Sri Lanka harnesses satellite technology to support critical environmental research and enhance disaster‑management capabilities. These space-based observations offer powerful tools for understanding ecological change, assessing drought risk, and mitigating natural hazards.
Environmental Monitoring
- Monitoring Mangrove Reforestation
- High-resolution satellite imagery—such as PlanetScope, Sentinel‑2, and Landsat—is used to track the success of mangrove restoration around estuaries like Batticaloa. Studies show that, despite reforestation efforts after the 2004 tsunami, still ~26% less mangrove coverage remains compared to 1995.
- Mapping and Habitat Assessment
- Satellite data allow classification of mangrove forests in regions like Galle‑Unawatuna and Negombo estuary using IKONOS and Google Earth imagery—enabling precise mapping of vegetation types, identifying changes over time, and linking land‑use modifications to biodiversity shifts.
Disaster Risk Reduction
- Hazard Mapping with Satellite Data
- The Disaster Management Centre, Uwa‑Wellassa University, UNDP, and UN‑SPIDER have utilized satellite technology—such as radar and DEM processing—to improve flood, coastal, and landslide hazard mapping across the island.
- Urban Flood and Landslide Risk Mapping
- Through collaboration with UNITAR’s UNOSAT and Sri Lanka’s National Building Research Organisation, Earth observation applications have been integrated into Sri Lanka’s urban disaster risk reduction programs. Training includes remote sensing and UAV operations to support flood and landslide risk mapping.
Drought Monitoring
- Satellite‑Based Agricultural & Meteorological Drought Indices
- Sri Lanka has adopted satellite-derived indices—such as Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI), and MODIS‑based Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), Temperature Condition Index (TCI), and Vegetation Health Index (VHI)—to track drought across districts over decades and support sustainable agriculture.
- Integrated Drought Severity Index (IDSI)
- A composite index developed from rainfall, vegetation, and temperature datasets identifies major drought events (e.g., 2001, 2012, 2017, 2019) and pinpoints highly vulnerable regions like North Central, Eastern, and Hambantota districts.
- Real-time Drought Monitoring Tools
- The IWMI-developed South Asia Drought Monitoring System (SA‑DMS) and Sri Lanka’s national PRISM platform offer real-time updates on soil moisture, vegetation, and weather forecasts—enabling early warning and policy decision support.
Sri Lanka’s use of satellite-based research and observation underscores how space technologies empower national efforts in environmental restoration, hazard mitigation, and climate resilience. The synergy between high-resolution imagery, geospatial analytics, and real-time systems is paving the way for more sustainable management of natural resources and disaster preparedness.