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
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.