Satellite technology offers real-time imagery to help communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters intensified by climate change. Platforms like EOSDA LandViewer make this data accessible without expert knowledge. This approach enhances monitoring, evacuation planning, and damage assessment for events like floods and wildfires.
Natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods strike regions worldwide each year, growing more frequent and severe due to climate change, which also complicates predictions. Traditional information sources often lack timeliness, but satellite technology addresses this gap through live online viewers that deliver immediate insights for better decision-making.
Current remote sensing involves dozens of satellites providing high-resolution images across multiple spectral bands, bolstered by advanced analytical tools. Communities can use this to monitor ongoing disasters, identify affected areas and trajectories, plan accessible evacuation routes, coordinate rescues even without ground communications, and compare pre- and post-event images for damage evaluation.
Accessing satellite images is straightforward via various websites and software, though analysis can be complex. Comprehensive platforms simplify the process: they include search engines with filters, vegetation indices, customizable areas of interest for automated updates, and data exports in multiple formats. EOSDA LandViewer stands out with features like change detection, time series analysis, data clustering, and multi-layer maps, plus lesser-known and custom indices. Its free plan allows downloading 15 images per month, letting users test it before upgrading.
For specific disasters, satellite imagery proves versatile:
- Floods: It identifies submerged areas and viable rescue routes; combined with topography, it maps high-risk zones for building defenses.
- Forest fires: Satellites detect early heat signals and smoke, using thermal and infrared images to track spread direction and speed for firefighter action.
- Storms and hurricanes: Weather satellites monitor ocean formation and movement, issuing early coastal warnings and tracking clouds and wind speeds.
- Earthquakes: They detect pre-event ground deformation, aiding assessment despite prediction challenges.
The abundance of free satellite data empowers communities, experts, and citizens alike, fostering participation in monitoring and verification without costly training. As climate change escalates risks, real-time imagery builds resilience and saves lives through reliable warnings.
This sponsored article was written by Kateryna Sergieieva, a Ph.D. in information technologies with 15 years in remote sensing and over 60 publications, from EOS Data Analytics.