On Monday, August 31, 2015, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the technology for development project SERVIR-Mekong in Thailand. The project aims to promote the use of satellite imagery to assist the Lower Mekong region of Asia better predict and deal with floods and other natural disasters and increase resilience to the negative impacts of climate change. The project is funded by USAID and NASA and implemented by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center and its partners. SERVIR-Mekong will help governments and other decision-makers in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam make use of publicly available satellite imagery, geospatial data and maps to make more informed decisions on important issues such as water management, land use planning, disaster risk reduction, infrastructure development and natural resources management. Read more here
Cross References
http://cambodia.usembassy.gov/083115_pr.html
The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) hosted a one-day SERVIR products and applications workshop on 9th September, 2015. The workshop was officially opened by Dr. Hussein Farah, RCMRD’s Director General. Also present were Vincent Mtaroni, Ag. Director, RS/GIS and Mapping Department, Dr. Robinson Mugo, Earth Observations Lead, and Anastasia Wahome, GIS and Database Applications Lead.
SERVIR-Eastern & Southern Africa’s Land Cover Mapping for GHG Inventories project has significantly improved the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development’s (RCMRD) level of expertise in land cover and land use mapping. As a result, RCMRD is considered a highly reliable provider of technical advice, support, and networking linkages.
The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), SERVIR’s Eastern and Southern Africa hub attended the SERVIR Annual Global Exchange in Bangkok, Thailand from 1-4th September, 2015. The event attracted SERVIR team members from all over the world and was held after the launch of SERVIR-Mekong, the latest addition to the SERVIR global network. The SERVIR Annual Global Exchange drew over ninety participants from different SERVIR hubs including Nairobi, Kenya; Kathmandu, Nepal; and Bangkok; the SERVIR Coordination Office in Huntsville, Alabama; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Headquarters in Washington, D.C.; Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) in Bethesda, Maryland; and SERVIR Applied Sciences Team members from around the United States of America.
RCMRD’s Anastasia Wahome and Ngugi Kimani, having a conversation during the SERVIR Annual Global Exchange.
During the event, the participants shared best practices, attended sessions on capacity building, technology, food security, water, disasters, land use, among other issues, as well as learned long term strategic plans for SERVIR’s growth.
SERVIR’s efforts complement RCMRD’s core mission and provide a springboard for the development of applications customized for Member States.
Cross Reference
https://www.servirglobal.net/Global/Articles/Article/1461/servir-team-members-from-around-the-globe-come-together-for-servir-annual-globa