ClimateSERV - Lowering the Barrier to Integrating Earth Observation Climate Data into Decision Making

Incorporating earth observation (EO) data into decisions can be a challenging process. It requires not only the technical and computational capacity to analyze and interpret the data but also the ability to integrate this information effectively into a decision making framework. Understanding the needs of the users and capacity building plays a crucial role in equipping stakeholders and decision-makers with the necessary skills and knowledge to utilize these advanced datasets and tools. The lack of robust, high-speed communication infrastructure further exacerbates this challenge in many countries. Overcoming obstacles related to limited access to reliable internet and data services is a prerequisite to advancing the use of remote sensing tools and the timely dissemination of critical information. Seeking to address these limitations the SERVIR program developed ClimateSERV. ClimateSERV provides user-friendly access to visualize, analyze, and download climate data with minimal bandwidth requirements and faster, server-side processing. Examples of ClimateSERV usage include improved lead time and accuracy of flood warnings in the lower Mekong region, providing seasonal outlooks to farmers for planning planting times and crop cultivars in Kenya, and supporting crop insurance in Africa. Here we present how providing access to EO- derived climate data through a user-needs centric approach coupled with capacity building can enhance decision making and provide broad scale impacts.

December 12, 2024

12:00 AM

Washington DC

American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting