NASA REASoN PROJECT Research, Education and Applications Solution Network

Title of REASoN Project: Development of Remote Sensing-assisted Natural and Technological Hazards Decision Support Systems

General Informations Hazards arise from the interaction between natural systems, human systems, and technology. While different in their origins and impacts, the way in which society prepares for and responds to environmental hazards is similar. The emergency response (or hazards) cycle includes response elements that:

1. occur during the event (rescue, relief, initial recovery),
2. occur after an event (mitigation including planning, recovery, reconstruction), and
3. those that take place prior to the event (monitoring, modeling, risk and vulnerability assessment, warning, and evacuation)

This research will improve the quality and usefulness of remote sensing-derived and other geospatial information in several aspects of the emergency response cycle. Three projects will involve the development of new spatial decision support systems related to natural and technological hazards. The fourth project conducts education and technology transfer of products and services derived during the other projects. The projects are:

1. Modeling of human risk and vulnerability to hazards using a new SDSS that fulfills the requirements of major state and federal mandates.
2. A remote sensing hazard guidance system that identifies remote sensing assets (orbital and sub-orbital) available just prior to and/or during a natural or technological disaster. FEMA, NASA, and state emergency operations staff will participate in the system design and content.
3. Improved management of technological hazards using a remote sensing-assisted hazardous waste site monitoring SDSS. The methodology will be evaluated by Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency personnel. The hazardous waste site SDSS will also be of value should any of the thousands of hazardous waste sites be compromised by terrorist activities.
4. Education and technology transfer of products and services.

SEEDS Working Group(s) Based on the nature of our proposed projects, to prepare spatial decision support systems and related hazard databases for the Earth Science Enterprise, we will participate in the following SEEDS working groups:

1. Standards and Interfaces
2. Technology and Fusions
3. Software and Reuse

Products and Services our REASoN Project will Provide to the Community Three projects will involve the development of new spatial decision support systems related to natural and technological hazards. The fourth project conducts education and technology transfer of products and services derived during the other projects. The projects are:

1. Modeling of human risk and vulnerability to hazards using a new SDSS that fulfills the requirements of major state and federal mandates.
2. A remote sensing hazard guidance system that identifies remote sensing assets (orbital and sub-orbital) available just prior to and/or during a natural or technological disaster. FEMA, NASA, and state emergency operations staff will participate in the system design and content.
3. Improved management of technological hazards using a remote sensing-assisted hazardous waste site monitoring SDSS. The methodology will be evaluated by Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency personnel. The hazardous waste site SDSS will also be of value should any of the thousands of hazardous waste sites be compromised by terrorist activities.
4. Education and technology transfer of products and services. The algorithms, SDSS, and datasets developed in this research will be transferred to the user-community through an outreach program involving the Internet, USC workshops, presentations, and publications.