Space data plays a crucial role in addressing the country's "increasing vulnerability" to climate change, the very reason why Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Deputy Director General for Space Science and Technology Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez intends to use it to respond to the growing need for climate information.
In a statement, PhilSA said that Perez, in her presentation at the Earth Observation Forum of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing held in Nice, France, on June 8, revealed how PhilSA plans to mobilize space data, through its sovereign satellites and curated satellite data sources, ground stations, and high-performance computing system.
“Data is already available and there is the technical capacity to host this data, but the challenge remains on how this data is being translated into actionable insights. For us to realize the economic value, there is a need to maximize what we can get from the space data, from generating maps, forecasts, and advisories, which serve as an impetus to action insights, which benefit our end-users, such as our fishermen or farmers,” Perez said.
PhilSA said that the critical part of the space data mobilization is a needs assessment, currently being done through the 2021 - 2030 Decadal Survey. The Advanced Satellite Development and Know-How Transfer for the Philippines (ASP) Project of the STAMINA4Space Program initiated the activity in coordination with PhilSA.
The Decadal Survey has brought together the scientific community and the public and private sectors to identify priority challenges and objectives in Earth observation and other satellite applications most relevant for the Philippines in the coming decade.
PhilSA explained that the survey has six focus areas, namely: Hydrologic Cycles and Climate Studies; Weather, Air Quality, and Atmospheric Processes; Earth Surface and Interior: Dynamics and Processes; Hazards and Disaster Risk, Reduction, and Management; Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources Management, and; Terrestrial Ecosystems and Land Resources Management. The results of the Decadal Survey will serve as the basis for determining priority space missions that would address the most urgent and important challenges in the country.
“By knowing the needs and current capabilities, we develop programs that will directly enhance the capability to harness Earth Observation data,” Dr. Perez explained.
Among the programs that PhilSA has set up to utilize and cascade EO data is the ISKUELA, or Inclusive SSTA Know-how Utilization, Exchange, and Localization Activities. ISKUELA is composed of various projects and activities that aim to educate and build the capacity of partners from the academe, industry, media, communities, and the public sector, on how to use space data for their needs.
One of these projects is SIICaP, or the Space Information Infrastructure Capacity Building and Training Program, which aims to promote awareness and understanding of space information infrastructures and their applications through monthly events, such as webinars, hackathons, workshops, short courses, and resource person support. The project has successfully conducted two webinars, engaging with students, researchers, and representatives of various local government units.
Beyond the ISKUELA program, PhilSA actively provides spaceborne data to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to assist with disaster management and response. And through one of its online communication campaigns, #PhilippineSatelliteWatch, PhilSA regularly updates and informs the public on how the country utilizes satellite imagery for the nation’s various needs.
“We recognize that there are gaps in space data utilization for climate action at present. One way to bridge this gap is to strengthen space science communication and education efforts. It is also crucial to reach out to a wide range of audiences and stakeholders to demonstrate the beneficial results of using space-borne information to deal with uncertainties in our environment," Perez said.
"Aside from informing stakeholders and end-users, we enjoin them to join the mission and take part in using data. Through their participation and the resulting exchange in knowledge and information, parameters and standards will be developed to further improve the processing and utilization of space data. With this, data will be more socially-responsive and useful,” she added.