The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) met last week in Cape Town to discuss worldwide efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The need for real-time data on changes in the Earth’s lands, oceans, atmosphere and biosphere is being fueled in large part by the billions of dollars and thousands of lives that could be saved by using this system for disaster preparedness.
After just two years of existence, GEO has developed 100 different programs and products to monitor and share data about the Earth. The ultimate goal is to link the world’s widely dispersed monitoring devices such as buoys, weather stations and earth observation satellites into one seamless system with a centralized Web portal.
This is a practical approach of aligning existing systems, setting standards and rules and putting agreements into place for the interoperable sharing of information. The focus isn’t centered on building new and expensive systems, it’s about connecting existing systems and spreading the use of those systems to the global scientific community, particularly in developing countries that don’t have the resources to build their own systems.
The new openness of global platforms is being put to good use in Central America. There the Regional Visualization and Monitoring System (known as SERVIR) is using data obtained from earth observation satellites for weather forecasting, monitoring air quality and disaster management. The Web-based system allows you to view and animate current or historical satellite imagery. There are also a number of Web-based decision support tools for disasters, ecology, weather, climate, biodiversity, water, agriculture, human health and energy.
I’m impressed by the broad application of these tools in this and other regions, and the Web enablement that extends the data and tools broadly and in creative ways. For instance, the SERVIR fire decision support tool has an e-mail alert feature that allows you to define your geographic area of interest and receive alerts when there are fires in the region. 3D views of this data are also provided in NASA WorldWind, Skyline and Google Earth.
It’s a great idea to pin the funding on the highest gain policy outcomes – that of human welfare, health, and economic vitality. The less pressing global benefits are a long-term and less tangible gain, but certainly of increasing value as we experience heightened global change.
