NASA REASon PROJECT Research, Education and Applications Solution Network

Dr. Michael Hodgson's Project

I. Remote Sensing Hazard Guidance System (led by Dr. Mike Hodgson and Dr. Bruce Davis)

This research is creating a Remote Sensing Hazard Guidance System (RSHGS) spatial decision support system that interfaces with other decision support systems at FEMA (e.g., HAZUS) and state departments of emergency preparedness. In the event of a disaster, the RSHGS SDSS utilizes many of NASA's satellite assets, including: MODIS, ASTER, MISR, Landsat 5, Landsat 7, and others (NOAA AVHRR, GOES, etc.). In addition, it incorporates current analog and metric aerial photography. The goal is to be able to a) map the expected areas of impact from a natural disaster, b) identify which new satellite remote sensing assets are able to collect new remote sensor data for the projected impact area, and c) recommend new remote sensor data that should be collected. One of the major benefits of the SDSS is that it will rapidly (within minutes) determine satellite remote sensing opportunities and thus, keep multiple agencies from collecting the same type of information.