According to official reports, ScanEx has awarded a follow-on contract to GeoEye Inc. for the use of high-resolution satellite imagery to support Russian infrastructure monitoring operations.

It was also reported that Virginia's space imaging organization GeoEye announced it will supply imagery from the IKONOS and GeoEye-1 satellites providing ScanEx with imagery of critical Russian infrastructure, population centers and neighboring areas.

The high-resolution imagery, covering more than approximately 1.2 million square miles, will be used by ScanEx for monitoring activities along with search-and-rescue operations.

The IKONOS and GeoEye-1 satellites could also support recovery operations in case of an emergency situation in Russia and nearby areas, GeoEye said.

ScanEx Vice President Olga Gershenzon said in a statement, "Today, considering the size of the country and lack of current cartographic data, satellite imagery often serves as the only reliable source of information about territories." (With Inputs from Agencies)