Tracking the Urbicide in Gaza

This work started with constructing an updated base map that is georeferenced based on building footprints that predates the October 7 events. This is the first unique contribution of the project as all the released base maps were outdated. To build the digital 2D base map and 3D model, extensive work was undertaken to consolidate data available from multiple sources, to cross-reference, verify, and update it to the conditions prior to October 2023. Sources included Open Street Maps, Microsoft footprints, satellite images of different dates, and a 3D model by VISICOM. The verification process was undertaken manually, verifying building-by-building across multiple sources covering 298,960 buildings. The update included adding or editing 174,358 building footprints and deleting 24,946 buildings in the consolidated map generated from the available sources. Additional data was gathered from various sources to identify institutions, infrastructural utilities, as well as heritage and archeological sites. The source for the initial data on schools and universities was obtained from OCHA and that for heritage and archeological sites was obtained from Riwaq. The data was then filtered, updated, and cross-referenced using Open Street Maps, Google Earth, and other media sources. The team was able to map 1396 institutions including educational, religious, health, cultural, government, recreational, and NGO/INGO facilities. The team will continue to add to the list of institutions as the work progresses and access to more resources is granted. The 3D model by VISICOM was also updated with the same additions and emissions as the 2D base map. The buildings that were added after the verification process were given a default height of 3 meters knowing that the vast majority of these buildings constitute service units for agricultural lands existing within the buffer zone from the demarcation line.

The second contribution of this project was adding a whole layer of green and open spaces to the base map and tracking of damage that followed. This layer was not found in any of the existing released assessments and maps for Gaza. The layer was created by analyzing satellite images and identifying patterns of landscapes that were categorized into natural landscapes, institutional landscapes, and agricultural landscapes. The natural landscapes include: 1) riparian: area that constitutes the interface between a river/stream and land, 2) coastal: land adjoining the sea, 3) scrubland: land consisting of scattered vegetation, usually including a selection of shrubs and wild species. The institutional landscapes include: 1) educational: open spaces around schools, universities, and other educational centers, 2) religious: open spaces around mosques and churches, mostly used for gathering, 3) recreational: parks, community spaces, cornice, and playgrounds, 4) health: open spaces around hospitals, mostly open plaza and parking spaces, 5) governmental: open spaces around governmental buildings, mostly vacant, 6) cemeteries: large burial spaces with tombs scattered in an irregular manner. Agricultural landscapes constitute the gridded arable spaces as identified from the satellite images. Green houses were also drawn unit per unit relying on the available satellite images. 

The third unique contribution was showing the damage on the building footprint scale in relation to other representations of damage in Gaza. This was done by overlaying the damage data sets with our updated building and open spaces footprints. The main data source used for tracking damage to the built fabric was the georeferenced data base of damage of UNOSAT, which was provided for the following dates: 15 October, 7 November, 26 November, and 7 January. The same data source for the open/green spaces was used but was provided for the following dates: 27 October, 11 November, 11 December, 30 January, and 29 February.

As data was collected across different sources, validated, and cross referenced, several challenges emerged including discrepancies and gaps in data sources and security measures that hinder the access to satellite images. The team therefore continues to address and resolve these challenges while remaining as truthful as possible to the verified data sources given the remote nature of the team’s work and the absence of field work.

Tracking the urbicide will continue. The next issue will report damages to infrastructural facilities. However, the tracking will remain challenging and incomplete. Material remains fragmented and narratives missing. The involvement of people in Gaza and their participation in building such an archive is critical for the next phases to come and for the recovery to be imagined.