WarScope Data Source Reliability
Transparency is paramount. Here we detail the data sources used by WarScope, along with an assessment of their reliability, coverage, and limitations.
GDELT Project (Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone)
Update Frequency: Every 15 minutes
Coverage: Global news media, social media, and broadcasts. Millions of events daily.
Limitations: Automated extraction can lead to errors; prone to media biases; events are derived from text, not direct observation.
Notes: Primary source for identifying broad trends and initial signals of conflict and crisis globally. Requires cross-referencing.
NASA FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System)
Update Frequency: Near real-time (within 3 hours)
Coverage: Global thermal anomalies detected via satellite (VIIRS/MODIS).
Limitations: Cloud cover can obscure detections; less effective for very small fires; cannot distinguish military strikes from industrial activity or wildfires without corroboration.
Notes: Highly reliable for detecting heat signatures, useful for tracking potential shelling, burning infrastructure, or active combat.
ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project)
Update Frequency: Weekly (integration pending)
Coverage: Global political violence and protest events. Detailed disaggregated data.
Limitations: Events are curated and manually verified, leading to a reporting lag compared to raw feeds like GDELT.
Notes: Highly valuable for verified conflict event baselining. Currently pending full integration into the real-time WarScope pipeline.
USGS (United States Geological Survey) Earthquake Hazards Program
Update Frequency: Near real-time (within minutes)
Coverage: Global earthquake detection and reporting.
Limitations: Focused solely on geological events.
Notes: Authoritative source for seismic activity. Essential for monitoring natural disasters that can destabilize regions and exacerbate humanitarian crises.
Country Metadata (Fragile States Index, RSF, UNHCR)
Update Frequency: Annual / Quarterly
Coverage: Global structural indicators, press freedom scores, and displacement figures.
Limitations: Data is low-frequency and backward-looking, often lagging real-time events by months or a year.
Notes: Provides the underlying structural context and human impact baseline for our fusion algorithm.