Using very high spatial resolution multispectral satellite sensor imagery to monitor refugee camps

Detailed geographic information is a key factor in decision making processe s during refugee relief operations. The forthcoming commercial very high sp atial resolution (VHSR) satellite sensors will be capable of acquiring mult ispectral (MS) images at spatial resolutions of Im (panchromatic) and 4 m ( multispectral) of refugee camps and their environment. This work demonstrat es how refugee camp environment, area and population can be analysed using a VHSR MS satellite sensor image from the Russian KVR-1000 sensor. This ima ge, with a spatial resolution of 3.3 m, was used to study Thailand's Site 2 refugee camps, which were established to accommodate Khmer refugees on the Thai-Kampuchean border. At the time of image acquisition, the total popula tion of Site 2's five refugee camps was close to 143 000. The VHSR MS image was found to be suitable for mapping the refugee camp environment and area . A statistically significant linear relationship between camp area and pop ulation was determined. Accordingly, the study suggests that VHSR MS images in general may be useful for refugee camp planning and management and poin ts toward the utilization of forthcoming commercial VHSR MS satellite senso r images in humanitarian relief operations.