Int. Charter Space & Major Disasters Value Added Products

Abstract:
Value Added Products (VAP) derived from satellite data and any ground verification information for those affected by natural or man-made disasters through registered organisations, for use in monitoring and response activities. The VAPs are typically situation maps or charts of the post-disaster event, e.g. flood extent maps, analysis maps of burnt area, radar image of pyroclastic deposits, etc. The VAPS are generated in response to an activation of the Charter by a registered organisation. The VAPs are disseminated on EUMETCast, and made available through the Charter website. The products have an activation ID which indicates the ongoing activation to which they belong. An activation typically lasts for 45 days. On EUMETCast the new VAPs are re-transmitted every 60 minutes, for 7 days after their initial availability. The International Charter Space and Major Disasters is a worldwide collaboration, through which satellite data are made available for the benefit of disaster management. By combining Earth observation assets from different space agencies, the Charter allows resources and expertise to be coordinated for rapid response to major disaster situations; thereby helping civil protection authorities and the international humanitarian community. This unique initiative is able to mobilise agencies around the world and benefit from their know-how and their satellites through a single access point that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and at no cost to the user. EUMETSAT is a member of the Charter.