CHART 2:
Space-based remote sensing provides an unmatched ability to monitor the Earth climate, water, weather, and atmosphere.

Because of its unique characteristics, it is an important tool for disaster prediction, detection, and mitigation.

• It’s global in nature
• It captures numerous characteristics, such as vegetation density, soil moisture, water precipitation rates, presence of fire, subtle terrain movements, etc.

NASA’s remote sensing data systems support the development of industrial activity; contribute to the health of national populations, and support disaster mitigation, and response activities.

We have a large infrastructure in place and have assisted other nations in setting up their own – such as ground stations to receive real-time data from our satellites. I’ll touch on that with a particular case study at the end of my presentation. NASA remote sensing data is made available at no or little cost.
 

CHART 3:
On behalf of the US government, NASA participates in two response environments – both regulatory and operational. We have been actively participating in ITU-D Study Group 2 on Question 22/2, which involves the use of remote sensing for disaster management.
 

CHART 4:

There is plenty of International collaboration and remote sensing capabilities. These satellites vary in altitude from LEO to Geo locations. The further you are the wider your footprint is and the larger is your coverage area. On the other had, LEO Satellite provide more accuracy and details.

NASA is the leading US government agency in the analysis of complex Earth systems and the development of remote sensing systems for humanitarian purposes.

CHART 5:
These humanitarian purposes are captured in the nine societal benefit areas identified by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) in which NASA participates:

• disasters
• health
• energy
• climate
• water
• weather
• ecosystems
• agriculture
• biodiversity

Examples of NASA’s activities in some of these areas are on the following charts.

CHART 6:
Top image: Landsat – 2004 tsunami in Indonesia. Identifies shore areas damaged by the tsunami over a larger area.

Bottom image: QuickBird – shows greater detail but over a much smaller area, complementing the Landsat images.


CHART 7:
• AQUA satellite using Japanese-provided AMSR-E instruments to measure soil moisture in Australia.
 

CHART 8:
• TERRA satellite using ASTER instrument in Indonesia.
 

CHART 9:
Left: NOAA-operated GOES picture of Hurricane Dean. From geosynchronous satellites – a stationary eye in the sky – we monitor the cloud structure, extent, and overall motion of such storms. We can see where the damage has likely occurred, and predict estimate where it is going.

Right: QuikSCAT data gives a more detailed picture of the nature of the hurricane. The combination of data from these and other satellites help provide a better understanding of the nature of each hurricane and help predict where, when, and how strong the hurricane will be in the near future.
 

CHART 10:

Left: Landsat 7: Before the flood.

Right: ASTER instrument on TERRA: August 2002, flood of the Elbe River in Germany. Helped identify the specific areas affected.

The color renditions are different, but the Elbe appears as a thin line in the Landsat image. The massive area affected by flooding is clear in the ASTER image.

CHART 11:
Canada’s RADARSAT-1 (launched by NASA): Monitoring Turtle Mountain in Alberta, where the greatest landslide in North American history occurred. In 100 seconds, at least 76 people were buried alive. A wedge of the eastern slope of the Mountain – 640 meter high, 915 meter wide, 152 meter thick – gave way and slid 700 meters down the mountain side.

What is left of Turtle Mountain is still a threat and is being monitored by RADARSAT.

CHART 12:
SeaStar spacecraft using the SeaWiFS instrument: Protects human health by identifying and quarantining areas with “red tide” – a common name for an algal bloom, associated with the production of natural toxins, depletion of dissolved oxygen or other harmful impacts.

CHART 13:
Shuttle Imaging Radar: first calibrated, multi-frequency, multi-polarization spaceborne radar image of the seasonal sea-ice cover in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. The multi-channel data provide scientists with details about the ice pack they cannot see any other way and indicates that the large expanse of sea-ice is, in fact, comprised of many smaller rounded ice floes, shown in blue-gray.

These data are particularly useful in helping scientists estimate the thickness of the ice cover which is often extremely difficult to measure with other remote sensing systems.
 

CHART 14:
Derived from an overlay of several RADARSAT-1 images: Mauna Loa volcano on the island of Hawaii.

Shows such subtle ground motions in crater. Can be used to identify potential volcanic hazards anywhere in the world.
 

CHART 15:
Left: NASA-constructed, USGS-operated Landsat: used to identify urban areas as contrasted with agricultural fields.

Right: Topographic data from NASA’s Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission was used to identify the areas that would likely be buried under mud. The combination of the two maps gives the local authorities a tool to plan actions to take in the event of an eruption of Mount Merapi in the future.
 

CHART 16:
TERRA using MODIS instrument: Fires in Southern California, October 25, 2003.

CHART 17:
NASA has been involved in providing satellite imagery and in remote sensing products to humanitarian organizations and has participated in a number of joint activities with the ITU. Such as: ITU Emergency Telecommunications Workshop, December 2007 and ITU-D Question on Disaster Management

A special remote sensing application I wanted to share with you today is called SERVIR. Through a collaboration with many other US government departments and agencies, SERVIR is working in Central America to enable the local governments to become self-sufficient in utilizing the data made available by NASA’s remote sensing assets to prepare for natural disasters.

CHART 18:
Through the SERVIR program and other efforts, NASA has undertaken a proactive role by making available remote sensing data and expertise in the interpretation and application of that data.
 

CHART 19:
With the success achieved in Central America, NASA is now opening our next SERVIR site in East Africa.
By the way, NASA is also providing GPS stations and possible enhancements in several countries of Africa – most recently in Nigeria. GPS also provides critical location information during natural disasters.
 

CHART 20:
As you can see, we are working with many countries with SERVIR, and are hoping to expand our efforts to other regions.

CHART 21:

Here is contact information if you are interested in learning more. I strongly encourage interested nations to do so.
 

CHART 22:

In order to continue to provide these critical resources for the world, NASA is a strong advocate for the appropriate protection of frequencies necessary for remote sensing operations through its participation in the US ITAC-R process and ITU-R WP 7C (again under the US banner).

We seek your continued support for the RF spectrum used by these remote sensing assets both within the US and those of other government agencies to enable these critical missions to operate. It is vital to the health and well-being of our planet and of all its inhabitants.