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Someone more familiar with satellites can correct me, but from my understanding you should be able to detect deforestation from real-time satellite data. You al

by aynsof 9y ago

Someone more familiar with satellites can correct me, but from my understanding you should be able to detect deforestation from real-time satellite data. You alert on changes in the level of greenery in the images. The indicator might trail behind detecting chainsaw noises, but it wouldn't require the mass distribution of detector devices.

deleted 9y ago
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tony_cannistra 9y ago
This is being done by many [ex. 1], but you've identified the challenge: often it's too late to catch offenders once the satellites have seen the damage. [1]: http://data.globalforestwatch.org/ http://data.globalforestwatch.org/
bourhan-rfcx 9y ago
As Tony points out below it is often too late with satellite imagery and they can only capture after the devastation occurs. Our system is as real-time as it gets. In fact you can download our app right now and listen live to the sounds of the forests: iOS App http://bit.ly/RFCx-iOS http://bit.ly/RFCx-iOS Android App http://bit.ly/RFCx-Android http://bit.ly/RFCx-Android
vpribish 9y ago
real-time satellite imagery is not a commercial reality yet, but daily is.
walrus01 9y ago
one of the problems is that true near-realtime satellite imagery (90 degree angle direct overhead, visual spectrum or IR spectrum to detect tree cover) is quite costly, in terms of $$$ per square km, if you want images that were acquired recently. The older the data is, the cheaper it gets. This could be a huge recurring cost to buy new satellite imagery. If you want almost-true-realtime satellite imagery for land-use law enforcement purposes, you're looking at a project that required the financial resources of a nation-stage IMINT apparatus (US NRO) for example, with dozens of polar-orbit, LEO satellites. The best you're going to get from commercial sources is a couple of days old, up to a few weeks old.

by aynsof 9y ago

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

tony_cannistra 9y ago

This is being done by many [ex. 1], but you've identified the challenge: often it's too late to catch offenders once the satellites have seen the damage. [1]: http://data.globalforestwatch.org/ http://data.globalforestwatch.org/

bourhan-rfcx 9y ago

As Tony points out below it is often too late with satellite imagery and they can only capture after the devastation occurs. Our system is as real-time as it gets. In fact you can download our app right now and listen live to the sounds of the forests: iOS App http://bit.ly/RFCx-iOS http://bit.ly/RFCx-iOS Android App http://bit.ly/RFCx-Android http://bit.ly/RFCx-Android

vpribish 9y ago

real-time satellite imagery is not a commercial reality yet, but daily is.

walrus01 9y ago

one of the problems is that true near-realtime satellite imagery (90 degree angle direct overhead, visual spectrum or IR spectrum to detect tree cover) is quite costly, in terms of $$$ per square km, if you want images that were acquired recently. The older the data is, the cheaper it gets. This could be a huge recurring cost to buy new satellite imagery. If you want almost-true-realtime satellite imagery for land-use law enforcement purposes, you're looking at a project that required the financial resources of a nation-stage IMINT apparatus (US NRO) for example, with dozens of polar-orbit, LEO satellites. The best you're going to get from commercial sources is a couple of days old, up to a few weeks old.