Recently in the news we have seen a lot of satellite imagery depicting fires and hurricanes and their resultant damage, as well as satellite imagery of wartorn areas of the world such as Afghanistan. Of course this type of imagery is not new, but new ways of being able to display and gain greater understanding of a situation are invaluable to those tasked with analyzing such data.
Greenbelt, Maryland’s Orbit Logic’s SpyMeSat mobile app now includes an augmented reality (AR) interface that provides better awareness of overflying imaging satellites. The AR view overlays the orbit and position of satellites that can image your location, providing a better understanding of satellite viewing geometry and potential obstructions; e.g., to know if an image taken by that satellite of your position would be obscured by a tree or a building. The AR interface also displays relevant information about the satellite and its capabilities, that includes the timing and dynamic geometry of the pass as well as the resolution achievable by satellite sensors. (more…)