Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Satellite Communication and Remote Sensing Center (UHUZAM), A new type of coronavirus (Kovid-19) prior to the outbreak and after images taken by satellite, measures to that followed, crowded square in Turkey, observed the coast road and thoroughfare is seen revealed that somehow empty. In the records, it was observed that life had almost come to a halt in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa and Konya, while the mobility at bus and train terminals stopped, and the number of parked planes increased due to the suspension of flights at Istanbul and Atatürk airports.
Within the scope of the fight against the Kovid-19 outbreak, thanks to the strict measures taken in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health Science Committee and the 30-day curfew, which was implemented within the provincial borders of Zonguldak and 2 metropolitan areas, the crowded squares, streets and streets were almost silent throughout the country.
Turkey's first observation satellite ground station and satellite image widest ITU UH with archiveZAMSome crowded and busy squares, frequently used main roads and coastal roads, airports, bus and train terminals in the country were viewed from space. After the outbreak before seen images recorded with 19 cases in Turkey were the first Kovid-made comparison of captured images.
In this context, Turkey's 5 before Kovid-19 outbreak in the metropolitan and after images recorded through different satellites, particularly in recent weeks to the measures taken within the scope of the fight against the epidemic and "at home" shows that appeal to largely complied with.
Mobility in Square, Beach and Streets Has Come to a Stop Point
In the records taken on the beaches of Kadıköy, Üsküdar and Eminönü in Istanbul on March 1-9 and April 9, it was noted that the density of vehicles on the roads and parking lots decreased significantly, while the mobility came to a standstill.
It was observed that the rules were mostly followed in Zincirlikuyu and its connected roads, around Maslak and Büyükdere Street, and fewer vehicles came out to traffic.
While Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue were quite crowded in the image taken on March 19 before Kovid-1, it was noted that the density of people decreased by finger in the image recorded on April 9.
Mobility at Bus and Train Terminals Stopped in Ankara
The image taken on April 14 in Kızılay Square and its vicinity in Ankara stated that vehicle and human density decreased greatly.
When the images taken between Ankara Intercity Terminal Operation (AŞTİ) and High Speed Train Terminal and its surroundings between 17 January and 14 April, it was observed that the number of buses waiting for passengers in the area decreased almost negatively after the intercity travels were banned.
In addition, it was observed that the traffic and vehicle density on the roads connected to the terminals was very low.
Day of Curfew Implemented Izmir Left Empty
When the curfew was imposed on the beaches of Izmir Kordon and Alsancak on April 12, compared to the image on February 18, it was noted that the coastal road and the surrounding parking lots are almost completely empty.
The density of the vehicles on the roads decreased on the images taken between the 9th of March and 13th of April around Bursa Grand Mosque and Grand Bazaar.
In the image recorded in Konya Mevlana Square on 8-10 April, vehicle density was slightly higher than other provinces.
Number of Parked Planes Increased at Airports
The images taken between 9 March-9 April at Atatürk Airport and 22 January-20 March at Istanbul Airport were compared.
Both satellite images recorded at the airport, and the suspension of international flights to domestic flights in Turkey and throughout the world are also almost been observed to increase the number of aircraft at airports that are in the park due to come to a halt. Parked planes are marked with the image processing algorithm.
Air Quality Increased
On the other hand, the effects of Kovid-19 on the change of air quality were observed in satellite shots made within the scope of the study.
5-day averages of the changes in nitrogen dioxide densities after Kovid-19 with Sentinel 3P satellite in Marmara Region-Istanbul, Aegean Region-Izmir, Central Anatolia-Ankara and Konya and Mediterranean Region were taken.
It was noticed that the nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the air decreased greatly in the images, while it was observed to increase occasionally in the port areas. It was stated that nitrogen dioxide values decreased at the weekend and increased during the week, while air quality and cleanliness increased during the days when the values decreased.
“The Rules Have Been Complied More In The Last Weeks”
ITU UHUZAM Director and Faculty of Civil Engineering Department of Geomatics Engineering Prof. Dr. Elif Sertel AA correspondent, founded the center of the support of the State Planning Organization in 1996, it is Turkey's first satellite earth station, several antenna systems and equipment that infrastructure, contracted their satellite directly from data downloads and that they have the right to plan for receiving data told.
Pointing out that the mobility decreased as expected in many places, especially with the introduction of some curfews after the Kovid-19 outbreak and the implementation of the curfew at the weekend, Sertel said that they are planning to view the effects of the decrease in human and vehicle mobility from space through satellite.
Stating that they recorded images, especially on the busy squares, beaches and airports, some of them were on weekdays and some of them were at the end of the week, Sertel stated his observations as follows:
“Especially the squares filled by people in good weather are completely empty with the effect of Kovid-19 and curfew. There are examples from Üsküdar and Eminönü beach, Istiklal Avenue and its surroundings. The images we took from the Izmir coast coincided with the Sunday when the curfew was imposed. When we compare the images before and after, we do not see cars anymore, especially in places where people go out and use parking lots, parking lots are empty. It is also possible to observe that vehicle traffic is not the same in the roads and streets that are used much. Sometimes we can see the crowd of people according to the satellite we work with, sometimes the vehicles can be predominant. By combining all of them, we can even follow how the mobility is decreasing and increasing, sometimes the rules are followed. It is possible to draw information from the images that the rules have been followed better in recent weeks. ”
Getting Images From 700 Kilometers
Professor Dr. Sertel stated that they are expecting an increase in the number of planes there, if they are looking at the airport. All airports in the world are regularly monitored with satellite images, and the number of aircraft at the airport is checked before and after Kovid-19. It can also provide information on the status of these airlines in the long term. ” he spoke.
Stating that they have downloaded very high resolution images from the satellites they have contracted with, Sertel said, “These are spatial resolutions starting from 30 centimeters to several meters. A pixel you see in the image can correspond to 30 to 50 centimeters on the ground, depending on the type of satellite. This means the detail you can distinguish. It is possible to distinguish objects that are twice the resolution. These satellites are 2-600 kilometers away. Accessing this detail from that distance is an important technology. ” made the evaluation.
“Kovid-19 Affected Air Quality Favorably”
Sertel explained that nitrogen dioxide is a substance in the air, its excess indicates the air pollution, it increases in the winter months, especially the emission gas coming from the vehicles and the coal used for heating cause an increase.
Stating that they also monitor the atmosphere with the satellites of the European Space Agency, Sertel gave the following information: “They have a system for air quality. We download data from there to see if there has been a change in air quality. Because factories are closing with the effect of Kovid-19, traffic decreases. This affects the air quality positively. With such little activity, pollutant gases such as natural sulfur dioxide are no longer or very little in the atmosphere. It is possible to observe this mobility. For this, again using the satellites of the European Space Agency, he prepared videos in the form of animation and zamWe can interpret how the air quality has changed in moments. There is less mobility, traffic density and less work in factories and industrial areas zamAt times, the amount of nitrogen dioxide decreases and the air becomes cleaner. Our observations are generally consistent with this. You look before and after Kovid-19 zamThere is a good, positive improvement in air quality at the moment. "
Be the first to comment