Remote sensing | Bridging data gaps
Satellite data can help provide greater understanding of arid regions, water resource potential and dam failure
Above: Satellite measurements can bridge data gaps
SATELLITE MEASUREMENTS CAN BRIDGE data gaps by providing wide spatial coverage and near- continuous observations, enabling researchers to study areas that are otherwise inaccessible. Remote sensing technology has long been recognised as an essential tool for monitoring hydrological changes, especially in regions with limited ground-based data. By identifying spatiotemporal patterns, this technology enhances the detection of long-term trends and impacts, making it invaluable for environmental research and management in data-scarce regions. Monitoring basin water changes is critical for informed management, particularly when understanding how dams influence water resources and their subsequent impacts on the sustainability of downstream environments in arid regions, but quite often traditional methodologies can fall short in such areas where data may be scarce and ground-based measurements limited. To help overcome this and investigate the
environmental impacts of dam construction in southern Saudi Arabia, remote sensing and machine learning techniques were used in four basins all characterised by arid conditions - the Hali, Baish, Yiba, and Reem. A recent study by Almalki et al in the Journal of
Hydrology spans from 2003 to 2020, highlighting long-term trends and dam construction impacts on environmental variables. The study demonstrates that dam construction in arid regions can lead to significant environmental transformations, particularly in vegetation, groundwater, soil salinity, and runoff dynamics. Using a combination of space-for-time substitution, remote sensing, and machine learning
techniques, the research revealed substantial changes in key environmental variables. The findings highlighted basin-specific disruptions, particularly in groundwater and runoff, underscoring the localised hydrological impacts of dams. The authors say the research provides valuable insights for understanding the long-term environmental consequences of dam infrastructure, especially in data-limited regions. The use of remote sensing allowed them to overcome data limitations, providing a robust framework for assessing long-term environmental trends through the space-for-time substitution technique. This innovative approach is particularly valuable in regions like Yiba, Hali, Reem, and Baish, where ground observations are limited.
Ethiopian data Although Ethiopia is recognised as having abundant
water resources, technical constraints and inefficient management in the water sector means it hasn’t been fully exploited and translated into basin planning and development. As timely monitoring of surface water resources and detection of spatio-temporal changes is critical for sustainable use and management of the country’s water resources, a recent study explored the potential of machine learning to detect and monitor surface water bodies using Landsat data in a cloud computing platform at four sites in Ethiopia from 1986 to 2023. The sites were selected due to the diverse availability
of water resources including lakes, rivers, reservoirs and wetlands, as well as their complex interactions with human activities across different geographical locations and basins of Ethiopia. These were:
Right: Turkey’s Porsuk Dam provides important functions for the region, including water supplies and flood protection. Landsat satellite data for the years 2014-24 was used to determine changes in land and water potential here
38 | December 2025 |
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