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NASA and USAID Help Bring Earth-Observation Benefits to Africa

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and their partners cut the ribbon inNairobi, Kenya, on SERVIR-Africa. The SERVIR system integrates the satellite resources ofthe United States and other countries into a Web-based Earth information system putting previously inaccessible information into the hands of local scientists, government leaders and communities to support efforts related to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, biodiversity and climate change, issues that USAID is involved with worldwide. The SERVIR system was developed with USAID by researchers at a global coordination office and rapid prototyping facility at Marshall Space Flight Center.

SERVIR-Africa will use NASA Earth science satellite data from many of NASA's 15 operating missions and other information to better predict areas at risk for severe flooding and map regions hit by floods. It will also develop an early-warning tool to predict the distribution of vector-borne diseases such as Rift Valley Fever. By mapping the location of climate change projections, the system will allow people to see impacts on such things asAfrica's diverse ecosystems.

SERVIR has operated inCentral America, theCaribbean and southernMexico since 2005. Now, through the support of multiple government agencies and other organizations, USAID and NASA are expanding the system toAfrica in partnership with the Regional Center for Mapping of Resources for Development inNairobi. The center, an intergovernmental organization with 15 member states in eastern and southernAfrica, is the leader in geospatial mapping in the region.

"A satellite birds-eye view can provide an overall picture of a natural disaster such as a flood and its consequences," said Tesfaye Korme, director of remote sensing and geographic information systems at the center. "Using the SERVIR-Africa platform, we will be able to develop near-real time maps of flood-affected areas to estimate the number of displaced people and locate potential transportation disruptions."

SERVIR also builds relationships with industry. "Public-private partnerships are critical to the success of the SERVIR system," said Jacqueline E. Schafer, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade for USAID. "SERVIR puts science and technology into the hands of local decision-makers."

For more information about SERVIR, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/servir

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov

For more information about USAID, please visit: www.usaid.gov.

Public Information: 202-712-4810

SOURCE U.S. Agency for International Development

Tags: ,ARO,CPR,POL,EXE,USAID-NASA-satellite

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