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Mining and Satellite Imagery

Satellite imagery and aerial photography have proven to be important tools in support of mineral exploration projects. The tools are used in a variety of ways. Firstly, they provide geologists and field crews with the location of tracks, roads, fences, and inhabited areas. This is important for mapping out potential access corridors for exploration areas and considering the environmental impact af large project.  The satellite map data is also useful for mapping outcrops and regolith systematics and vegetation cover across exploration blocks and over regional areas.

Satellite images can also benefit geologists, scientists, and exploration managers due to the multiple bands that the satellites carry that allow the interpretation of wavelengths that cannot be seen by the human eye.  Near-infrared, short wave infrared, and thermal infrared can be used to identify the difference in structural features of the earth’s surface.

Multispectral imaging and thematic mapping allow researchers to collect reflection data and absorption properties of soils, rock, and vegetation. This data could be utilized by trained photogeologists to interpret surface lithologies, identify clays, oxides, and soil types from satellite imagery.

Mine in 

Saline, California

ASTER (15m) Satellite Images

n the example above, the left image displays visible and near-infrared bands 3, 2, and 1 in red, green, and blue (RGB). Vegetation appears red, snow and dry salt lakes are white, and exposed rocks are brown, gray, yellow, and blue. Rock colors may reflect the presence of iron minerals, and variations in albedo. The middle image displays short wavelength infrared bands 4, 6, and 8 as RGB. In this wavelength region, clay, carbonate, and sulfate minerals have diagnostic absorption features, resulting in distinct colors on the image. For example, limestones are yellow-green, and purple areas are kaolinite-rich. The right image displays thermal infrared bands 13, 12, and 10 as RGB. In this wavelength region, variations in quartz content appear as more or less red; carbonate rocks are green, and mafic volcanic rocks are purple.

Pleiades-1A (0.5m) Satellite Image

Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Utah, USA

Image Copyright © AIRBUS Defence & Space. All rights reserved.

Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Utah, USA

ArcScene 3D View

Image Copyright © AIRBUS Defence & Space/Processed by Satellite Imaging Corporation. All rights reserved.

Satellite Imaging Corporation (SIC) provides high-resolution satellite maps for analysis and mapping applications such as Geographic Information System (GIS). Our imaging, Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and geodesy experts are highly experienced in image processing, orthorectification, georeferencing, feature extraction, and mosaicing for your specific project needs.

In addition, we work with trained geological consultants and can leverage their expertise to interpret the image data for several different mining and geological applications.

If you have a particular mining or geologic project we would be happy to review your requirements and give you an estimate of what we can provide in support of your project.

Sample Images

Mineral Exploration, Classification, and Interpretation

Geological Interpretation using ASTER, DEM and 8-Band MS WorldView-2 Imagery
1 Meter DEM Pleiades-1A Triple Stereo Satellite Imagery - Bingham Canyon Copper Mine
ASTER Mineral Mapping & Mineral Classification - Escondida Copper Mine, Chile

* Click on thumbnail to view in full resolution.

For many image requests, a matching image can be located in our global archives of satellite imagery. If no satellite map data is available in the archives, new satellite image data can be acquired through a satellite tasking process. Besides providing image data, Satellite Imaging Corporation performs many tasks in the background to ensure that we meet customer specifications and time schedules.

Satellite image data has been used by government, commercial, industrial, civilian, and educational communities throughout the world. The data is used to support a wide range of applications in such areas as global change research, agriculture, forestry, geology, resource management, geography, mapping, hydrology, and oceanography.

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TESTIMONIALS

Stories & Experiences

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FAQ’S

Frequently Asked Questions

How to find Geographic Coordinates in Google maps?

To find geographic coordinates in Google Maps, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open Google Maps in your web browser or on your mobile device.

  2. Search for the location you want to find the geographic coordinates for by entering the address, landmark, or name of the place in the search bar at the top of the page.

  3. Once the location is displayed on the map, right-click (or long-press on mobile) the exact point on the map where you want to find the coordinates. This will open a small menu.

  4. In the menu that appears, click on “What’s here?” or “What’s here? – Coordinates” option. On mobile devices, you may need to tap on the location marker first to reveal the menu options.

  5. A small information box will appear at the bottom of the screen, displaying the latitude and longitude coordinates of the selected point. The coordinates will be shown in decimal degrees format.

  6. You can click on the coordinates in the information box to expand it and see the coordinates in different formats, such as degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS) or Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) format.

To create a KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file in Google Earth, you can follow these steps:

  1. Download Google Earth Pro and Open on your computer.

  2. Navigate to the location or area you want to create a KML file for by using the search bar, zooming in/out, and panning on the map.

  3. Customize the view and layers in Google Earth Pro to include the specific data or elements you want to include in your KML file. This can include placemarks, paths, polygons, overlays, images, and more.

  4. Once you have set up the desired view and layers, go to the “Add” menu at the top of the screen and select the type of element you want to add (e.g., placemark, path, polygon, image overlay).

  5. Follow the prompts to add the specific element and provide the necessary information, such as location coordinates, name, description, and any additional properties or styling options.

  6. Repeat the previous step if you want to add more elements to your KML file.

  7. After adding all the desired elements, go to the “File” menu and select “Save Place As.”

  8. In the “Save Place As” dialog box, choose a location on your computer where you want to save the KML file.

  9. Specify the name of the KML file, ensuring it has the .kml extension (e.g., myfile.kmL), you may need to select KML as GoogleEarth defaults to KMZ formats.

  10.  Click the “Save” button to save the KMZ file to the specified location on your computer.

Ordering commercial high-resolution and medium-resolution satellite maps process:

  1. Identify your requirements: Determine the specific needs for the satellite maps, including the desired resolution, geographic coverage, acquisition date, and any additional specifications such as spectral bands or cloud cover constraints.

  2. Contact Us: Reach out to us to inquire about our imaging product and services. Provide us with the details of your requirements, including the area of interest, resolution, and any other specifications.

  3. If there is high urgency for imagery, please let us know that this is a time sensitive project. Any project deadlines should be included with your initial contact.

  4. Request a quote: Ask for a formal quote for the satellite maps you need. The quote should include information such as the cost, delivery timeline, licensing terms, and any additional services like data processing or analysis.

  5. Review the quote: Evaluate the quote provided by us and if needed, we can negotiate the terms, pricing, or any specific requirements that may not be fully covered.

  6. Confirm the order: Once you are satisfied with the quote and have reached an agreement, confirm your order. We will guide you through the necessary steps for payment and delivery.

  7. Receive the satellite maps: After the order is confirmed and payment is processed, you will receive the satellite map data in the specified format. This may include downloading the data from a secure portal or receiving physical media, depending on delivery method.

  8. Utilize the satellite maps: With the satellite maps that you receive, you can utilize it for your intended purposes, such as GIS data, 3D terrain maps, disaster, geospatial data, and other applications as needed.

Satellite map raw files refer to the unprocessed and unedited data captured by satellite sensors. These files contain the raw data received by the satellite sensors, including the reflected or emitted electromagnetic radiation from the Earth’s surface.

Satellite map raw files typically come in specialized formats specific to each satellite sensor or provider. These formats may include formats like GeoTIFF (georeferenced Tagged Image File Format) or ENVI (Environment for Visualizing Images). The raw files preserve the original sensor readings, which can include various spectral bands, radiometric information, and geometric parameters.

Raw files require processing to convert them into usable formats, such as georeferenced images or digital elevation model(DEM). Processing steps may involve radiometric and geometric corrections, atmospheric compensation, calibration, orthorectification, and mosaicking, among others.

Once processed, raw files can provide valuable information for various GIS data applications, including 3D terrain maps, agriculture production maps, vegetation maps, and disaster maps.

To download satellite maps from an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server, you can follow these general steps:

  1. Obtain the FTP server information: Get the FTP server details from the satellite maps provider or the source you are accessing. This includes the FTP server address, username, password, and potentially the directory path to the imagery files.

  2. Choose an FTP client: Select an FTP client software or application that allows you to connect to the FTP server and perform file transfers. Some popular options include FileZilla, WinSCP, Cyberduck, or the built-in FTP functionality of certain web browsers.

  3. If you are unable to download an FTP client due to software locks, Windows has a built in FTP Protocol that can be accessed by copying the URL of the FTP server in your Windows File Explorer.

  4. Depending on the method to connect to the FTP, you will need credentials including a Username and Password to access these file.

  5. Most FTP clients will allow you to Copy and Paste or Drag and Drop the files from the client window to your local files.

Remember to comply with any terms and conditions associated with the satellite map data, including usage restrictions, licensing agreements, and any attribution requirements specified by the provider.

For any other questions or for a consultation, please contact us.

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