Free Earth Observation Data on a Global Scale: What is the impact in science and society?

1. Free Earth Observation Data on a Global Scale: What is the impact in science and society? Gilberto Câmara Director National Institute for Space Research Brazil

2. Earth as a system

4. The fundamental question • How is the Earth’s environment changing, and what are the consequences for human civilization? • A society with the ability to gather and understand Earth Science information and make proactive, timely environmental predictions and decisions at all relevant geographical and societal levels. Source: NASA, IGBP

5. Environmental-related diseases in Brazil • Chagas disease • Schitossomiasis • Yellow fever • Hantavirosis • Leishmaniosis • Leptospirosis • Malária

6. Malaria incidence in Tucurui dam source: Cíntia Vasconcelos and Evlyn Novo

7. Land use map from remote sensing image

8. Intensity of malaria in Tucurui

9. Visceral Leishmaniosis

10. Visceral Leishmaniosis in Terezina Positive correlation between NDVI, urbanization and visceral leishmaniosis source: Guilherme Werneck, Marilia Carvalho, Virginia Ragoni

11. A new international organization tasked with implementation a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). • GEOSS shall coordinate a wide range of space-based, air-based, land-based, and ocean-based environmental monitoring platforms, resources and networks – presently often operating independently. • Membership in GEO currently includes 51 countries plus the European Commission, and 29 participating international organisations.

12. Coordinating Earth Observing Systems Capabilities Vantage Points L1/HEO/GEO TDRSS & Commercial Satellites Far-Space Permanent LEO/MEO Commercial Satellites and Manned Spacecraft Near-Space Aircraft/Balloon Event Tracking and Campaigns Airborne Deployable Terrestrial User Community Forecasts & Predictions

13. Remote Sensing: Increased EO capability

14. GeoSensors: New technology of earth observations Smart Dust (UC Berkeley) “Spec” mote UC Berkeley Intel mote MICA mote

15. Group on Earth Observation System of Systems

16. The 300+ million dollar question How do we obtain support for funding Earth Observation Missions? • Our answer: Make all sectors of society use publically funded EO data... • ...by providing EO data for free!

17. Uncle Scrooge and the Internet • Uncle Scrooge: “A penny saved is a penny earned” • The anti-Uncle Scrooge principle: “A pixel saved is a penny wasted” • Why is that so? • “Value comes from use”

18. The Internet paradox • The Internet has reduced the cost of data distribution to very close to zero • Society responds very quickly to open availability of free data and good on the Web

19. Brazilian and Chinese Strategy for CBERS • CBERS images received in Brasil are freely available on the Internet for Brazilian and Latin American users • CBERS images received in China are freely available on the Internet for Chinese users • A high-quality image processing software (SPRING) is also available free on the Internet in Brazil

20. CBERS: China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite • Brief History • Initial agreement signed in July 6th, 1988, covering CBERS-1 and 2. • In 2002, both governments decided to expand the initial agreement by including CBERS-3 and 4. • Program objectives • Build a family of remote sensing satellites to support the needs of users in earth resources applications • Improve the industrial capabilities of space technology in Brazil and China

21. CBERS-2 CCD, Minas Gerais, Brazil

22. CBERS-2 CCD Sobradinho Dam, Brazil Dez 2003

23. CBERS Image Distribution in Brazil (1st May 2004 to 1st August 2006)

24. What do we get from free data? • “With zero cost data access, technology dissemination has a much greater impact.” • “CBERS brought the freedom to have data immediately available when you need it.” • Free EO data and free EO technology create new users and new applications • Increases the need for other types of EO data

25. What do the private companies say about free CBERS data? • Enables new business development • Facilitates trial uses for new clients • Planning new applications becomes easier • Creates jobs by reducing cost of data buys • Increases work quality by adding data previously unavailable

26. What have we learned? • There is an enormous demand for remote sensing data in developing countries • Free on-line data access can significantly increase the number of users of earth observation data • The CBERS data policy has been extremely well-received by government and society in Brazil

27. Long-term perspective for Remote Sensing 100 Tecnology 2000 PAN CB3 50 Tecnology 2008 CCD CB2 Tecnology 2015 INPE 2015 Mapeamento Revisita 10 Deforestation Identif Agricultura AWFI CB3 5 DMC WFI CB2 Mapeamento Agricultura INPE 2015 Detecção Desmatamento 1 5 50 1 10 100 1000 Resolução

28. One world, one dream... Free Earth Observation data for all!

29. One world, one dream... • A consortium of Earth Observation satellites for global land observation (5m+) • A network of cooperating ground stations • EO data free on the Internet, with global weekly coverage