A Detailed View of the Ground with 30-centimeter Satellite Imagery

Which airline is that?

Satellite imagery at 30-centimeter resolution provides the clearest, most detailed view of the ground from space. See sample imagery to find out for yourself.

If you use commercial satellite imagery to map, monitor or assess situations, materials, or infrastructure, you are probably accustomed to 50-centimeter spatial resolution. Now, with the resolution relaxation from the United States Government that went into effect on February 21, 2015, you have access to an even clearer view of the ground with 30-centimeter resolution commercial satellite imagery.

With 30-centimeter resolution you have greater detail for imagery analysis, and more information for mapping features on the ground. The detail available is unseen in any previous commercial satellite image, setting the new standard for commercial resolution.

Commercial satellite imagery at 30 centimeter resolution is now competitive quality to your aerial imagery and is available globally.

You can use this aerial-competitive imagery for a variety of purposes such as mapping your country, monitoring infrastructure, managing natural resources, and more. Plus, since many countries impose restrictions on aerial imagery, or in some cases locations are difficult or unsafe to reach with a plane, the global reach and quick access of satellite imagery may be the only way you can get the true conditions on the ground at 30-centimeter resolution.

The higher-resolution of 30-centimeter commercial satellite imagery aids you in more accurate and automated land use and land cover mapping, feature identification, and change detection. In the end, this means that you’ll have a better inventory of your infrastructure and resources, both public and private, and a better understanding of what is changing in your country.

So, what can you actually see using 30-centimeter satellite imagery? Here are some examples.

At the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands

• Activity can be monitored more effectively to determine traffic volumes based on the number of shipping containers
• General types of cargo transfer activity can be determined: crude, petrochemical, container, bulk/dry goods, etc.
• The different types of rail cars can be easily identified

At the Port of Qingdao, China

• Activity can be observed, monitored, and quantified with higher confidence
• Materials can be identified by types or grades
• Equipment is easily distinguished (e.g. cement trucks vs. front end loader vs. dump truck vs. excavator) from one another
• General types of cargo inside of carriers can be determined and counted

At the Ras Tanura Refinery, Saudi Arabia

• The types of tanks can be easily identified and distinguished
• Storage tank lid details are clearly identified such as legs, drains, vents, and hatches
• Primary and secondary pipeline infrastructure details are visible, as well as pumping stations and transfer hoses
• Tank volumes can be accurately measured

Santiago International Airport, Chile

• Tarmac lettering, gate numbers, and runway lettering can all be clearly identified
• Multiple airline names can be read from the side or top of airplanes
• The length and wingspan of plane can be easily measured to determine the type
• Plane fueling, loading and servicing can easily be located
• Roof details can deliver insight into the type of material used
• The type of cars in the parking lots can be identified

See the detail for yourself. Download the full set of images at digitalglobe.com/30cmsamples

This post was written by DigitalGlobe and presented on SpaceNews.com as sponsored content. The SpaceNews editorial staff was not involved in writing it.