Satellite Imagery

Overview

Satellite imagery is often helpful when developing an overview of the situation. It is important to note that weather impacts imagery capture and it can take several days to be able to acquire, which may impact its relevance. It is best to coordinate requests through the IM network to reduce duplicate requests and ensure that the license allows everyone to use the images. Please see the best practice section below for more tips on requesting satellite imagery. 

• Images from above: A review of aerial assessment in support of humanitarian response operations, (IFRC Needs Assessments Working Group, 2020) A review of aerial assessment in support of humanitarian response is meant to be providing a comprehensive study on how aerial assessments, its tools, and approaches have been used so far in humanitarian operations and outlines clear recommendations.

UNOSAT

The UN can activate the Space Charter for natural disasters and can request imagery via UNOSAT for any other situation. 

Satellite imagery requests related to both complex emergencies and natural disasters are to be sent to emergencymapping@unosat.org,  CC: fis-ocha@un.org (OCHA Field Information Services) and Rahel Getachew getachewr@un.org.

E-mail with details should be sent first followed by a phone call to the 24/7 hotline +41 75 411 4998 to confirm submission to UNOSAT on-call officer. Requests can also be submitted to 24/7 hotline directly if no internet connection available for e-mail.

The details to be provided in the request include the following:

1. Geographic Bounds (coordinates, KML, SHP, etc.)

2. Temporal Bounds

3. Operation(s) it will support

4. How will the data be used?

5. What do you need to see? What Questions are you trying to answer?

6. List partners, that will use the data. What are their licenses for derived works? (e.g. OSM has a creative commons license this can be discussed)

7. Who will benefit? (e.g. HCT, affected the population, UN agencies, NGOs, government etc)

For more information about the process please see: UNOSAT Rapid Mapping Service

Best Practices

• Most satellite imagery is licensed and sharing the raw imagery can be restricted. Also, much imagery is shared under the US Government NextView license, and products using this imagery and posted to a public website must properly identify the source of the imagery, and must be reviewed by US Department of State prior to public release to ensure proper credits are used. This process can move quickly but may require a few additional days before public release.

• Coordinate requests through the IM network to reduce duplicate requests and improve common understanding (IMWG members) 

• include other partners that may be able to help such as Open Street Map (OSM), MapAction, REACH etc. so they can use the data and images. 

• Once the request has been handled and delivered, please fill in the feedback form which is already attached within the request form. Feedback submission is a mandatory procedure.

• Consider the expertise and time involved with satellite imagery analysis, let the experts dot it! Ask for shapefiles of the analysis (e.g. flood extent lines) so the data can be included in maps

• Check out the Activations Map to see where images are available.

Resources

• See UNOSAT Geospatial Catalogue for examples of satellite imagery derived products you can request to support humanitarian operations.

• UNOSAT Rapid mapping video (teaser) (full)