Research into the South China Sea
This is a topic of interest for our firm. We leverage Google Earth for satellite imagery and open source materials for our supporting facts. We seek satellite imagery from other satellite providers.
August 23: We signed up for Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. Let's see how this will help us. Thank you Copernicus and ESA. By August 27, 2024, we had used our entire data processing allotment for the month, and now have to wait until September. Good news is we made effective use of the imagery, and our South China Sea is better for it.
August 28:
We organize our work into individual webpages on individual formations or groups of related formations, typically with one primary. For example, Woody & Rocky Island has its own web page: (Woody Island and Rocky Island, Paracel Islands), but you will find many formations in or near Tizard Bank on this page: (Sand Cay, Namyit Island, and Gaven Reef, Tizard Bank, and Great Discovery Reef, Spratly Islands).
We group all formations into nearshore Islands that are close to the coast, the Paracel Island and the Spratly Islands.
We also have a page where we focus on identifying countries engaged in the region, leaders and involved experts in those countries, and any relevant history, alliances, treaties or court findings.
Navigate the pages under this menu, or click the buttons below to learn more.
August 23: We signed up for Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. Let's see how this will help us. Thank you Copernicus and ESA. By August 27, 2024, we had used our entire data processing allotment for the month, and now have to wait until September. Good news is we made effective use of the imagery, and our South China Sea is better for it.
August 28:
- We now discovered Maxar Technology's evaluation data called xpress. It has basic data from Google Maps and Open Street Map. Based on the terms of service, we cannot replicate any of the data, so we will just use it to 'get smarter' and evaluate the service for purchase. You may see our web-pages get smarter, and we will cite Maxar when their free, evaluation information was helpful to us.
- We also signed up for NASA Earth Data, and are starting to learn the site. It is far richer and more capable than we know how to use, so it may take us a few months (lol) to become effective with it.
- Airbus Intelligence does have imagery coverage of the South China Sea for purchase.
- USGS Earth Explorer has great data for the United States. We are looking at all the parks near our home right now...from space.
We organize our work into individual webpages on individual formations or groups of related formations, typically with one primary. For example, Woody & Rocky Island has its own web page: (Woody Island and Rocky Island, Paracel Islands), but you will find many formations in or near Tizard Bank on this page: (Sand Cay, Namyit Island, and Gaven Reef, Tizard Bank, and Great Discovery Reef, Spratly Islands).
We group all formations into nearshore Islands that are close to the coast, the Paracel Island and the Spratly Islands.
We also have a page where we focus on identifying countries engaged in the region, leaders and involved experts in those countries, and any relevant history, alliances, treaties or court findings.
Navigate the pages under this menu, or click the buttons below to learn more.