Access to Gaza for journalists has been restricted, but advancements in satellite technology have enabled a comprehensive assessment of the war’s impact on the small Palestinian enclave from space. Over the past decade, satellite tools, initially designed for measuring deforestation or assessing damage after natural disasters, have been repurposed to accurately gauge the destruction caused by the conflict.
Satellites equipped with high-resolution imaging capabilities capture bird’s-eye-view photos of rooftops and streets. Moreover, advanced features such as radar systems can be directed at an angle, bouncing off buildings and dispersing in a way that allows operators to “see” not just rooftops but also the sides of structures. This technology facilitates a detailed analysis of the extent of damage, enabling comparisons with baseline data collected before the bombings. technology have enabled
Experts like Corey Scher from the City University of New York Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University specialize in mapping wartime damage. Their expertise extends to studying the effects of aerial bombing and artillery strikes in various conflicts, ranging from Syria and Yemen to Ukraine. The application of satellite technology in conflict zones offers a valuable tool for understanding and documenting the impact of warfare, especially in areas where on-the-ground reporting is challenging.
They applied data from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite to Gaza and found levels of destruction unprecedented in recent conflicts, Scher told CBC News.
“We’re adapting and building off of almost two decades of research that’s mainly gone into catastrophe impact mapping, so after seismic hazards or floods, and adapting those methods to war and conflict,” he said.
I don’t have real-time data, and my knowledge was last updated in January 2022. However, I can provide information based on that knowledge. As of my last update, I cannot verify the specific numbers provided, and it’s important to note that casualty figures in conflict zones can be subject to dispute, and the situation may have evolved since then.
If you have access to recent news sources, I recommend checking the latest reports for the most accurate and up-to-date information on casualties in Gaza and Israel.