FAQ
How does radar detect damage?
Radar damage mapping uses a type of satellite technology called Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Unlike ordinary satellite photos, radar satellites send microwave signals to the Earth and measure how those signals bounce back. This means they can “see” through clouds and work both day and night. By comparing radar images taken over time, scientists can detect sudden changes in the structure and stability of buildings and urban areas, which may indicate damage from conflict. These detected changes are indicators of possible damage, helping researchers and humanitarian groups monitor affected areas quickly and remotely. You can find out more about the data and methods on the Conflict Ecology webpage.
Can I view the original satellite imagery used in the project?
Yes. The project uses freely available Sentinel-2 satellite imagery provided by the European Union’s Copernicus Programme, as well as high-resolution imagery available through the Esri Wayback archive.
Why do some images look blurry or pixelated?
Satellite images can vary in sharpness depending on the type of sensor used. Sentinel-2 images, which are the lowest-resolution images used in this project, are designed to cover large areas quickly and are useful for detecting broad patterns of change, but individual buildings may appear less sharp. Higher-resolution imagery from Esri Wayback shows much finer detail, but coverage and image quality can vary depending on when and where the images were collected. Weather conditions, lighting, and image processing can also affect how clear an image appears.
Why not use high-resolution imagery for damage assessment?
Lower-resolution satellite imagery, such as Sentinel-2 is collected approximately every 5 days globally. Because Sentinel-2 data is freely available through the Copernicus Programme, it provides an accessible and consistent way to monitor conflict-related changes over time. Higher-resolution imagery can show finer detail, but it is not always openly accessible for every location or time period.
How do seasonal changes affect damage assessment?
Seasonal changes in the landscape can affect how locations appear in satellite imagery and make damage assessment more challenging. Vegetation growth, snow, flooding, and changing sunlight can alter the visibility of buildings and terrain throughout the year. These natural changes can sometimes make it harder to distinguish between actual damage and normal seasonal variation when comparing images over time. When assessing an image, it is helpful to compare multiple dates and focus on clear structural changes rather than differences caused by season or weather.
Why might radar detect damage that I cannot see?
If you cannot confirm damage in an image, there may be several possible reasons. The follow-up multiple choice questions help us identify conditions that may have caused a false positive in the radar analysis or prevented a clear view of the area. For example, snow, flooding, and construction activity can sometimes alter the radar signal and appear similar to damage. Clouds or poor image quality may also affect visibility in optical satellite imagery. Your responses help us better understand these challenges and improve the accuracy of the damage assessment process.
What should I do if I spot damage outside of the blue rectangle?
Please select 'Yes, I see damage' and draw a rectangle around the area. The blue rectangle highlights locations flagged by radar analysis, but additional damage may sometimes be visible nearby and could have been missed by the automated detection process. Your observations can help us identify and review these areas.
How big of a rectangle should I draw?
Try to draw a rectangle tightly around the main visible area of damage. If there are several damaged areas close together, draw a single rectangle around the overall affected area. If the damaged areas are clearly separate or far apart, draw separate rectangles for each location. The rectangle does not need to be perfectly precise — an approximate outline of the damaged area is sufficient and helps us identify the location of the impact.
What should I do if I spot damage in a ‘before’ image?
Select 'Yes, I see damage' and draw a rectangle around the area. It is possible that there was a delay in the damage being detected by radar. You can flag these occurences by selecting 'Done and Talk' and leaving us a message on the discussion board.
What happens to the data next?
Your damage rectangles will be reviewed and compared with mapped infrastructure data, such as OpenStreetMap (OSM), to help identify which specific sites or facilities have been affected. These confirmed cases will then be incorporated into the wider WISEN database, where they may progress into Level 1 and Level 2 assessment workflows involving further open-source investigation, satellite analysis, and environmental risk assessment. This data will be made freely available to support research, advocacy and justice.
Have a question? Leave us a message by starting a discussion board on WISEN WATCH Talk.