Dataharvest 2026 - the European Investigative Journalism Conference

In this session, we will show how satellite imagery can support investigations into war, militarisation, and environmental changes. The methods discussed are applicable to climate investigations such as land-use change, infrastructure expansion, and environmental damage.

We will cover:
-Getting the image: How to choose between open and commercial satellite imagery based on editorial needs, such as resolution, timeliness, licensing, and costs—and what to be aware of when downloading an image.
-Analysing the image: Measuring distances and object sizes in images (e.g., airplanes), verifying the time an image was taken, and merging different satellite images.
-Presenting the image: Tools to tell stories with satellite images so that readers can understand them intuitively—for example, through before–and–after comparisons, annotations, colour correction, sliders, GIFs, and scrolly-telling, with a focus on mobile-first presentation.

The session is intended for reporters, editors, and visual journalists. No prior experience with satellite imagery is required.