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using ict to unlock earth observation data sets
for managing environmental crises
In brief
Using information and communication
technologies (ICT) to manage data
from Earth observation and land-based
monitoring has the potential to help us
in many ways, from weather prediction
to disaster management. The question is
how to harness this massive amount of
data to empower society to protect itself
against environmental and human-induced
disasters. The CSIR has a number of
projects in this field and also plays a role
in various international networks.
Background
Over the past 10 years, South Africa has
played a leading role in international
efforts such as the intergovernmental
Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
and one of its initiatives, the Global
Earth Observation System of Systems
(GEOSS). GEO was formed after
the 2002 Johannesburg conference,
with remote sensing and geographic
information systems (GIS) highlighted as
important tools in helping a broad base of
stakeholders to manage natural resources
and ecosystems.
CSIR research
As part of the process of transforming
experimental space technology tools into
critical infrastructure for development, the
CSIR has made significant investment in
the associated ICTs, such as information
processing, algorithm development,
innovative analytical techniques and
management philosophies for large
data sets. Lately, researchers have
embarked upon producing the next
wave of experimental space technology
demonstrators by borrowing from
communications signal processing,
middleware concepts used in transparent
networked application development and
web service provisioning, and applying
it to remote and in situ Earth observation
sensing.
Unlocking the potential of these new
tools, microbiologists, data analysts,
modellers and computer scientists are
involved in several multi-partner and
international projects to build systems
that link various forms of data sets
with one another in a user-friendly and
widely-accessible manner. This is in line
with GEOSS’ objective to empower
the international community to protect
itself against natural and human-induced
disasters; understand the environmental
sources of health hazards; manage energy
resources; respond to climate change and
its impacts; safeguard water resources;
improve weather forecasts; manage
ecosystems; and promote sustainable
agriculture and conserve biodiversity.
In one of these projects, researchers aim
to develop a system whereby different
forms of data sets – from the microbial to
remote sensing – are coded in such a way
as to enable environmental researchers
to combine them with Earth observation
data in larger-scale models by the click of
a key. Called EO2Heaven, it addresses
the GEOSS objective of using Earth
observation data and environmental
monitoring for the mitigation of health risks.
International reach
The collaborative nature of Earth
observation research entails partnerships
with and involvement in many national
and international networks. The CSIR
plays a role in the following groups and
programmes, among others:
European Biodiversity Observation
Network
CSIR botanists and remote sensing
specialists are testing the transferability
of the methods developed by EBONE
in the European context for the largescale
application in non-European
Mediterranean regions like the Sandveld
in the Western Cape. EBONE is the
Fire products developed by the CSIR are
being made available in SADC via the
AMESD project.
European contribution to the GEO
Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO
BON), a network dedicated to the
development of standardised global
biodiversity monitoring systems.
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)
A scientific workflow system is a
specialised form of a workflow
management system designed specifically
to compose and execute a series of
computational or data manipulation steps,
or a workflow, in a scientific application.
Operationalised for Earth observation
science, it can bridge the gap between
Earth observation and statistical toolsets.
The CSIR’s research in this domain focuses
on ICT for Earth observation and operates
within the workspace of the OGC and
its Sensor Web Enablement framework.
OGC is an international voluntary
standards organisation, encouraging
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