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March 2016
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
SECTOR
INSIGHT:
.
gov
in institutions in their regions. Currently SERVIR has
three active hubs: SERVIR-Eastern & Southern Africa,
SERVIR-Himalaya, and SERVIR-Mekong. SERVIR-
Eastern & Southern Africa is implemented by the Regional
Center for Mapping of Resources for Development in
Nairobi, Kenya; SERVIR-Himalaya is implemented by the
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
in Kathmandu, Nepal; and SERVIR-Mekong is implemented
by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Bangkok,
Thailand. A SERVIR-West Africa hub is planned for 2016.
In addition to working in these regions, SERVIR continues
to develop science applications for Central America. Across
this network, the SERVIR Science Coordination Office
at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama,
provides and coordinates science and geospatial information
technology support, leverages expertise throughout NASA
and the broader U.S. government, and coordinates a SERVIR
Applied Sciences Team. In 2015, SERVIR engaged with
128 unique organizations, co-developed 47 decision support
products and tools, and trained 834 participants from 39
countries via regional and national workshops.
The CBP engages partners across a spectrum of engagement
as shown in the illustration, inspired by the International
Association for Public Participation Spectrum
1
. The ultimate
goal is to help practitioners use NASA Earth observations and
take full ownership of the integration of remote sensing into
their decision-making processes. Individual CBP elements
have their own points of emphasis in terms of engagement.
ARSET emphasizes initial engagement, informing and
consulting, creating awareness and appreciation of NASA
Earth science information products and services. DEVELOP
involves both emerging workforce and institutions to
demonstrate how NASA remote sensing can be tailored to
support their decisions. SERVIR focuses on collaboration
with and empowerment of international institutions that it
serves through its regional hubs.
With the ever-growing number of Earth observation
applications and the interconnectedness of environmental
and social factors, NASA is engaging more social scientists
in the use of Earth observations. Furthermore, NASA is
expanding the community that works at the intersection of
Earth observations and applications, uses interdisciplinary
approaches, and works together with end users who can
implement applications into their decision-making. This
expansion includes other U.S. agencies like NOAA and
the USGS, intergovernmental coordination efforts like the
Group on Earth Observations (GEO), NGOs focused on
relevant societal challenges, and professional organizations
like ASPRS with broad expertise in imaging and geospatial
information science and technology.
References
1
Authors
Nancy Searby
is the Capacity Building ProgramManager for
the NASA Applied Sciences Program at NASA Headquarters,
Washington, DC
).
Kenton Ross
is the National Science Advisor for the NASA DEVELOP
Program, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton,
Virginia
).
I
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B
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Inform
Provide individuals
and institutions
with information
about Earth
observations and
their acquisition
and applications.
Consult
Assess decision-
making needs to
identify and
match Earth
observations
resources to user
needs.
Involve
Work directly with
individuals and
institutions
through feasibility
projects and
integrated
workshops to
facilitate use
of Earth
observations.
Collaborate
Partner with
individuals and
institutions on
projects and
hosting of
regional capacity
building activities.
Empower
Facilitate broad
use of Earth
observations in
decision-making
around the globe.
Capacity
Building
Goals
