High‑resolution elevation data underpins almost every spatial analysis we do in GIS—especially in forests where vertical structure defines habitat, biomass, wind exposure, fire behavior, hydrology, and the microclimates that sustain rare species. In rugged or densely vegetated environments, a coarse or biased elevation model propagates error everywhere: orthorectification drifts, hillshades mislead, slope/aspect misclassify, and canopy metrics saturate. The result is decisions made on blurred terrain that hides the very patterns we seek to manage. Precision elevation—derived from airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)—solves this by separating the ground from the vegetation and delivering both a bare‑earth Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and a Digital Surface Model (DSM). Subtracting DTM from DSM gives a Canopy Height Model (DHM) that captures the true vertical architecture of the forest at sub‑meter resolution.
Category Archives: EOB browser
¡Al final se nos quema la península este 2025!
Este agosto, España y Portugal han vivido una temporada de incendios excepcionalmente dura. En España, las llamas han calcinado ~382.000 hectáreas (más de seis veces la media reciente) y han dejado víctimas mortales; en Portugal, las superficies quemadas superan las 200.000 hectáreas, muy por encima del promedio 2006–2024 para estas fechas. El humo cruzó fronteras y degradó la calidad del aire a cientos de kilómetros.
Agricultura de Precisión. Uso del Satélite para la toma de decisiones en el campo
Quieres conocer cuál es el momento óptimo para plantar? Para fumigar? Para recolectar?. Sabías que dos de cada tres agricultores no cosechan en la fase de madurez adecuada?. Aquí abajo te describo un método completamente automatizado mediante el uso combinado de varios índices de vegetación como NDVI, NDWI, SAVI y EVI que podemos extraer del Satétile SENTINEL-2 en la plataforma COPERNICUS de la UE para conocer exactamente y anticipar las mejores decisiones de intervención sobre tus tierras.
Water Quality Assessment based on Sentinel-2 Surface Reflectance over La Safor region, Valencia, Spain. Winter 2024-25
in light of meteorological conditions in the study area — specifically the occurrence of exceptionally heavy rainfall events in the La Safor region of Valencia — rooted in hydrological and sediment dynamics rather than in sensor or algorithmic artifacts.
Summer Heat Inequity in Madrid: A Playground-Based Analysis in Summer 2024
Between June 21 and September 21, 2024, I analyzed the surface temperatures of all 2,123 registered playgrounds in Madrid using Landsat 8/9 imagery (Level-2 Surface Temperature products). This investigation, an extension of my previous reflection on urban heat and environmental justice in Geovisualization.net (May 2025), highlights how thermal exposure is patterned by geography, planning legacies, and demographic vulnerability in the Spanish capital.
Urban Heat Islands, Trees, and Climate Justice in the Anthropocene: A Remote Sensing-Based Reflection
In recent years, the need to understand the urban environment has grown more urgent than ever. Climate change is not an abstract future scenario; it is already here, reshaping our cities day by day. Among the many phenomena that demand our attention, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect stands out—not only for its environmental and public health impacts but also for its socio-political implications. Through satellite imagery and remote sensing, we can now visualize and quantify these dynamics with increasing precision. This post reflects on such an analysis I conducted using LANDSAT 8 imagery (Scene ID: LC08_L2SP_201032_20250328_20250401_02_T1, Date Acquired: 2025/03/28), and discusses the findings in the broader context of urban planning, climate justice, and the urgent need to protect urban vegetation.
Visualizing Los Angeles wildfires 2025 in Copernicus interface using Pierre Markuse’s script +GOES 10min imagery
Pierre Markuse’s wildfire visualization script is a notable tool in this regard, as it effectively enhances the identification of burned areas and active fire zones using Sentinel-2 imagery. Below, we delve into how this script works and its practical applications for wildfire analysis.
LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES 2025: Sentinel 2 +Overpass Turbo (OSM)
En Los Ángeles, la combinación de condiciones meteorológicas, como los vientos secos de Santa Ana y las altas temperaturas, crea un entorno propenso a incendios forestales. Estos fuegos, a menudo cercanos a áreas urbanas, representan un gran desafío para la gestión de emergencias. Aquí es donde Sentinel-2 se convierte en una herramienta crucial. Utilizando la combinación de bandas 12, 8, 4, Sentinel-2 permite detectar rápidamente focos de calor y evaluar la extensión de las áreas quemadas, lo que es vital para coordinar respuestas eficaces. Esta capacidad de monitoreo casi en tiempo real es fundamental para mitigar el impacto de los incendios y proteger tanto a las comunidades como a los ecosistemas.
Wildfires in Russia through SENTINEL 2
In recent days, the Sakha region in Russia has experienced significant wildfire activity, More than 100 wildfires spanning more than 300,000 hectares are currently active. driven by a combination of extreme weather conditions and environmental factors. The fires, which have spread across vast areas of forest and tundra, have been exacerbated by unusually high temperatures and prolonged periods of drought. These conditions have led to exceptionally dry vegetation, creating an ideal fuel for the fires.
Water Quality Viewer (UWQV) for Sentinel -2
The Ulyssys Water Quality Viewer harnesses the power of Sentinel-2 satellite data to provide comprehensive and accurate water quality assessments. Its intuitive legend and visualization capabilities significantly enhance the user’s ability to interpret and act on environmental data, contributing to better water management and conservation efforts worldwide, particularly in ecologically and economically significant areas like La Mata and Torrevieja salt lagoons.
Geovisualization.net 