This document discusses how information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be used for environmental observation and addressing climate change. Satellite-based remote sensing platforms provide global earth observation data on a long-term and repetitive basis. This data is captured, analyzed, stored and shared using ICTs through systems like the Global Earth Observation System of Systems and cloud-based data portals. The combination of earth observation data and geographic information systems allows users to visualize and understand environmental changes and mitigate climate change impacts.

1. Module 10
Session 2
(Seoul, Korea, 24 February 2011)
ICTs & environmental observation
Richard Labelle
rlab@sympatico.ca

2. 2
Objectives of Module 10
To show that ICTs be used to address
climate change
To demonstrate why ICTs are a crucial
part of the solution – i.e. in promoting
efficiency, Green Growth & sustainable
development

3. ICTs for environmental observation
3

4. 4
ICTs for earth observation
Acquiring earth observation data
Recording & storing data
Data analysis & visualization

5. 5
Remote sensing (1)
Remote sensors (passive and
active):
Radio devices that derive environmental
information by analyzing received radio
waves.
Most of these sensors are on
platforms: satellites or airplanes
Space-based remote sensors are the
only tools that provide environmental
data on a long term, repetitive and
global scale.

6. 6
Remote sensing (2)
By far the most data on
environmental observation comes
from satellite based remote sensing
platforms

7. 7
Remote sensing (3)
Provide environmental data on a long
term, repetitive and global scale.
Radiocommunication systems based
on remote sensing play the major
role in weather and climate change
prediction.

8. 8
Remote sensing (4)
Remote sensing is the essential tool
for disaster prediction, detection,
disaster mitigation and planning of
relief operations.
Sensors are used for detection and
tracking of earthquakes, tsunamis
hurricanes, typhoons, floods, fires,
oil leaks, dangerous pollution, etc

9. Some important earth observation
9
systems
World Weather Watch (WMO)
Global Observing System (GOS -
WMO)
The Global Earth Observation System
of Systems (GEOSS)

10. 10
World Weather Watch systems
Vassiliev, A. 2009. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Climate Change. ITU/WMO Seminar “Use of radio spectrum for
meteorology: weather, water and climate monitoring and prediction”. WMO Headquarters, Geneva, 16-18 September 2009.

11. 11
Global Observing System
WMO. 2010. Global Observing System (GOS). http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/OSY/GOS.html

12. Cloud based earth observation data
12
sets are important
Earth observation & remote sensing
especially  massive digital data
sets
Digitization allows capture, analysis
& sharing of data
With agreement of standards and
rules, can share for local decision
making:
Global Spatial Data Infrastructure
(GSDI) Association created
60 countries & organizations sharing

13. Some cloud based earth observation
13
data sets
GEO Forest Carbon Tracking portal now live
UN unveils new Global Risk Data Platform
INPE (Brazil) reaches mark of 1 million images
distributed free
Earth System Atlas promotes access to research
data
Comprehensive Land Surface Imagery now
available via GEOSS
Accessing the Landsat archive
The United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) Global Environment Outlook Data Portal

14. The Global Earth Observation System
14
of Systems (GEOSS) - 1
Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
A partnership of govts & int. orgs.
Earth observations for decision
making
To link existing systems & bridge
gaps

15. The Global Earth Observation System
15
of Systems (GEOSS) - 2
To link existing systems & bridge
gaps
Connect users to data resources
Portals, Cloud enabled
GSDI (Global Spatial Data
Infrastructure) association

16. The Global Earth Observation System
16
of Systems (GEOSS) - 3
GEO Forest Carbon Tracking portal
now live
UN unveils new Global Risk Data
Platform
INPE reaches mark of 1 million
images distributed free

17. The Global Earth Observation System
17
of Systems (GEOSS) - 4
Earth System Atlas promotes access
to research data
Comprehensive Land Surface
Imagery now available via GEOSS
Accessing the Landsat archive
The UNEP Global Environment
Outlook Data Portal

18. 18
GIS & related visualization
technologies
GIS: geographic information system
Any system that captures, stores,
analyzes, manages, and presents data
that are linked to location.
In the simplest terms, GIS is the
merging of cartography and database
technology
Essential for making images captured
by remote sensing useful for
mapping, spatial analysis, data
management, etc.

19. 19
GIS & related visualization
technologies
Increased use of GIS
If its visual, its easier to measure &
understand
Smartphones as visualization tools
Building information modeling (BIM)
software for building & city wide
energy analysis
Google Earth and related
technologies
Make GIS available to all via Internet

20. Using Google Maps to help map the impact
20
of sea level rise on the coast of CA

21. 21
Summary (1)
The combination of earth observation data
obtained from satellite-based platforms combined
with the data from earth-based sensor networks
and systems such as those enabled by WSNs will
lead to a highly improved earth observation data
set.
The combination of these technologies with GIS
technologies will greatly enhance our ability to
understand the environment and to mitigate and
adapt to climate change.

22. 22
Summary (2)
For developing countries, there is a potential
benefit from the existence of digital data sets and
their availability over the Internet, in some cases
at no or little cost.
Developing countries can use the cloud to
analyze the data archived on the Internet.