We invite you to join the July meeting of the Environment-Vulnerability-Decision-Technology (EVDT) Community. The purpose of the EVDT Community meetings is to share research approaches led by the Space Enabled Research Group and our collaborators that combine insights into social, environmental and policy challenges that can be addressed with geospatial information systems. Learn more about the EVDT Framework here; and read publications from past EVDT projects here.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 22nd from 10:00am to 11:00am ET. Join the Zoom link here. If you missed the previous meeting, you can find the recording here.
Here is the time-zone information for various locations: Mexico City - 8:00 am to 9:00 am; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 11:00 am to 12:00 pm; Luanda, Angola - 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm; Benin - 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm; Ghana - 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm; Jakarta, Indonesia - 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm; Los Angeles, USA - 7:00 am to 8:00 am.
If you are planning to attend the EVDT Meeting on July 22nd, please fill out this form in advance.
We are also collecting ideas and volunteers for side events (discussions, longer talks, workshops, teaching sessions, etc.). Want to get feedback and advice on some project idea that you have? Want to learn how to use ArcGIS StoryMaps or Google Earth Engine but don't know who to ask?
Whether you want to host an event or want to suggest an event for someone else to host, please fill out this form with your ideas! These can be short, 30 minute events or long multi-hour workshops. The format and topics are very open.
Agenda:
All times are in ET
Introduction | 10:05 AM
Opening remarks from Sharif Islam
Presentation | 10:10 AM
Speaker name: Dr. Rajeswari Balasubramaniam
Presentation Title: CYGNSS mission overview and GNSS+R remote sensing capabilities
Abstract: A constellation of small, low-cost satellites can provide scientifically valuable measurements of the Earth, supporting applications such as weather forecasting, disaster monitoring, and climate studies. The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), comprising eight satellites, was launched into low Earth orbit on December 15, 2016. Each satellite carries a radar receiver that captures GPS signals reflected from the Earth's surface. These reflected signals contain information about key surface properties, including ocean wind speed, soil moisture, and flooding extent over land. The satellites are evenly distributed within their orbital plane, enabling frequent measurements to better capture extreme weather events. Innovative engineering approaches were employed to reduce per-satellite cost, increase constellation size, and enhance temporal sampling. These include the use of differential drag, rather than propulsion, to adjust satellite spacing, and the utilization of existing GPS signals as radar transmitters. Since its launch, CYGNSS has successfully demonstrated its capability to measure ocean winds, soil moisture, and inland water extent. Building on this success, new applications continue to emerge, and numerous follow-on missions are now in orbit or under development by government agencies and private companies. This talk provides an overview of the CYGNSS mission and highlights the growing potential of GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) for future Earth remote sensing applications.
Organizational Affiliation: University of Michigan
Q&A | 10:45 am
Meeting Adjourn | 11:00 am