Researchers at UCLA have used night light imagery to assess the success of the troop surge in Iraq. The light levels from Sunni and Shiite neighborhoods were compared, and the conclusion is that sectarian violence and “cleansing” began before the surge and is more responsible for the reduction in violence than the rise in troop levels.
These conclusions have excited many researchers, as the data from the infrared sensors on the DOD weather satellites is widely available and this analysis doesn’t require time consuming, costly and dangerous data gathering on the ground. The technique still needs validation, but offers potentially valuable insight into conflict assessments.
Read more about this research in this story in the NewScientist.
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I find it interesting the very first word one reads on the “research” is Commentary.
http://www.envplan.com/epa/editorials/a41200.pdf
The authors have too many assumptions and too little cite research. IMHO
KoS