Battle-damage detector can help aid groups rapidly respond during war

Technology

A simple statistical test can quickly guide humanitarian efforts in areas like Gaza and Ukraine impacted by war – and it could perform as well as more expensive, AI-powered methods

By Jeremy Hsu

Widespread damage to buildings near the Palestine Tower in Gaza City on 10 October 2023 after bombardment by Israeli forces

Geopix/Alamy

An algorithm that detects battle damage can compare satellite images to estimate the number of buildings destroyed and people affected by ongoing conflicts. It has been tested on satellite images of Ukraine and Gaza, and could be used to quickly guide relief and reconstruction efforts by humanitarian organisations.

The algorithm detected differences between intact and damaged buildings in 12 different cities by analysing radar signals from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1…

Article amended on 31 May 2024

We clarified the accuracy of the statistical method compared with human labelling

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