AI-assisted imagery analysis shows suspected 2,000-pound bomb craters in Gaza

Synthetaic and CNN detected more than 500 craters in Gaza consistent with 2,000-pound bombs. These are 12 meters (39.3 feet) in diameter. To gather the data, CNN compiled four high-resolution satellite images from October and early November and sent them to Synthetaic for analysis. The images varied in their geographic coverage, but most of northern Gaza was analyzed at least once between October 15 and November 6. Synthetaic then marked the craters that appeared to match those left behind by the heavy munitions.

Notes: Craters have been enlarged for visibility. CNN and Synthetaic analyzed and isolated craters 12 meters in diameter and larger, which experts said are consistent with underground explosions produced by 2,000-pound bombs in the light soil found in Gaza. To account for a margin of error, conservative measurements were used in CNN's crater count.

Sources: Synthetaic and CNN analysis of Planet Labs satellite imagery from Oct. 15, Oct. 22, Nov. 3 and Nov. 6; OpenStreetMap

Graphic: Renée Rigdon, CNN