A new way of using machine learning to examine satellite imagery could help people around the world.
What satellites can see from space is disturbing
More than 700 imaging satellites orbit the Earth, but only governments and companies with wealth and expertise have access to the data they produce. Now, researchers said in a recent paper that they have invented a machine learning system using cheap, easy-to-use technology that could bring satellite analysis power to researchers and governments worldwide.
“To plan infrastructure like roads and bridges or to target food aid, we need to know where people live and what their needs are,” Jonathan Proctor, a co-author of the paper, told Lifewire in an email interview. “Satellite imagery and machine learning can help measure socioeconomic conditions in places where other measures aren’t sufficient.”
The growing fleet of imaging satellites sends about 80 terabytes back to Earth each day, the research paper said. But often, imaging satellites are built to capture information on specific topics, such as freshwater supplies.
