New DigitalGlobe satellite sees through clouds and smoke

To track large fires satellites are often hampered by clouds of smoke, which do not allow to see what is happening on the ground. To break through the thick smoke can only satellites with special infrared sensors. DigitalGlobe company has recently launched unit, able to shoot through smoke and clouds as high up to date quality. Image of California fire in the Klamath National Forest reserve demonstrate the capabilities of the new satellite.

It should be noted that similar functionality have satellites Terra and Suomi-NPP NASA. However, the WorldView-3 satellite DigitalGlobe makes pictures, which can distinguish objects the size to 31 inches – maximum resolution of commercial satellites.

"The performance of WorldView-3 above than any other satellite platform SWIR ever placed in orbit. It's like comparing a black and white image of full color VGA and 4K UHDTV. Prior to WorldView-3 was seen only on fire. Now you can see the individual area at risk of the spread of fire and hot spots", — quotes the Internet-Wired magazine the words of the founder and technical Director of DigitalGlobe Walter Scott.





The SWIR sensor can detect infrared radiation from eight different wavelengths. Each of them has its advantages. So, one better goes through the smoke, and the other gives the clearest possible image of man-made objects. In the picture above combined data from several waves of different lengths. When combining all waves there is a full map of the fire.

Published last week satellite images WorldView-3, DigitalGlobe helped to convince the U.S. Department of Commerce to remove restrictions on commercial use of satellite photos showing objects smaller than 50 cm Before such images were only available to government organizations.

DigitalGlobe now has a license to sell satellite photos 40-centimeter resolution. And in may next year she will be allowed to sell images that can distinguish objects as small as 31 cm Satellite WorldView-3 is able to recognize cars, manholes, and even mailboxes.

Recall that recently, Japan and the United States announced the desire to take the artificial satellites of the Earth under his protection (control).

Source: hi-news.ru