CSIRO’s Data61 and Radiant.Earth team up to improve disaster resilience from space

SYDNEY, Australia and WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2017 -- CSIRO’s Data61 Australia’s data innovation network and Radiant.Earth have announced today that they will partner to develop joint research into satellite imagery and earth observation data for disaster resilience, in areas such as human disaster management, health, climate change and sustainable water management.

The 2011 Flood in Bangkok Thailand devastated the community. CSIRO

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb150aa5-6504-4fdc-a68b-481b27055ccd

A recent report by the United Nations found 41 percent of all disasters caused by natural hazards reported over the past two decades have occurred in the Asia-Pacific region.

The partnership will see Data61 and Radiant.Earth leverage their existing resources, networks and facilities in real-time modelling, machine learning and visualization technologies for mutual benefits.

One planned activity will include hosting of open data on Radiant.Earth's platform, and demonstration of Data61’s mapping products and tools on that platform such as TerriaJS, for the purpose of supporting mission critical programs, primarily in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Radiant.Earth CEO Anne Hale Miglarese said that in support of the global development community, Radiant.Earth’s mission is to connect people worldwide to Earth imagery, geospatial data, tools, and knowledge to meet the world’s most critical challenges.

“The world is awash in Earth observation data, but most of the low and middle income countries are still poorly mapped and served by geospatial technologies,” Ms Miglarese said.

Partnering with Data61 to drive open remote sensing science will help us serve this community better, including non-profits working in global development, as well as national and regional government entities.”

CSIRO’s Data61 CEO Adrian Turner said the partnership with Radiant.Earth was an example of how science and technology and cross-border partnerships can deliver benefit to the global community.

“Data61 has world-leading expertise in applying data visualization and geospatial tools like TerriaJS to inform decision making around smart cities and infrastructure, including mapping renewable energy systems or demographics in different locations to inform policy decision making,” Mr Turner said.

In addition, with technologies like SPARK and AMICUS, we can predict the behaviour and spread of bushfires and have worked with local emergency services organizations and government in Australia to plan for emergencies.” 

A combination of approaches, including Radiant.Earth’s extensive network, will be used to improve disaster resilience among disadvantaged communities in the Asia-Pacific region in the coming months.

About CSIRO | DATA61

CSIRO’s Data61 is Australia’s data innovation network that transforms existing industries and creates new ones through the application of science and technology. As an applied R&D partner, Data61’s capabilities range from cybersecurity, confidential computing, IoT, robotics, machine learning and analytics, software and programming to behavioural sciences and more. For further information, visit www.data61.csiro.au and @data61news.  

About Radiant.Earth

Radiant.Earth is a non-profit organization, committed to aggregating the world’s open Earth imagery and providing access and education on its use to the global development community. At the center of Radiant.Earth is an open technology platform that will help people discover and analyze the vast resources of Earth imagery, accelerating improved decision-making and fueling new solutions, discoveries and innovations. In support of this user-driven platform, Radiant.Earth offers an integrated and robust community development program to guide people in the use of Earth imagery, geospatial data sets and tools. This includes insights into the commercial market and related policies. 

Media Contacts

Kate Powl
Communications Manager
[email protected]
+ 61 472 875 092

Anthony Burn
Chief Engagement Officer
Radiant.Earth
[email protected]
+1 202 731 7466