**2.6 Satellite imagery**

Satellite imagery remained one of the most valuable resources used to assist organizations working in disaster areas [19, 20]. The imagery enabled relief organizations to assess the state of infrastructure and pinpoint the hardest-hit areas, which is critical for ensuring the efficient delivery of aid [21]. In the aftermath of the earthquakes, several resources provided free access to all their technologies to aid organizations operating in the disaster zone. Similar to past disasters, satellite imagery was utilized to offer a broader perspective of the affected area.

The xView2 program, an open-source project sponsored and developed by the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit and Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute in 2019, collaborated with various research partners, including Microsoft and the University of California, Berkeley. By using machine-learning algorithms in conjunction with satellite imagery, xView2 could identify building and infrastructure damage in the disaster area and categorize its severity more quickly than current methods. This enabled first responders and recovery experts to quickly assess the situation and coordinate reconstruction efforts over time, as seen in Turkey, where the platform was used by multiple organizations in response to the earthquake. Despite its potential, the technology is not without challenges. The model heavily relies on satellite imagery, which is only available during the day and when there is no cloud cover. Additionally, satellite images have an aerial perspective, which makes it difficult to identify damage on the sides of buildings. Furthermore, getting on-theground organizations to trust and use an AI solution has been challenging, as traditional first responders are not always familiar with new technology. Nevertheless, xView2 has proved to be an improvement over traditional disaster assessment systems, allowing organizations to create a shared map of the affected area in minutes, coordinate and prioritize responses, and ultimately save time and lives [22].

*Technology and Disaster Relief: The Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Case Study DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.111612*

## **2.7 Drone**

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, were used to aid in search and rescue operations. These drones captured footage of the affected areas and were outfitted with sensors to assess the extent of building damage. One such sensor detected high levels of methane, which assisted in identifying buildings at risk of explosion due to faulty gas supplies [23]. As part of their humanitarian efforts, several drone manufacturers and the Spanish government sent drones to Turkey.

Drones were used to deliver essential supplies to hard-to-reach areas, in addition to assisting in search and rescue operations. Drones have gained popularity in disaster relief operations in recent years due to their ability to bypass roadblocks and provide a bird's eye view of the affected area [24, 25]. Drones can deliver small items like medicine, food, and communication equipment to those in need, reducing the risk to first responders and speeding up aid delivery. Drones were used to deliver essential supplies to people trapped in the rubble following the earthquake in Turkey, making it possible to quickly provide assistance to those in need in hardto-reach areas. Drone delivery in disaster zones, on the other hand, can be difficult because it requires careful coordination with other relief efforts on the ground to avoid collisions and disruptions to rescue operations. Despite these obstacles, the use of drones in disaster relief has demonstrated enormous potential for providing critical assistance to those in need.
