International Activities of the U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center and their applicability to Bioinformatics.
Eric van Praag
E-mail: vanpraag@usgs.gov
EROS Data Center
ABSTRACT
The International Program at the U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center (EDC) extends our knowledge and understanding of earth
processes by undertaking comparative studies of climate change, assessments of hazards, analyses of land cover change, and monitoring
of dynamic earth processes. The International Program specializes in projects that use remotely sensed data or geographic information
systems to address issues of sustainable development, resource management, land cover change, hydro-climatic monitoring, and early
warning systems in many countries around the world. International Program website: edcintl.cr.usgs.gov/ip/index.html
Several applications developed at EDC in recent years have direct application for the new bioinformatics field, in particular those
that help manage and disseminate geospatial information directly relevant for studying and monitoring biodiversity. Some applications
worth mentioning in this category are the recent launchings of GIS web services in Latin America and Africa that feature
geoinformation on the natural environment and agriculture, the implementation of spatial data catalogs worldwide - of a similar nature
to those developed by national biological infrastructures, the mapping of land use and land cover, and data provision for flood and
famine early warning systems in Central America and Africa on topics such as flood mapping, agricultural stress, and general climate
issues. The capacities and experience accumulated at EDC over many years of research, while developing a broad range of application
in the fields of remote sensing and GIS, can be applied in new and innovative ways in support of biodiversity conservation and
management.
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