In a groundbreaking development for sustainable research, the world's first atlas of remote-sensing thermal infrared images was unveiled at the 4th International Forum on Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals in Beijing on Friday. This innovative atlas, released by the Beijing-based International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), leverages data from the SDGSAT-1 satellite.
SDGSAT-1, launched into space in November 2021, holds the distinction of being the first space science satellite dedicated to supporting the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The atlas showcases 10 different types of landscapes across 118 regions worldwide, meticulously presenting surface features such as rivers, lakes, seas, mountains, hills, and deserts. Additionally, it captures scenes of human activities, including industrial emissions and urban transformations, all viewed through a thermal infrared lens.
Guo Huadong, director of CBAS, emphasized the atlas's significance during the forum's opening ceremony. \"The distribution and dynamic changes of surface temperatures on Earth are closely related to human socioeconomic activities, industrial production conditions and geomorphic features,\" Guo stated. He highlighted that the atlas is invaluable for studying surface energy balance, climate change, the urban heat island effect, agricultural monitoring, and natural disaster assessment.
Looking ahead, Guo expressed aspirations to enhance collaboration with more countries, UN agencies, and international organizations. The goal is to jointly develop and deploy a series of satellites to form a comprehensive constellation, enabling continuous acquisition of diverse Earth data layers to support the sustainable development of humanity.
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World's first atlas of remote-sensing thermal infrared images released
cgtn.com
