Unprecedented satellite coverage will aid rescue efforts. Photos and maps from disaster-stricken areas will be available within hours, free of charge
At the end of the month, scientists will complete an international project and launch the last satellite to a ring of satellites orbiting the Earth. The main function of the satellite ring will be to detect natural and man-made disasters, anywhere and every day. The array of satellites, the size of each of which is only slightly larger than the size of a hotel mini bar, will provide the emergency and aid teams with an unprecedented view of areas affected, among other things, by earthquakes and floods. The system will also be used by environmental organizations, who will be able to monitor the growth of crops or illegal cutting of forests.
In the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) there are already four satellites in orbit that belong to Great Britain, Turkey, Algeria and Nigeria. The fifth satellite that should complete the array, will be launched from Russia on September 27. More countries are expected to join the project, thus allowing engineers to take more than one picture a day. If a disaster strikes a country that is not a partner in the project, it will receive the satellite images free of charge.
The business manager of the DMC project, Dr. Paul Stevens, said that "one of the most important things when dealing with a disaster is that, when looking at something that changes very frequently, you want to be able to see the disaster area at least once a day." Each of the satellites in the array is equipped with six lenses that overlook the Earth, and each image covers an area of 600 square kilometers. Also, within a few hours, a high-resolution satellite image can be turned into a hard copy of maps, which will be transferred to the teams working in the field.
Bill Maguire of the Benfield Grieg Center for Risk Research at the University of London said that the project "will be useful, especially for aid organizations. They must know which bridges were destroyed and where the most damage was caused. The most important thing is to get the information - in this case, the maps - as quickly as possible." Maguire also said that "when an earthquake occurs, there is a window of opportunity of three days to rescue people. The aid organizations that arrive in the area later are almost never able to find anyone alive."
