, global weather patterns, ocean currents and temperatures, and several others.
The high-resolution images, coupled with the decrease in costs and greater availability made it increasingly possible for the public to use satellite images more. Satellite Imaging Technology has led to the development of hyper-spectral and multispectral sensors that can aid in finding objects, identifying materials, and detecting processes.
Below are some important usages of satellite imagery:
Defence & Communication
Satellite images are initially used for defence and communication. The images have been used for military operations, surveillance, and intelligence gathering. Satellite images help local governments to maximize security programs to assess better and understand how to develop programs to save lives, protect property and enhance future economic stability.
Agriculture and Forestry
In agriculture, satellite imagery is used for crop monitoring, yield prediction, and irrigation planning. For insurance, it can be used to assess crop damage and support claims processing. It will help to monitor and assess agricultural production and food security and support efforts to increase productivity and reduce hunger.
In forestry uses of satellite imagery includes forest mapping, monitoring, and management, to protect forests. Satellite imagery can be used to assess the carbon stock of forests, and support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It can be used to assess the size, health, and productivity of forests, and support forest management and conservation.
Climate & Environmental Monitoring
For environmental conservation, it can be used for monitoring the natural resources and ecosystems. It can also be used to monitor and analyse atmospheric conditions for weather forecasting and climate modelling.
Disaster Management & Humanitarian Aid
Satellite imagery is used to monitor natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. It is also used to assess the extent of damage from natural disasters and plan response and relief efforts. Humanitarian actors use satellite imagery to assess the needs and plan responses to humanitarian crises. Satellite imagery is directly benefitting by easily visualising areas impacted by a natural disaster, and organizing their response while quickly assessing the local situation, verifying the road conditions, and planning rescue activities accordingly.
Credits: NASA JPL ARIA, NCU, Planet Labs, Google
Urban Planning and Infrastructure Management
Satellite image data provides detailed analysis for creating or updating GIS maps and detecting major changes in urban land cover and land use. This analysis allows frequent coverage and overlaying of different time sequences to classify environmentally safe and sustainable areas for the proposed development. According to SmartCitiesWorld, the Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group announced its first dedicated satellite constellation project in 2020 to help in building smart cities across the Greater Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Bay Area (GBA).
Satellite images are used to monitor and inspect infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and power lines. Satellite imagery can be used for property assessment and analysis. It is also used for planning and construction of infrastructure.
Energy and Mining
Satellite images have been used for exploration, resource mapping, and infrastructure development in the energy and mining industries.
Marine Sector
For maritime navigation and transportation, satellite imagery is used for ship tracking, routing, and search and rescue operations. It is also used to monitor and protect marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and coastal areas. It is also be used to monitor and assess the risk of coastal flooding, and plan interventions to prevent damage. Satellite images have also been used for ocean mapping and monitoring.
Archaeology
Satellite imagery is used to identify and map archaeological sites. Satellite archaeology uses high-resolution satellites with thermal and infrared capabilities to pinpoint potential sites of interest in the earth around a meter or so in depth.
Law Enforcement
Satellite images are used for surveillance, investigation, and crime scene analysis. Satellite images can display important information about criminal activities happening around the world. The added functionality of satellite imagery and GIS maps have increased the capabilities of crime-fighting due to the efficiency and speed of the retrieval of data and the analysis for detecting crime.
Oil and Gas
Satellite images are used for exploration, production, and transportation of oil and gas. These images are used to detect seismic lines and well locations, document persistent offshore oil seepage and map rock formations, elevation, and major structures.
Geothermal Energy
They have been used for geothermal resource mapping and exploration. Satellite images are used to look at geothermal features such as hot springs, fumaroles, and geysers. These images help geologists identify the best places to drill for geothermal energy.
Earth Observation
Satellite images are used to monitor and track ice cover, including glaciers and sea ice. To monitor and manage wildlife populations, including migration patterns and habitat use, satellite images are used. Satellite images are also used to map and assess the quality and availability of habitats for wildlife. For Land Management, these images are used to map and document land ownership and use rights. The images also help to map and classify the types of land cover on the Earth’s surface, including forests, grasslands, and urban areas.
Satellite images have been used to monitor and manage water resources, including reservoirs, rivers, and aquifers. These images are used to monitor and assess water quality, including the presence of pollutants and harmful algal blooms.
Geological mapping
To create detailed geological maps of the Earth’s surface, satellite images have been used.
Carbon Sequestration
The images, captured by satellite, are used to monitor and assess the potential for carbon sequestration in forests and other natural environments.
Urban Heat Island Mapping
Satellite imagery can be used to map and assess the intensity of urban heat islands, and plan interventions to reduce their impact.
Credit: NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens, using data from Bounoa, et al. (2015)
Satellite imagery has long been used for various purposes. These images have been considered an efficient way to analyse data. The area of study is primarily for geographic research, such as environmental sciences, meteorology, oceanography, glaciology, and geology.
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