Geoinformation for Disaster and Risk Management - ISPRS

What is the content of the Knowledge Portal?
The Knowledge Portal features the following
sections: SpaceAid, Advisory Support, Knowledge
Base, Network, and About Us. They offer a
combination of guides to space technology
application, consultant activities, technical and
institutional background information, and
communication platforms for users and
Communities of Practice. Furthermore, there is a
News section where users are informed about recent
UN-SPIDER activities and where they can also access
current and past issues of the UN-SPIDER Newsletter
and monthly Updates. An events calendar informs
the visitor about upcoming workshops and
conferences. If UN-SPIDER organizes or co-organizes
these meetings, an online registration form can be
provided on the Portal.
The SpaceAid section supports the activities of
SpaceAid described above. It is the place where fast
and efficient access to space-based information is
made available. It contains information on available
space-based products and services, on their
application, sources, access options and
procurement procedures. It covers the full disaster
management cycle, all earth-directed space
technology, and all types of major natural or manmade
disasters. For example, during recent disasters
such as the earthquake in Chile on 27 February
2010, an update page on the respective response and
recovery efforts was created and constantly
amended with information on newly available data.
The SpaceAid section further provides an overview
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of relevant organizational frameworks such as the
SpaceAid framework and the mechanism of the
International Charter Space and Major Disasters. The
understanding of these frameworks, mechanisms,
procedures and workflows is a prerequisite to
bringing technological assets to bear on disaster
management with the best possible efficiency.
Furthermore, the user finds guidance on space
applications and how disaster management can
benefit from them. Guides and case reports outlining
the underlying principles, methodical workflows and
best practices, advantages and restrictions, and
accessibility of data and services are offered in order
to inform the user and to support the decision
making process.
The Visual Globe, which is currently still under
development, is a search tool which offers a surface
for displaying the content of geocoded items. First
and foremost it is designed to support the work of
SpaceAid. Information about ongoing and past
disasters will be displayed in the respective
geographic region. Users on site will have the
opportunity to upload ground truth data such as
photographs or coordinates etc. to the disaster
information on the Visual Globe.
Furthermore it will enable
users to find the contact data
of experts on certain topics as
well as the representatives of
Regional Support Offices and
National Focal Points based
on a geographical search.
Figure 5: The Visual Globe
Figur e 4: Structure
of the Knowledge Portal In the Advisory Support section, the visitor is given
an overview on the UN-SPIDER Technical Advisory
Support framework and respective Missions that are
being conducted by expert teams upon specific
request. The available reports can give other
interested users an idea of how such missions are
conducted and how the participants can benefit from
them. They also give an idea of which stakeholders
can be involved in these missions and how the
regional networking can be strengthened through
them.
Furthermore, the visitor will find information on the
UN-SPIDER capacity building strategy. Once they are
fully developed and available, e-learning modules
will be announced on this site as well as hands-on
courses and other training opportunities.
Figure 6: SpaceAid page on the
Knowledge Portal