We use satellite monitoring to assess the ecosystem health of our Reka Halus conservation area in Sabah, Malaysia.
How satellite monitoring works
Satellite monitoring works by using specially equipped satellites orbiting the Earth to capture images and data about the land below. We engage satellite monitoring vendors to closely track large-scale areas and identify instances of deforestation, while simultaneously extracting National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) broader satellite data to locate fire hotspots.
Each satellite vendor employs unique algorithms to identify anomalies in monitored areas. These algorithms are designed to detect events such as tree removal or unusual heat patterns that could indicate a fire. Once these situations are detected, the data is delivered to us in the form of geospatial shapefiles, which are digital maps pinpointing the precise locations of these changes on the plantation.
Using infrared technology and a combination of sources
One of the most important features of satellite technology is its ability to see beyond what’s visible. Satellites equipped with infrared sensors can capture data about heat and vegetation that goes unnoticed by ordinary cameras. This is especially useful in detecting forest fires even through smoke or darkness.
The challenge, however, is dealing with cloud cover. Regions like Malaysia and Indonesia which have tropical climates experience frequent rainfall and dense clouds. These can obscure satellite imagery, making it harder to capture clear images. As such, we use a combination of satellite images from different satellite imaging companies such as Sentinel, Landsat, and Planet that have varying resolutions and capture images at different intervals. By stitching these images together, we can gain a clearer view of the land despite cloud cover and create a historical time-series which are a set of data that tracks changes over time.
DB: Wilmar's database.
Wilmar's GIS team member reviewing satellite images.