Satellite Imagery to Plan Disaster Relief Efforts

Healing Hands International (HHI), a non-profit humanitarian organisation, is working with the Native Communities Development Corporation (NCDC), a DigitalGlobe business partner, to obtain satellite imagery from DigitalGlobe for use in planning and visualization efforts surrounding agricultural development and disaster relief missions in Africa and Central America.

HHI provides sustainability education and training to third-world countries. Its mission is to implement efficient and lasting sustainable technologies, paving the way for agricultural economies in rural areas of developing countries to feed starving communities.

HHI provides relief assistance to developing countries devastated by natural disasters. Before and after imagery of Madras, India – an area still suffering the effects of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami – is helping HHI to assess the extent of damage and plan for reconstruction and development initiatives. The imagery allows HHI to prioritise its efforts and develop detailed rebuilding plans to ensure that, once on the ground, precious time and resources are leveraged. The imagery is also helpful for planning access to devastated rural areas.

NCDC’s Satellite and Imaging Division is also supplying training courses to HHI. The courses emphasize the use of ESRI’s ArcGIS software package for analysing and viewing the satellite imagery in a geographic information systems environment.