ABAE processes satellite images to support risk management in the face of an earthquake emergency
Published at: 06/07/2026 04:23 PM
Specialists from the Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE) process satellite images and develop geospatial analysis to support the response to the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that occurred in northern Venezuela on June 24.
This work is part of Activation 1036 of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, a cooperation mechanism between space agencies in several countries that provides satellite information to authorities in the event of disasters. In this context, ABAE specialists process and interpret terrestrial observation images to generate thematic cartography aimed at evaluating damage.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MINCYT), the process begins with receiving satellite images taken before and after earthquakes. Based on these, specialists make geometric corrections, align the shots and compare the scenes to identify changes that have occurred in the terrain. This method, known as multitemporal analysis, makes it possible to precisely locate the areas where significant alterations were recorded.
The director of Space Applications at ABAE, Verónica De Souza, said that the institution maintains an uninterrupted technical deployment to support risk management and disaster management efforts in the country.
“A specialized team of experts is responsible for transforming satellite information into value-added products; these maps and processed optical and radar images are essential for institutions such as Civil Protection and other planning agencies to make strategic decisions in the field,” he said.
To date, ABAE has processed more than 1,400 images received through the international organization that manages the Charter and from different space agencies, and has generated more than 120 value-added cartographic products. This work is the result of collaboration between ABAE specialists and international organizations dedicated to Earth observation and disaster management.
Based on these analyses, cartographic products are developed that allow the identification of affected buildings, interruptions in road infrastructure, possible landslides, variations in the land surface and effects on strategic installations.
De Souza added that these products allow search and rescue bodies to sectorize the territory, prioritize care areas and optimize the use of available resources to assist the affected population.
The cartography generated by the ABAE is made available to Civil Protection and to the bodies responsible for risk management, who use it to guide attention to areas affected by earthquakes.
In this way, the technical work of the agency's specialists helps to translate satellite information into faster and more accurate decisions for the benefit of Venezuelan families affected by the disaster, and reflects the contribution of the peaceful use of space to a science for life.
Mazo News Team