When Satellite Imagery Goes Dark: New Tool Shows Damage in Iran and the Gulf
Access to open source visuals of the current Iran conflict, which has spread to many parts of the Middle East, continues to be sporadic. Videos and photos from within Iran trickle out on social media as the Iranian internet blackout hinders the flow of digital communication.
In past conflicts, satellite imagery has provid...
**Steelman:** The Iran Conflict Damage Proxy Map represents a significant advancement in open-source conflict monitoring, leveraging freely available satellite data to bypass restrictions imposed by commercial providers and state actors. Its reliance on SAR imagery and statistical analysis rather than high-resolution optics or AI models mitigates common pitfalls like overfitting, making it a reliable tool for identifying large-scale damage in opaque conflict zones. The tool’s validation against ...