arXiv:2505.03842cs.CYastro-ph.EP2025-05

卫星影像覆盖存在不均,高纬度地区更频繁成像,欠发达地区历史数据少。

Coverage Biases in High-Resolution Satellite Imagery

  • 基于轨道路径分析30天内不同地区重访频率,发现高纬度地区重访更频繁。
  • 历史影像可用性受社会经济因素影响,人口少、发展水平低地区数据更少。
  • 冲突地区如加沙、苏丹、乌克兰的影像获取受地缘政治和商业决策影响。

卫星影像正广泛用于补充传统调查与普查,但并非所有地区受益均等。本研究评估了地面采样距离低于10米的主流卫星星座在光学影像覆盖上的偏差,既分析未来按需成像的重访频率,也考察历史影像的全球可得性。结果显示:受轨道物理特性影响,远离赤道的地区重访频率更高;而历史影像可用性则受社会经济因素制约——人口稀少、发展水平较低的地区影像数据更匮乏。在加沙、苏丹、乌克兰三个近期冲突地区的案例中,还发现地缘政治事件显著影响影像获取,暗示背后存在商业模型决策。这些发现揭示,卫星影像带来的数字红利并未在全球公平分配。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Satellite imagery is increasingly used to complement traditional data collection approaches such as surveys and censuses across scientific disciplines. However, we ask: Do all places on earth benefit equally from this new wealth of information? In this study, we investigate coverage bias of major satellite constellations that provide optical satellite imagery with a ground sampling distance below 10 meters, evaluating both the future on-demand tasking opportunities as well as the availability of historic images across the globe. Specifically, forward-looking, we estimate how often different places are revisited during a window of 30 days based on the satellites' orbital paths, thus investigating potential coverage biases caused by physical factors. We find that locations farther away from the equator are generally revisited more frequently by the constellations under study. Backward-looking, we show that historic satellite image availability -- based on metadata collected from major satellite imagery providers -- is influenced by socio-economic factors on the ground: less developed, less populated places have less satellite images available. Furthermore, in three small case studies on recent conflict regions in this world, namely Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, we show that also geopolitical events play an important role in satellite image availability, hinting at underlying business model decisions. These insights lay bare that the digital dividend yielded by satellite imagery is not equally distributed across our planet.

卫星影像数据偏见地理公平性遥感

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