NEXT OBSERVING STRATEGIES FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Abstract:

Disasters are not natural and hazards are not disasters! Disasters are the consequences of societal decisions, where and how we build, how much resources go into mitigation and response, and how we take action to cope with degrees of exposure and vulnerability. Reducing systemic disaster risk requires a much better understanding of the dynamics of the earth system, including the human health, food and energy systems, and how the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of society can further amplify these risks. NASA’s next observing strategy aligns with the Sendai Frameworks’ targets to improve the geospatial intelligence contributing to situational awareness and building resilience. NOS exploits the growing number of smaller agile sensors, onboard processing and cloud computing, as well as innovations in mapping and visualization. NOS builds on experience with sensor webs that have helped coordinate the activities of multiple sensors including space, terrestrial, and airborne to monitor science and hazard events. NOS goes even further by enabling applications for trusted risk assessment needed for earlier detection of events, collaborative decision making and faster action. By linking a greater variety of key data and data products the systems will autonomously recognize, track and reconfigure complementary knowledge and sensor hubs. This will increase the frequency and coverage of observations and improve temporal and spatial analytics to predict change that inform disaster preparation, response, and recovery. This talk will highlight case studies where NOS can aid cities on volcanoes, low-lying islands in the path of hurricanes, transportation supply lines susceptible to landslides, and settlement communities subject to floods.