OpenStreetMap
what are these oddly shaped circular features?
ߊ߬ ߟߊߦߟߍ߬ߣߍ߲߬ ߦߋ߫ rayKiddy ߓߟߏ߫ 17 October 2014 ߦߋ߫ English ߟߋ߬ ߘߐ߫ ߟߊ߬ߞߎ߬ߘߦߊ߬ߟߌ߬ ߞߐߟߕߊ 23 October 2014 ߘߐ߫I am editing in HOT task “#672 - Ebola Outbreak, Port Loko, Bombali districts, road network”, and I am seeing these odd somewhat circular features on the ground. This screenshot is about 600 ft (180 m) wide. Groups of them look a bit like honeycombs. What are these?
I suspect that they are man-made and are something agricultural, but I am also not seeing buildings nearby. So, it is not clear. The line is a tertiary road and probably not paved. Any guesses?
Discussion
ߡߙߌߣߊ߲ ߞߊ߬ ߝߘߊ߫ BCNorwich ߟߊ߫ 18 October 2014 at 07:10 ߘߐ߫
Hi. A link to the area of your screenshot would help, also what is the image layer, please? Looking close at your image I would suggest that the larger blobs are palm trees you can just make out fronds. Each throwing a shadow to the SSW, the shadow of the trunks are also visible. As to the smaller lighter blobs they are shaded to the SSW side suggesting they are not high enough to cast a remote shadow on the ground. The blobs also seem to be equally spaced. Yes I think some form of agriculture. Regards
ߡߙߌߣߊ߲ ߞߊ߬ ߝߘߊ߫ Sanderd17 ߟߊ߫ 18 October 2014 at 13:54 ߘߐ߫
It could also be the work of termites. I don’t know which (if any) termites live in that region, but some sorts of termites are able to create surprisingly regular patterns in their mounds.
ߡߙߌߣߊ߲ ߞߊ߬ ߝߘߊ߫ GEOSPEX ߟߊ߫ 19 October 2014 at 00:26 ߘߐ߫
Hi rayKiddy, Several people in NYC for ebola mapping were in this tile today, and it did come up in discussion. Since this pattern shows up across this particular tile and others nearby, it seems likely that it is agriculturally related; that is, some type of crop on attended terrain. Exactly what that crop is, verdict still out.
ߡߙߌߣߊ߲ ߞߊ߬ ߝߘߊ߫ Firefishy ߟߊ߫ 19 October 2014 at 12:49 ߘߐ߫
It is most likely agricultural of some sort. At a guess each circle is land cleared to tend to a single plant… Cassava or other tuber.
ߡߙߌߣߊ߲ ߞߊ߬ ߝߘߊ߫ Firefishy ߟߊ߫ 19 October 2014 at 12:53 ߘߐ߫
Possible ground image: http://www.trust.org/item/?map=climate-change-adaptation-through-cassava-planting/
ߡߙߌߣߊ߲ ߞߊ߬ ߝߘߊ߫ Firefishy ߟߊ߫ 19 October 2014 at 12:57 ߘߐ߫
Better ground image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/79738474@N06/9509087914
ߡߙߌߣߊ߲ ߞߊ߬ ߝߘߊ߫ kucai ߟߊ߫ 20 October 2014 at 01:21 ߘߐ߫
my guess would be a cemetery. (really, not a spin on the ebola thing)
ߡߙߌߣߊ߲ ߞߊ߬ ߝߘߊ߫ Firefishy ߟߊ߫ 20 October 2014 at 06:18 ߘߐ߫
Could be… Image of graves: http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/files/2011/01/africa-jos-graves-1_20_11.jpg
ߡߙߌߣߊ߲ ߞߊ߬ ߝߘߊ߫ Vincent de Phily ߟߊ߫ 20 October 2014 at 08:43 ߘߐ߫
I’ve usually mapped those as orchards. They’re a bit too low for palm trees. My guess is pineapple, but don’t quote me on that.
As for there being no paths to reach the area, remember that main access is by foot and is often not visible from imagery.
ߡߙߌߣߊ߲ ߞߊ߬ ߝߘߊ߫ rayKiddy ߟߊ߫ 22 October 2014 at 22:05 ߘߐ߫
Someone mentioned these in an e-mail to a HOT list. It is apparently cassava.
See: