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Human Footprints: Tracking Development From Space

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Human footprints

human development

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

With a project called Global Urban Footprints, scientists use radar imagery to reveal human development around the world.

Minneapolis, United States

Radar image of human development in Minneapolis.

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

The images are presented in three colors — black for urban areas; white for land surface; and grey for water. Minneapolis, Minnesota, is shown here.

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo radar

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

A radar image of Tokyo, Japan.

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo, Japan

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

A visible light image of Tokyo, Japan

Cairo, Egypt

Cairo radar

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

A radar image of Cairo, Egypt.

Brussels, Germany

Brussels radar

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

Radar imagery of Brussels, Germany.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam radar

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

A satellite radar image of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Delhi, India

Satellite radar image of Delhi, India.

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

Satellite radar image of Delhi, India.

Delhi, India

Delhi

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

A visible light image of Delhi, India.

Los Angeles, United States

Los Angeles radar

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

Human development in Los Angeles, California, viewed with satellite radar.

Munich, Germany

Munich radar

(Image credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR))

The region around Munich, Germany, viewed with satellite radar.

Becky Oskin
Becky Oskin
Contributing Writer
Becky Oskin covers Earth science, climate change and space, as well as general science topics. Becky was a science reporter at Live Science and The Pasadena Star-News; she has freelanced for New Scientist and the American Institute of Physics. She earned a master's degree in geology from Caltech, a bachelor's degree from Washington State University, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz.