High-resolution satellite imagery, previously the domain of government intelligence, is now becoming accessible to the public, offering new opportunities for environmental oversight and historical analysis.
This shift can be traced back to 2019 when former President Donald Trump inadvertently sparked interest by sharing high-resolution images of sensitive locations, igniting curiosity about the capabilities of satellite technology. What began as speculation around the mysterious sources of such images has evolved with advancements in technology and increased availability of satellite data.
One relevant project illustrating this trend was recently reported, focusing on Bali, Indonesia. The unique application of declassified images from the Cold War-era U.S. spy satellite KH-7 Gambit has shed light on how the island has transformed over the past decades. This initiative, driven by environmental scientist David Gaveau and the organization Nusantara Atlas, revealed historical satellite images mapping the rapid development of areas like Seminyak and Canggu.
"Everybody knows Bali has changed, we just don’t know where and how," Gaveau commented, emphasizing the importance of visual documentation to inform discussions about overtourism. The images from May 1965 captured the southern coastlines before the island's tourist boom, offering insights on changes subsequent to the International Airport's inauguration just three years later.
Bali’s population has skyrocketed from around 2 million residents to over 4 million currently, according to Indonesia’s statistics bureau. Approximately half a million tourists flood the island each month, spurred on by marketing efforts aiming for 6.5 million international visitors this year.
The environmental ramifications of such growth prompted advocacy for preservation. Ida Bagus Aria Yoga Dharata from Bali’s environmental organization Walhi highlighted concerns about the rich cultural identity tied intimately to nature. “If [the culture] is lost, then Bali is no different,” he asserted, reflecting anxiety over the island's future amid development pressures.
Chakra Widia, another conservationist, lamented the decline of agricultural viability, remarking, "Rice farming used to be the backbone, but now it is tourism." This sentiment echoes broader national conversations as local and national officials proposed a two-year moratorium on new tourism developments to combat overtourism and environmental degradation. Nevertheless, Governor Wayan Koster has rejected this proposal, opting instead for tighter regulations and endorsing improvements to existing tourism taxes aimed at protecting Bali’s cultural and ecological landscapes.
The peculiar intersection of technology and advocacy demonstrates the dual-edged nature of accessibility to satellite imagery. While it enables the records of environmental changes over decades, it also allows organizations and individuals to advocate for more sustainable practices and regulations. Gaveau and his peers are hopeful this increased awareness will inform public policy.
Overall, as the imagery continues to trickle down from elite military and intelligence sources to academic institutions and environmental organizations, it is becoming clear how valuable these visual tools can be for shaping the narratives of our rapidly changing planet.