Train Accident Site From Space with Radar

During the 4th International Conference “Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions” in the Moscow Region “Vatutinki” recreation center the representatives of the Italian e-GEOS company spoke about the experience of satellite-based monitoring of emergencies in Russia. e-GEOS company took the images of the “Nevsky Express” train crash site using Cosmo-SkyMed radar satellites by the request from ScanEx RDC. Within few days after the crash on 27th November, the European part of Russia was mostly covered with clouds, thus preventing to use optical sensors to acquire images of the emergency spot. Highly-detailed radar data in their turn enable to carry out all-weather monitoring, regardless of clouds.

On the image, acquired on November 30 from Cosmo-SkyMed, the railroad and the crashed cars of "Nevsky express" train were detected. Those space images were submitted to the Emercom of Russia.

More details about applications of space monitoring technology to reduce risks of natural calamities and to estimate impacts of disasters were available at the thematic plenary session of the 4th International Conference - Earth from Space the Most Effective Solutions" that was held on 2nd December 2009.