Published On Feb 15, 2021
This tutorial is part 7 of the OSINT At Home series. It covers how to make a satellite image time lapse.
Satellite imagery plays a core role in the verification, analysis and investigation of information for the purposes of research. One of the lead factors with satellite imagery is the ability to compare different dates to see when something was at a given location, and when it wasn’t, or, in some of the examples, when new buildings appear on satellite imagery, watching vessels move, or identifying solar panels and their movement through satellite imagery.
Using the satellite imagery time lapse is a great way to identify change on the ground, and through mastering this skill, it will inevitably help any of those looking to verify incidents that happened on the ground, verify footage seen on social media, or claims in the news. It can also help with research and investigations in other fields, such as using satellite imagery in environmental journalism to identify deforestation, business journalism to identify mining growth, or research on urban sprawl and development by using the satellite imagery to indicate spread of urban areas over time.
While this tutorial only covers an introductory use of Sentinel Hub's time lapse tool, it is recommended that further research be done on specific use cases to help you in your research.
The OSINT At Home series is useful for those looking to find digital breadcrumbs and pick up some methods of open source intelligence (OSINT), digital investigations and good old plain research. No matter who you are, or where you are in the world, you can follow these tutorials from home with publicly available information to answer questions such as who, what, where and when.
TOOLS
Sentinel Hub Playground: https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/sentine...
Sentinel Hub EO Browser: https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser
Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps
Google Earth Pro: https://www.google.co.uk/earth/downlo...
LOCATIONS
Noor Complex Solar Power Plant: https://goo.gl/maps/EmtMAHMCJVygDo3y9
Mischief Reef: https://goo.gl/maps/tJvuyeDpyzPUAXDS8
Singapore Port Area: https://goo.gl/maps/Us5vG8uPW4baynm9A
MORE RESOURCES
Bellingcat: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/...
Sentinel Hub on Medium: / multi-year-time-series-of-multi-spectral-d...
Sentinel Hub on Youtube: / sinergise
Also do check out one of my favourite accounts that specialises in creating these and many other satellite displays for environmental work: https://twitter.com/i_ameztoy?s=20
SUPPORT ME: Please do consider supporting this content so I can create more and keep it free, independent and accessible to everyone in the world: https://ko-fi.com/bendobrown
MY SETUP:
Apple Macbook Pro 16-inch: https://amzn.to/3rTWhW3
Logitech MX Anywhere 2 mouse: https://amzn.to/3phQp7v
Blue Yeti USB microphone: https://amzn.to/3ajixmb
CREDITS FOR THIS TUTORIAL
Satellite imagery: Copernicus Sentinel & Landsat data source acquired through the Sentinel Hub
Sentinel Playground: https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/sentine..., Sinergise Ltd.
EO Browser: https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-brow..., Sinergise Ltd.
Music Intro: World’s Fair – God Mode
Music End: Dhaka by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: http://incompetech.com/