2015 AAAS Annual Meeting (12-16 February 2015)

February 12 - 16, 2015

Earth Observation Systems and Citizen Scientists Tackle Urban Environmental Hazards

Through the use of earth observations, both remote-sensing and in situ techniques, new opportunities are being created for citizens to become involved in the monitoring of the urban environment and megacities for threats and economic loss that could affect millions of inhabitants. This session reviews the role of global earth observations (GEO) of recent events that have had an impact on cities, such as smog in Paris and Brussels, the Saharan sand cloud in London, and the disruption of city traffic by ash from distant volcanoes. The session will also present examples of longer-term evolution of cities viewed from space or through the integration of space and in situ data. The concept of citizen observatories and its added value in the context of GEO will be presented, exploring basically how the man in the street can become an observatory on its own. Speakers will look at the possible return in terms of innovation and resource-saving; the extent to which the involvement of citizens will contribute to delivering better and more transparent assessments; the current shift of paradigm from citizen access to information to a real participation in the provision of environmental information faced by public authorities; the impact of the technological revolution from costly, static devices to portable, cheap mobile applications; and the contribution citizens can make in developing and delivering environmental policy related to sustainable urban management.