Very High Resolution Satellite Data 09/04/11 4:35 PM

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Very High Resolution Satellite Data

Satellite image data with a spatial resolution of 1 meter or better, are labeled as “very high
resolution” or VHR imagery. New VHR active (SAR) and passive (optical) sensors are available and
suitable for new applications. The new VHR sensors provide spatially detailed information on the
surface of the Earth of particular importance for a number of applications related to human security.
These include analysis of settlements, quantifying urban sprawl, enumerating refugee and IDP
camps, and crisis management including damage and risk assessments. This Very High Resolution
imagery requires new algorithms for machine assisted extraction of information and new
methodological approaches different from those used with medium resolution satellite imagery.

Isferea is benchmarking the newly available satellite imagery and has started to develop algorithms
for automatic image feature and object extraction as well as application-specific procedures which
use tools developed in-house as well as commercial tools for information extraction. Most
importantly, Isferea is developing a new paradigm for the analysis of settlements and built-up areas
for different applications related to disaster management. The procedures combine the multi-
disciplinary expertise available in Isferea.

Contact person
Martino Pesaresi

See also
Projects

Wen Chuan Earthquake

Temporary Settlement Analysis by Latest-Generation Remotely-Sensed Data
Image Information Mining Coordination Group
Automatic recognition of post-conflict damage and reconstruction of built-up structures using optical VHR
Damage Assessment UN ECLAC/Bolivia
WB-UN-EC Post Disaster Damage and Needs Assessment in Bangladesh
3-D Urban Structure information extraction from Very High Resolution SAR imagery
3D Building Extraction from optical VHR data
Damage assessment in Beirut and South Lebanon
Andean Community - Baseline data and very high resolution satellite imagery for monitoring EC funded
alternative development projects in Colombia
Iraq Crisis
Kosovo

Applications

Settlement Analysis
Informal Settlements
Refugee and IDP Camps
Population Risk Assessment
Conflict Resources Monitoring

Technologies

Image Information Mining

Automatic image understanding

Click on images to enlarge

Optical satellites potentially useful for post-disaster damage assessment presented in the order of decreasing spatial resolution

Current high-resolution spaceborne SAR sensors.

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Optical satellites potentially useful for post-disaster damage assessment presented in the
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