IMAGING

NOAA flood mapping now covers 60% of U.S.

NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) announced its experimental Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) tool. The FIM provides near-real-time, high resolution, street-level visualizations of f lood waters to assist NWS forecasters in issuing flood watches and warnings. It helps provide approximate spatial estimates of land area that is covered in water, based on modeled forecast river flows and current conditions, with detailed information on where flooding impacts may occur. www.noaa.gov

Locate unmarked graves in northeast Iowa using remote sensing

A team of three Luther College anthropology students led by Colin Betts, professor of anthropology, worked to identify unmarked graves at three pioneer cemeteries in Winneshiek County this summer.

The students conducted their efforts in three cemeteries: Big Canoe Norwegian Methodist, Springwater Cemetery and Crossroads/Metcalf Cemetery. These locations were selected for their high likelihood of containing unmarked graves. By combining survey-grade GPS mapping with ground-based sensing technologies, the students sought to detect subsurface anomalies that may indicate burial sites.

The students used ground penetrating radar, soil resistivity and a magnetic gradiometer to survey the cemeteries. Each of these technologies offer different types of insights into what may lie beneath the surface. When weather was favorable, high-quality data was collected. In several cases, the technology revealed patterns consistent with unmarked burials. www.luther.

MBRSC, CAR and AEC sign MoU

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) signed a MoU with the Corporación Autónoma Regional de Cundinamarca (CAR) and Colombian Space Agency (AEC) to foster international cooperation in the field of space science and technology. The agreement outlines a framework for collaboration across several key areas in the field of space science and technology, including promoting joint research and innovation, facilitating knowledge transfer, and enhancing data exchange between the UAE and Colombia. The MoU further aims to encourage capacity building and expertise sharing through joint projects designed to strengthen both nations’ contributions to global space exploration and technological advancement. www.zawya.com

OnGeo Intelligence kicks off global campaign

OnGeo Intelligence has launched a campaign that gives people around the world a chance to get free access to Maxar’s high-resolution satellite imagery. The initiative runs until September 30, 2025 and is open to anyone willing to share a personal use case, user story, or idea showing how satellite imagery can be useful in everyday life. Participants can request a Satellite Imagery Report with premium data from Maxar’s constellations – WorldView, WorldView Legion, and GeoEye – with resolution as sharp as 30 cm per pixel. www.ongeo-intelligence.com

Space Norway Signs New Launch Agreement with SpaceX

Space Norway has signed a contract with SpaceX for the launch of the new communications satellite, THOR 8, into geostationary orbit. The mission, which will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2027, will strengthen Space Norway’s communications capacity for both governmental and commercial clients. THOR 8 is a major undertaking for Space Norway. The satellite will both replace older satellites being phased out in the coming years and provide increased capacity and service offerings for its customers. It is part of Space Norway’s multi-orbit strategy, with satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), and highly elliptical orbit (HEO). spacenorway.com