Supporting Global Disaster Recovery with National Land Satellite Imagery

National Geographic Information Institute Joins International Charter

As a satellite-owning country, South Korea will support disaster-affected countries with national land satellite imagery during large-scale overseas disasters such as the T?rkiye earthquake.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's National Geographic Information Institute announced that it attended the plenary meeting of the International Charter, the world's largest satellite imagery-based disaster response organization, held on the 27th of last month, and completed its membership as a 'Data Contributor' providing national land satellite images during disasters.

Last November, at the 'Smart Land Expo' held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, a visitor is observing the South Korean earth observation satellite capturing images of Saudi Arabia's NEOM City and other locations.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The national land satellite is a high-resolution (0.5m black and white, 2m color) satellite launched in March 2021 for precise ground observation, intended for use in national land management, national spatial information construction, and disaster response.

Since 2020, the National Geographic Information Institute has been providing 'emergency spatial information' to related agencies to support damage analysis information for large-scale disasters occurring domestically. This year, it provided emergency spatial information for eight domestic wildfires, including those in Hongseong, Chungnam, and Jongno, Seoul.

Additionally, to contribute to overseas disaster rescue activities and recovery support, it provided images captured by the national land satellite during the T?rkiye earthquake in February this year.

The National Geographic Information Institute plans to complete necessary follow-up measures such as system integration by the first half of the year and will officially begin activities with the International Charter from the second half of the year.

Jo Wooseok, Director of the National Geographic Information Institute, stated, “Since the launch of National Land Satellite No. 1, it has successfully carried out its mission centered on the Korean Peninsula, and together with the upcoming launch of No. 2, we will do our best to fulfill various roles in the international community through activities such as the International Charter and contribute to global issues.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.