Data Policies, Capacity Building, and Disaster Response
- Paper number
IAC-12,E3,2,1,x14414
- Author
Dr. Ray A. Williamson, Secure World Foundation, United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Natassa Antoniou, Secure World Foundation, Belgium
- Year
2012
- Abstract
As the International Charter: Space and Natural Disasters, UN SPIDER and other groups devoted to disaster response have demonstrated, satellite imagery can be an indispensable tool in responding to disasters, especially in the critical early phases of the response. Imagery can also be just as useful in recovery and rebuilding efforts. In order for communities to make the best use of these important tools in recovery and rebuilding, they need to build the capacity to analyze and interpret the data. A number of organizations, including the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs (UN OOSA), the UN Regional Centers for Education in Space Science and Technology, and space agencies offer capacity-building workshops and other training, many designed especially for developing countries. These organizations do an excellent job in providing technical training in the use of analytical and display software. In recent years, data crowdsourcing and community remote sensing techniques have added important additional capabilities to the response, recovery, and rebuilding toolbox. This paper will examine the benefits and possible drawbacks of these newer tools and explore their legal and policy ramifications. They are critical to the ability of communities to make use of these important tools of response, recovery, and rebuilding. This paper argues that in addition to training in the use of analytical and interpretive tools, training organizations should also consider providing an understanding of the governing data policies and legal limitations in the use of satellite and other related data and techniques.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-12,E3,2,1,x14414.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.