Images and Data Sets
The Regional Remote Sensing Unit (RRSU) maintains a database with satellite images and vector datasets of SADC countries, which include information on national and sub-national administrative boundaries, elevation, infra-structure, hydrology, major growing areas, forests, protected areas and cultural sites. The types of satellite images in the database are listed below:
| Data Type | Resolution | Uses |
| METEOSAT | 3 / 5 km | Monitoring rainfall, storms |
| Rainfall Estimates | 8 km | Monitoring rainfall, floods |
| Water Requirements Satisfaction Index (WRSI) | 8 km | Crop condition monitoring |
| NDVI(LAC/GAC) | 1.1 km / 8 km | Monitoring crops, vegetation |
| SPOT-4 VGT | 1.1 km | Monitoring crops, vegetation |
| MODIS | 250 m | Monitoring crops, vegetation |
| LANDSAT | 30 m | Land cover mapping |
| ASTER | 15 m | Land cover, terrain modelling, vegetation |
You can view some of these datasets on our satellite images web page.
Vector datasets are listed here.
The RRSU maintains another website, SADC GeoNetwork node, where you can have more information on available datasets. You can also download some data from that node.
All data are georeferenced. The medium and high resolution datasets (MODIS, ASTER, LANDSAT) are in the GeoTiff format, while the lower resolution datasets are in the IDA format for use with the WinDisp software, which can be obtained from the FAO website.
This database can be abridged to CD-ROM / DVD for distribution.