160 Through maps and data, analysts could monitor key factors including changes in crops and the movement of migrants to Europe. “We’re in this rapidly evolving space where the use of spatial tools and open-source intelligence shows the dynamics of what’s going on,” Brittan said. “As the volume and resolution of spatial data has increased, we can get really powerful insights.” Afghan police officers destroying opium poppy flowers fields near Faizabad, Afghanistan. When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, one of its first policies was to ban poppy cultivation. The halt in a trade so intertwined with the country’s economy was bound to affect its most vulnerable people. Richard Brittan, managing director of the geospatial analysis firm Alcis, got to work creating a clear picture of the humanitarian impact. Using high-resolution satellite imagery and GIS technology, the Alcis analysis could tell the stories of human suffering and political instability to support aid efforts.
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