About this book:

*Eyes from Orbit: Earth Observation for Climate and Crisis Response* serves as a comprehensive manual for utilizing satellite imagery and geospatial analytics to address environmental and humanitarian challenges. The book transitions from the fundamental physics of remote sensing—covering orbits, sensor types (optical, SAR, thermal), and radiometric correction—to the practical engineering required for operational workflows. It emphasizes the importance of "analysis-ready data," detailing the rigorous preprocessing steps of cloud masking, tiling, and harmonization necessary to turn raw pixels into reliable evidence for decision-makers.

The text provides deep technical dives into domain-specific applications, including wildfire detection, flood inundation mapping, and agricultural monitoring. By integrating multispectral indices with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and thermal sensing, the book illustrates how to maintain persistent surveillance even under adverse weather conditions or during the night. It also explores advanced analytical techniques like time-series breakpoint detection and machine learning to distinguish between natural seasonal cycles and abrupt crisis-driven changes, such as deforestation or infrastructure failure.

Beyond the technical mechanics, the book focuses heavily on the "last mile" of data delivery—product design, dashboards, and early warning triggers. It argues that the value of Earth observation is realized only when information is communicated clearly, ethically, and with transparent uncertainty to those in a position to act. The final chapters address the institutional side of remote sensing, offering guidance on program design, cloud-scale processing, and the ethical safeguards required to protect vulnerable populations while monitoring global crises.

Ultimately, the book frames Earth observation not as a collection of static images, but as a dynamic infrastructure for global resilience. It advocates for a shift toward cloud-native, automated systems that integrate satellite data with field observations and biophysical models. By prioritizing capacity building, sustainability, and responsible use, the text provides a roadmap for NGOs, governments, and the private sector to leverage orbital perspective for timely, life-saving interventions in an increasingly volatile climate.

What You'll Find Inside:

• Comprehensive preprocessing workflows for turning raw satellite data into analysis-ready data, including tiling, cloud masking, mosaicking, and sensor harmonization techniques
• Detailed guidance on selecting and using different satellite platforms (optical, SAR, thermal, nighttime) and understanding their strengths/limitations for various climate and crisis scenarios
• Practical, field-tested methodologies for specific disaster types: wildfire detection and burn severity mapping, flood inundation and depth estimation, and agricultural monitoring for drought and food security
• Advanced change detection techniques ranging from simple differencing to time-series analysis and breakpoint detection for identifying meaningful landscape changes
• Operational implementation strategies including scalable cloud processing, machine learning integration, product design for decision-makers, and ethical frameworks for responsible use

Who's It For:

This book is designed for practitioners in NGOs, government agencies, and private sector organizations who need to implement Earth observation solutions for climate monitoring and crisis response. It is particularly valuable for those designing early warning systems for floods, mapping wildfire impacts for recovery operations, or monitoring agricultural conditions to anticipate food insecurity. The content focuses on actionable methods and workflows that can be applied in real-world conditions with cloudy imagery, inconsistent data quality, and resource constraints, rather than abstract theoretical concepts.