In the future, it may become almost impossible to carry out unsanctioned construction without being noticed. In 2025, Latvia will begin testing how satellite images could be used in the fight against illegal building. The pilot project's goal is to develop a mechanism that will connect landscape changes with documentation from databases and, even without building authority experts' inspections, allow officials to determine whether construction work is authorised.
The Institute for Environmental Solutions Dainis Jakovels lead researcher demonstrates how to potentially use satellite images to uncover illegal construction. Currently, Latvia is photographed from space almost daily, and these images can easily be compiled to reveal areas where construction work is taking place.
Dainis Jakovels points out that “when we start looking, we see that a lot is changing. For example, something is being built here. I'm not immediately claiming that it's illegal. I assume 99% of it is lawful, but the idea is that we detect changes. Then, by cross-referencing with available databases, we can decide where to focus our attention.”
The pilot project aims to develop a mechanism in which places where activity is occurring – such as construction of buildings, roads, tree felling, or other signs of potential building work – will be automatically identified on maps. By combining these images with data from the construction information system, it is expected that even without inspections by building authority experts, officials will be able to determine whether the work is authorised.
“By putting this together, we can create algorithms that classify these sites by risk and significance. Authorities can then receive a list. Here is the most significant change, followed by the next, and so on. Then they can decide which sites to inspect or not; that will be up to the experts,” says Dainis Jakovels.
The project's participants also emphasise that the goal is not to use satellites to search for individuals who may have built a shed or sauna in their backyard without permission. The main aim is identifying individuals who have carried out blatantly illegal construction.
Dainis Jakovels continues: “These are places with natural restrictions or protected areas, including buffer zones. These areas are more difficult to access, and monitoring what is happening there daily is harder. Satellite data allows us to take a broad view; in one image, we can see where and what is happening.”
The municipality of Ogre is involved in the pilot project, so illegal construction will first be monitored through satellite images there. The State Construction Control Bureau points out that if the tests are successful and building experts confirm that the system is helpful, it could be implemented nationwide.
Director of the State Construction Control Bureau Baiba Vītoliņa: “In our view, this could definitely be an option for detecting illegal construction. We could compare data before and after to see if there are any deviations from the building project or if construction was carried out without initiating the building process. So, it could be a useful tool.”
The pilot project will run throughout 2025. Funding for the project comes from the European Space Agency, and one of Latvia's partners is Slovakia, where satellite images were previously tested to see how they could help combat illegal construction.
The project aims to develop a mechanism for using satellite images to identify unsanctioned construction. Although it is a pilot project, it could be implemented across Latvia if the system proves successful.
Thanks to Latvia’s status as an Associate Member of European Space Agency, Latvian companies and research institutions can receive annual funding for the development of space technologies and solutions. At the end of 2024 the fifth fixed call for proposals under the European Space Agency’s Requesting Party Activity (RPA) in Latvia has concluded, approving 10 projects, including the Institute for Environmental Solutions project, with a total budget of €1,581,267.
Source: TV3 News
Photo: pexels.com
