Gralhix OSINT Exercise #004
From Mauritania to Australia to Turkey and now to a tropical paradise! Geolocating with Gralhix keeps us on our toes, as she challenges us to adapt our OSINT skills to diverse environments in this crash course.
This is a photo of a resort located on an island — Gralhix
Let’s dive into our image analysis, using the template as our guide:
- Context: The image depicts a resort on a small, lush island surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise waters. The presence of palm trees and the vibrant colors suggest a tropical location.
- Foreground: In the foreground, we see the resort island, which appears to be relatively small. The island is covered in dense vegetation, primarily palm trees, indicating a tropical climate. A white sandy beach encircles the island, and several structures, likely resort buildings, can be seen peeking through the greenery.
- Background: The background features a small island and a larger landmass or island in the distance, suggesting that the resort island is part of an archipelago or located near a coast. The larger land mass appears to be hilly, with lush vegetation covering its slopes.
- Map Markings: The position of the resort island in the foreground and the larger landmass in the background can be used to orient ourselves when consulting maps. By identifying the relative position and distance between the two, we can search for similar configurations of islands in tropical regions worldwide. This spatial relationship will be key in pinpointing and confirming the resort’s exact location.
Memes aside, this is a strong candidate for a reverse image search. According to Wikipedia, there are over 900,000 islands in the world, so we’re going to need more to go on. And given that it is a resort, it’s almost certain that there will be some kind of photography on a website, marketing material, or perhaps a visitor’s travel blog. Thankfully, Google reverse image search delivers (otherwise we’d be at a dead end)!
Our search yields several possibilities, all of them looking gorgeous and relaxing. But since we’re geolocating, we’re not just interested in the island that is each image’s focus; we’re very much interested in seeing if we can match anything with the background islands in the exercise image. And we do have a hit with the image highlighted in the yellow box. The small island highlighted with the pink oval has a profile that looks just like the corresponding one in our exercise image. Oan Resort is a promising lead, but we need to verify that we indeed have a match.
We can smile a little as their web page even makes use of our trusty Google Earth Pro to show prospective visitors where the resort is located.
We might be tempted to wrap things up, but it’s essential to remember the importance of confirmation and verification in OSINT investigations. While the web page provides a promising lead, it’s possible that the image used on the site doesn’t accurately depict the resort’s location. To ensure our conclusion is sound, let’s compare our original exercise image with Google Earth Pro and see if we can match the resort island and its surrounding features.
Upon closer examination, the annotated images reveal a strong correlation between the original photo and the satellite imagery. The resort island’s shape and size, as well as the distinctive contours of the background islands, align closely in both pictures. The labeling of corresponding features allows for a clear visual confirmation of the match.
However, it’s important to note that there are some slight discrepancies, such as the apparent absence of a peak at #1 and the seemingly larger size of #3 in the satellite image. These differences can likely be attributed to the varying perspectives between aerial and satellite photography. Despite these minor inconsistencies, the overall similarity between the two images provides compelling evidence that we have indeed located the correct resort.
To further strengthen our conclusion, let’s examine additional sources that can provide a more definitive confirmation.
The topographical map offers a more detailed representation of the island’s features, allowing for a clearer comparison with the original photo. By examining the contours and elevations depicted on the map, we can more confidently match the resort island and its surrounding landmarks to the exercise image. This additional layer of verification strengthens our conclusion and demonstrates the value of using multiple sources in OSINT investigations.
Thanks to the power of Google Reverse Image search and the confirmation provided by the topographical map, we can now confidently answer the questions posed:
a) What is the name of the resort? Oan Resort in Micronesia
b) What are the coordinates of the island?
- DSM: 7°21'44.68"N 151°45'23.08"E
- DD: 7.362411° 151.756411°
c) In which cardinal direction was the camera facing when the photo was taken? West-northwest
Another exercise solved!
This exercise demonstrates the power and potential of open-source intelligence in solving real-world mysteries. By combining basic image analysis, Google reverse image search, satellite imagery, and topographical maps, we were able to successfully geolocate a remote resort island in Micronesia.
For those just starting in OSINT and geolocation, remember that patience, persistence, and a willingness to explore multiple avenues are key. Don’t be discouraged by initial setbacks or inconsistencies; instead, use them as opportunities to dig deeper and refine your techniques. With practice and an inquisitive mindset, you’ll soon find yourself unlocking the secrets hidden within the vast amounts of publicly available information online.
Now it’s time to relax a bit before taking on the next exercise!
