Practical techniques Satellites for human rights ›› Advanced analysis Satellite sensors detect more information In January 2015, The New York Times ran a cover than the human eye, such as infrared or story on a Boko Haram attack on two towns in ultraviolet light, which can be used to highlight northeast Nigeria. In order to show the massive vegetation and measure vegetation health. scale of destruction of homes, they used satellite These techniques can for instance be used images provided by Amnesty International and to measure and visualise the impact of oil spills, Human Rights Watch. It is a powerful example of documenting traces of military movement during how satellite imagery can advance human rights armed conflict, or measuring environmental research and advocacy. violence as an indicator of genocide. Satellite imagery is no longer the exclusive domain of governments, and new trends in image supply will make this type of data even more accessible in the future. Both small and ›› Interpretation large groups are already able to use satellite Image analysis can be susceptible to imagery for daily human rights work. misinterpretation, especially if done by analysts Benefits of satellite imagery ›› Physical access or researchers not trained in satellite imagery analysis. For example, disturbed earth can be interpreted as a mass grave or a vegetable Satellites enable the circumvention of access garden. Cross corroboration and verification restrictions. In armed conflicts, they can be with other information is therefore crucial. mobilised instead of a researcher. ›› Historical record ›› Availability Commercial or government satellites do Satellite images can often allow researchers not persistently monitor every location on to travel back in time to study changes on the earth, and there can be glaring gaps in image ground by searching public platforms such as availability of locations, especially in very Google Earth. remote or politically sensitive areas. ›› Visuals ›› Clouds Satellite images can provide moving and Even if imagery is available at the desired powerful visuals for use in human rights date, cloud coverage can strongly hinder the campaigns and advocacy work. ›› Reliability of source 56 Limitations of satellite imagery usability of imagery. ›› Issue areas and access to metadata Satellite imagery is beneficial to a wide variety In comparison to social media, the original of human rights issues but can be of very source of a satellite image is usually clear. It limited use for other areas of concerns. often also comes with detailed metadata such Enforced disappearances, for examples, are as coordinates, date and time, making it a difficult or impossible to document through reliable data source. satellite images.