The ethics of using satellite data to monitor and publish research on geohazards in regions of political complexity

Abstract. Over the last ten years, open-access earth observation satellite data volumes have grown exponentially. Through use of this data, geohazard remote sensing scientists' abilities to impact policy and reduce societal vulnerability to geohazards has become increasingly tangible. However, much of this open-access data is acquired, stored, and disseminated by the Global North, whilst most disasters take place in the Global South. Furthermore, many societies are imaged by these earth observation satellites perhaps without knowing these satellites exist. There exists little ethical guidance for remote sensing researchers in navigating ethical risks that may arise during geohazard research which uses satellite data. We explore these ethical considerations with UK based geohazard remote sensing scientists through thirteen interviews and three focus group discussions. We discuss with scientists their thoughts on ethical review systems for geohazard remote sensing; the importance of visiting study regions; how data should be handled which images people and societies; the desired impact these scientists want to achieve; and the ethical risks of open data. We find among remote sensing researchers in industry, government organisations, and academia a deep desire to contribute to the reduction of societal vulnerabilities to geohazards. In accordance with geoethical practice, all participants are driven to produce world-leading research outputs to contribute to disaster risk reduction. However, we find among the academic geohazard remote sensing community a misunderstanding around the purpose and need to consider research ethics, focusing mainly on personal privacy rather than ethical risks associated with their own research. This community additionally struggles to balance their desire of meaningfully reducing societal vulnerability to geohazards with the demands of academic expectations and national excellence frameworks. Resultingly, despite best intentions, time, funding, and academic pressures sometimes drive researchers to seek and publish data and results without consultation with in-country communities, particularly post disaster. We recommend geohazard remote sensing researchers receive training to promote the need and ability to reduce ethical risks in their research through five main topics, including practices for decolonisation of geohazard research. We propose a light-touch ethical review system at project design stage would allow ethical risk identification and mitigation. Our findings and recommendations are in accordance with geoethical practice and build on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.