The evoluation of the number of high resolution images obtained from commercial satellite in terms of geospatial intelligence: The case of the russia-ukraine war

The concept of intelligence has become a multifaceted process of knowledge production, not only utilized by state security institutions but also actively employed by the private sector, media, and academic circles. In this process, the strategic importance of spatial data–based analyses has been increasing, as commercial satellite technologies enable the acquisition of up-to-date, reliable, and verifiable information from conflict zones. Consequently, the transforming nature of intelligence driven by technological advancements and the strategic value of geospatial data–based analyses have become subjects of scientific inquiry through contemporary examples of warfare. This thesis aims to evaluate the role and significance of high-resolution imagery provided by commercial satellites in the production of Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT). Within the scope of the study, the Russia-Ukraine War, which began in 2022, has been examined to analyze the potential contributions of the numerical distribution of satellite imagery to the intelligence process. The thesis outlines the definition and components of geospatial intelligence, as well as its relationship with other types of intelligence; subsequently, the potential influence of the numerical density of commercial satellite data on the planning stages of the war is assessed through the Russia-Ukraine case. In this context, by examining and interpreting open-source satellite data numerically, the study sheds light on the potential and contribution of commercial imagery, as quantitative data, to the production of geospatial intelligence. At the same time, it addresses the deficiencies in the national literature and emphasizes the necessity and importance of geospatial intelligence activities, which remain heavily dependent on technological infrastructure in the age of rapidly developing technology.