Be it Katrina, Rita or the Tsunami – all that marked the year with devastations by nature’s fury warns us that Earth Observation was vital both for damage assessment and for coordinating emergency activities. Satellite-based maps from ESA’s Respond consortium continued to support rebuilding efforts through the following year.
Thanks to Global Monitoring for Environment and Security
, the flagship initiative of ESA and the European Union. It has provided the space-based assistance, which aims to combine Earth- and space-based data sources and develop an integrated environmental monitoring capability to benefit European and world citizens. True, ESA is developing GMES pilot services in close conjunction with a large community of operational users. But, by what time will it be operational? Another gigantic wave may sweep the across the Earth soon! – as scientists are fearing…
Via: Science Daily