Download 12 Servir_himalaya

Regional Visualization and Monitoring System
SERVIR is a regional visualisation and monitoring system that integrates earth
observations such as satellite imagery and forecast models together with in
situ data and other knowledge for timely decision-making. SERVIR evolved
through a ‘non-traditional’ partnership between USAID and NASA to make
earth observation data, decision-support tools for interpreting the data,
and online mapping capability, more generally available. SERVIR, from the
Spanish verb for ‘to serve’, enables scientists, educators, project managers and
policy implementers to respond better to a range of issues including disaster
management, agricultural development, biodiversity conservation, and climate
change. SERVIR places a strong emphasis on partnerships to fortify the access to
and availability of earth observations, spatial analysis, and visualisation. SERVIR
provides a model for building the capacity of countries to use earth observations
and geospatial information technologies in regions around the world.
Launched at ICIMOD as the third regional node in October 2010, SERVIRHimalaya will provide a source of innovation for the Hindu Kush-Himalayan
region and be used to respond better to a range of regional issues,
including disaster management, environmental monitoring, natural resources
management, and the study of climate change.
From l to r: Mr. Basanta Shrestha, Head, MENRIS
Division; Mr. Charles F. Bolden Jr., NASA
Administrator; Mr. Michael Yates, Senior Deputy
Assistant Administrator, USAID; and Dr. Andreas
Schild, Director General ICIMOD at the launch of
SERVIR-Himalaya
SERVIR works from space to village, bringing people and their environment
into harmony, by providing access to data and models, coupled with training
and capacity building that can be used to help decision makers and their
constituencies. SERVIR-Himalaya has already been helping to map the recent
flooding in Pakistan through USAID support and NASA satellite data.
Participants in the SERVIR supported Youth Forum ‘Empowering Youth
on Earth Observation Information for Climate Actions” organised at
ICIMOD from 1-6 October 2010.
Key components of SERVIR Himalaya
Component
Key Outputs
Needs
• Identification of key partner institutions
assessment
• Gap analysis for the SERVIR-Himalaya infrastructure
SERVIR-Himalaya Implementation Framework
• Capacity needs assessment and prioritisation of decision support
applications
SERVIR
• Establishing an interactive SERVIR-Himalaya platform based on the core
Himalaya
SERVIR architecture, an operational geospatial data portal for regional
web portal
visualisation and decision support
• Systematic incorporation of relevant existing geospatial data and regional
products
Decision
• Prioritise, develop, and deploy decision support applications
support
• Decision support applications will support ICIMOD’s strategic programmes,
applications
Capacity
building
national partners, and other priorities as identified by the needs assessment
• Training and capacity building at the national and regional level using
various approaches such as tutorials, on-line training modules, mentoring,
national training workshops, pilot projects, and technical exchange
programmes
• Focus on the use of technology for specific applications related to such
topics as climate change, biodiversity, land change mapping, air quality,
and response to extreme events; South-South collaboration with other
SERVIR nodes to share experience and assist with the establishment of
new nodes
Sustainability
framework
Societal benefit areas of GEOSS
• Continuity of SERVIR Himalaya in a self-sustaining mode. Complementarities
with other regional/global initiatives and pooling of resources
• Data sharing principles and cost recovery based data products and services
ICIMOD GPO Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel +977-1-5003222 Email [email protected] Web www.icimod.org