Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS) “Providing scientific information for decision making”

Veronica Grasso, Ph.D.

United Nations Environment Programme

UNEP Mandate To keep the world environmental situation under review

WHY?

Vision: Everyone in the world should have access to information about what is happening to his/her environment

Mission: Providing scientific information for decision making

Goal: Empower people with engaging environmental information

Through GEAS, UNEP will become Information Brokerof scientifically credible data and information to public and decision makers;

Scientific Research

Earth Observation Systems

Scientific News

Local knowledge

Sources

Near-Real Time Information on Environmental Hazards (air pollution, Lake’s water level, etc.)

Scientific Findings

Change Analysis

Output Users

UNEP and partners

National Environment Ministries

International Agencies

Civil Society

GEAS

Component 1

Near-Real Time Environmental Hazards Alerts

Component 2

Environmental Hotspots Alerts

Component 3Environmental Science Alerts

Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS)

Feedback

HOW?

Earth Observation Systems and models

Sources Analysis

Screening

Integration

Synthesis

Packaging

Output/ Communication

Web Service with Real-time

Maps: Google Map, Google Earth

Early Warning Alert:

E-mail, SMS. Local Knowledge

Ground Information

GEAS Component 1Near-Real Time Environmental

Hazards Alerts

HOW? Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS)

Screening

Integration

Synthesis

Packaging

Environmental Change case

studies

Google Earth Visualization

1973 and 2003 Iguazu, South America.

Earth Observation Systems and models

Local Knowledge

Ground Information

GEAS Component 2Environmental Hotspots Alerts

Sources Analysis Output/ Communication

HOW? Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS)

Screening

Integration

Synthesis

Packaging

Scientific Research Findings

Science digest notes

Malaria Early Warning for Sub Saharan AfricaRecently, a group of scientists from the Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Reading, UK, developed a method for predicting malaria impact several months in advance. Malaria represents the most important parasitic infection in people causing more than 1 million deaths each year, mostly in Sub-Saharan ……. Unfortunately more often malaria treatments are not easily accessible and effective in Africa, especially to ones References

Palmer T. N., Alessandri A., Andersen U., …

GEAS Component 3Environmental Science Alerts

Sources Analysis Output/ Communication

HOW? Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS)

• Use of standard format alerts: compatible with all information systems, warning systems, media, and most importantly, with new technologies such as web services.

• A partnership with Google and the news media is being explored • Ongoing discussions to include GEAS in the GEO web portal• GEAS could become a content provider for GEONETCast

..Harnessing the power of new technologies

HOW? Outreach and User Engagement

HOW? Outreach and User Engagement

Profiling System

Profile Manager Use this page to configure your preferences for GEAS’ weekly e -mail update. Fields marked with * are required. Name: E-mail: * Secret question: * Answer: * Confirm answer: * Company: Country:

E-mail delivery preferences: HTML Plain text Please select which components of the system you are interested in. Please select at least one component.

Alerts Component (1) – information on environmental hazards in your area of interest

Hotspots Component (2) – environmental change case studies

Briefs Component (3) – news briefs covering new scientific findings Your e -mail add ress will not be disclosed to third parties without your authorization. By submitting this form you are subscribing to a weekly e -mail update service, which you can terminate at any time. Submit

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Cyclones Earthquakes Fires Floods Volcanic Eruptions Select location(s) of interest Lat: Long: Add

Give Feedback

GEAS live Demo

Date: 1 August 2007Time: Latitude: -14Longitude: 51

Fires detected in Brazil.

Link for additional information.

Date: 1 August 2007Time: Latitude: -30.28Longitude: 22.58

Fires detected in South Africa.

Link for additional information.

Date: 1 August 2007Time: Latitude: -1.4Longitude: 29

Lake Victoria water level monitoring.

Link for additional information.

Date: 1 August 2007Time: Latitude: 38Longitude: -77

Air Quality for United States

Link for additional information.

GEAS – Near Real Time Component: Demo

GEAS – Hotspots Component: Google Earth Demo