How Remote Sensing Is Being Used In Ukraine And The Middle East

By John Oncea, Editor

The military's use of remote sensing has progressed from rudimentary aerial photography to a sophisticated, multi-faceted intelligence-gathering system that plays a crucial role in modern warfare and strategic planning.

Want to map large forest fires from space? Need to track clouds to make better weather predictions? Tasked with tracking the growth of a city, or the changes in farmland or forests over years or decades? Or maybe, just maybe, you’re curious about the mountain ranges, canyons, and magnetic striping on the ocean floor.

The solution to all of these challenges is remote sensing, the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an area by measuring its reflected and emitted radiation at a distance, typically from satellite or aircraft.

Examples of remote sensing, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, include:

• Cameras on satellites and airplanes taking images of large areas on the Earth’s surface, allowing us to see much more than we can see when standing on the ground.
• Sonar systems on ships creating images of the ocean floor without needing to travel to the bottom of the ocean.
• Cameras on satellites making images of temperature changes in the oceans.

Remote sensing is also relied on by militaries across the world. Take logistics, for example. GIS helps move supplies, equipment, and troops where they should be delivered at the right time. Remote sensors also facilitate decision-making on the routes used for convoys and forces.

Here, we take a look at how remote sensing is being used in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as by both sides in the Russo-Ukrainian War. But first, a look at the military’s use of remote sensing over the years.

A History Of Remote Sensing And Warfare

The advancement of remote sensing technology was crucial for defense forces, writes Grind GIS. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have provided vital and precise information for military operations. The concept of Command, Control, Coordination, and Communication for military commanders heavily relies on spatial data from GIS.

All told, Grind GIS lists 15 modern applications of remote sensing in the military, from air operations to mapping to defense estate management.

The use of remote sensing can be traced back to the 1600s when Galileo used optical enhancements to survey celestial bodies, writes Invasive. However, the first use of remote sensing by a modern military came during World War I with the use of cameras on pigeons and hot air balloons for reconnaissance.

The use of the technology by the military expanded dramatically from World War II to the Cold War, driven by the continued advancement in aerial photography techniques, the introduction of radar and sonar technologies, and the development of infrared sensing devices.

The Cold War era saw further advancements including the introduction of high-altitude spy planes like the U-2 and the emergence of satellite technology which played a crucial role in intelligence gathering. One notable example of remote sensing’s value during this period was the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, where U-2 spy planes detected Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.

The launch of the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1, later renamed Landsat) in 1972 marked the beginning of the modern remote sensing era. Since then, according to Strategic Studies Quarterly, military applications of remote sensing have expanded dramatically:

• The proliferation of remote sensing satellites, with at least 25 nations now possessing such capabilities
• Introduction of high-resolution commercial satellite imagery, accessible to both military and civilian sectors
• Development of advanced sensors including LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) for precise measurements and chemical detection
• Integration of remote sensing data with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for comprehensive analysis
• Use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for close-range remote sensing

The Use Of Remote Sensing In Ukraine And The Middle East

Today, military remote sensing encompasses a wide range of technologies and applications, including:

• Real-time battlefield intelligence and situational awareness
• Monitoring of potential nuclear testing sites using highly precise digital elevation models
• Tracking of troop movements and equipment deployments
• Assessment of damage from airstrikes and other military operations
• Support for humanitarian and disaster relief operations

Remote sensing technologies have played a crucial role in assessing and monitoring the situation in Gaza, particularly where ground access is limited or impossible. For instance, satellite imagery analysis has revealed that as of March 2024, approximately 157,200 buildings in Gaza were damaged or destroyed, according to Udark. This information helps humanitarian organizations understand the scale of destruction and plan reconstruction efforts.

EarthScope adds that Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology has been used to assess damage to critical infrastructure. By November 2023, it was determined that about 61% of health facilities, 68% of educational facilities, and 42% of water infrastructure had sustained some level of damage.

Remote sensing data has been crucial for humanitarian organizations to plan and coordinate their response efforts. UNICEF used geospatial analysis and high-resolution satellite imagery to assess the condition of schools in Gaza when field access became impossible. This allowed them to map 563 schools and analyze their status, which was essential for planning educational support and using schools as shelters for internally displaced people. In addition, satellite data has revealed a 34.1% decline in the cultivated area of agricultural land in Gaza, highlighting potential food security risks.

Satellite imagery has been used to provide independent and up-to-date information on the conflict. According to the National Science Review, high-resolution satellite imagery from the LuoJia3-01 satellite identified 3,747 missile craters across five governorates in Gaza between October 2023 and March 2024. This information can help locate potential unexploded ordnance and assist in demining efforts.

By leveraging these remote sensing technologies, researchers, humanitarian organizations, and policymakers can gain valuable insights into the situation in Gaza, even when direct ground access is limited. This information is crucial for planning relief efforts, assessing the impact of the conflict, and potentially supporting future reconstruction initiatives.

In Ukraine, remote sensing technologies have been used to analyze the evolution of damage to cities over time during several lengthy battles, according to The Conversation. For example, in Bakhmut, one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war, radar coherence analysis revealed a checkerboard pattern across the city, indicating that only the network of roads survived while most buildings had partially or completely collapsed due to continuous bombardment.

Researchers also have used satellite imagery to assess damage to critical infrastructure. They found that in some cities, about 61% of health facilities, 68% of educational facilities, and 42% of water infrastructure had sustained some level of damage5.

Satellite imagery has, in addition, provided valuable insights into the progression of the conflict. In the lead-up to the Russian invasion, satellite images of the buildup of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border triggered alarm bells in military headquarters and were featured in mainstream media.

Remote sensing has been used to compare the levels of destruction in different battles. For instance, the comparatively lower destruction of Lysychansk compared to Bakhmut was explained by the rapid encirclement of the city from the south instead of continued frontal assaults.

Advancements In Remote Sensing Technologies

The conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have spurred advancements in remote sensing technologies and methodologies. Researchers have developed methods to update damage analyses as soon as new satellite images are captured, providing consistent monitoring throughout the conflict.

Progress is also being made in deep learning, making automated analysis of satellite imagery increasingly possible, potentially enabling a more systematic collection of fine-grained data points on conflict events.

The use of remote sensing in modern combat has demonstrated its potential for providing objective, up-to-date information in conflict zones, particularly when ground access is limited or dangerous. This technology has proven invaluable for military strategists, humanitarian organizations, journalists, and policymakers in understanding and responding to the evolving situation on the ground.