Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd.

What Are the Abilities of the Remote Sensing Satellites Behind the Earthquake Relief Efforts

On January 7th, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Tingri County, Shigatse City, Tibet, resulting in significant casualties and extensive house collapses. Numerous Chinese satellites sprang into action upon receiving the orders, urgently coordinating to observe and image the disaster area, providing timely disaster status information to relevant units. This made significant contributions to organizing rescue and relief efforts. So, in what specific ways can remote sensing satellites assist in earthquake disaster relief?


Remote Sensing Satellites Provide an Overview


As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated." After an earthquake, it is critical for the earthquake relief command center to quickly grasp detailed information about the disaster area. This is essential for analyzing and clarifying the situation, formulating rescue and relief strategies, and ensuring the safety of survivors and rescuers. This is where remote sensing satellites can truly shine.


Using optical equipment, radar, and other technologies, remote sensing satellites can overcome adverse factors such as darkness, smoke, and clouds to swiftly provide a wealth of detailed images and video data of the disaster area. This helps the earthquake relief command center gain an intuitive understanding of the disaster, allowing for in-depth analysis and assessment of the ongoing situation.


For example, the numerous medium- and low-resolution remote sensing satellites, which are increasingly forming constellation networks, can quickly obtain a broad macroscopic view of the disaster area. This includes the scope of the disaster, the severity of damage in key towns and residential areas, and more. This helps the earthquake relief command center quickly understand the overall disaster situation. 


Advanced high-resolution remote sensing satellites, on the other hand, have achieved sub-meter spatial resolution, clearly displaying details of damaged infrastructure such as houses, dams, and bridges. This provides crucial information for assessing the severity of the situation, scientifically organizing rescue efforts, and planning post-disaster reconstruction.


In some disaster areas with complex geological and climatic conditions, the threat of secondary disasters cannot be overlooked. Monitoring results from remote sensing satellites also help related personnel carry out disaster prevention and mitigation work safely and efficiently.


For instance, in mountainous and hilly areas, secondary disasters such as landslides and mudslides are frequent after earthquakes. By comparing satellite remote sensing images before and after the earthquake, the earthquake relief command center can promptly identify potential locations, scales, and impact scopes of landslides and mudslides, issuing early warnings to prevent secondary harm to survivors and rescue personnel.


The Role of Remote Sensing Satellites in Logistics Support


As the saying goes, "The army marches on its stomach," fully highlighting the importance of logistical support. To open up the "last mile" of logistical support, rescuers must quickly restore transportation and communication in the disaster area, and remote sensing satellites play a crucial role in these efforts.


In terms of transportation, remote sensing satellites, in conjunction with navigation satellites, can closely monitor the accessibility of roads and waterways, quickly identifying road blockages and water obstruction points while assessing the damage to surrounding land and water routes. Rescuers can quickly plan the best rescue routes by balancing target locations, road conditions, and their own positions. This also provides information support for subsequent road repairs and waterway clearance, ensuring that large volumes of rescue supplies and equipment reach the disaster area as soon as possible.


Since land and water transportation in the disaster area may not be restored immediately, aerial transport often becomes the "lifeline" in the initial stages of earthquake relief. Whether using traditional manned fixed-wing transport aircraft, helicopters, or the increasingly widespread application of unmanned transport vehicles in recent years, pilots or operators must rely heavily on the support of remote sensing and navigation satellites to deliver supplies and equipment to the disaster area as quickly as possible, overcoming obstacles to takeoffs and landings, and identifying ground markers in adverse conditions.