IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v9y2017i5p858-d99084.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Lifting the Information Barriers to Address Sustainability Challenges with Data from Physical Geography and Earth Observation

Author

Listed:
  • Anthony Lehmann

    (enviroSPACE, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Bd. Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer

    (Natural Capital Project, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Martin Lacayo

    (enviroSPACE, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Bd. Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Grégory Giuliani

    (enviroSPACE, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Bd. Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    GRID-Geneva, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Bd. Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • David Thau

    (Google, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA)

  • Kevin Koy

    (Berkeley Institute for Data Science, University of California, Berkeley, 190 Doe Library, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

  • Grace Goldberg

    (Marine Science Institute, University California of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, USA)

  • Richard Sharp Jr.

    (Natural Capital Project, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

Abstract

Sustainability challenges demand solutions, and the pace of technological and scientific advances in physical geography and Earth observation have great potential to provide the information needed to address these challenges. This paper highlights five online tools and initiatives that are lifting barriers to address these challenges. The enviroGRIDS project in the Black Sea catchment demonstrates how the use of spatial data infrastructures can facilitate data sharing. Google Earth Engine is providing solutions to challenges of processing big data into usable information. Additionally, application programming interfaces allow outsiders to elaborate and iterate on programs to explore novel uses of data and models, as seen in the Berkeley Ecoinformatics Engine. Finally, collaborative mapping tools, such as Seasketch/MarineMap and the InVEST software suite, allow engagement within and between groups of experts and stakeholders for the development, deployment, and long-term impact of a project. Merging these different experiences can set a new standard for online information tools supporting sustainable development from evidence brought by physical geography combined with socioeconomic conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Lehmann & Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer & Martin Lacayo & Grégory Giuliani & David Thau & Kevin Koy & Grace Goldberg & Richard Sharp Jr., 2017. "Lifting the Information Barriers to Address Sustainability Challenges with Data from Physical Geography and Earth Observation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:5:p:858-:d:99084
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/5/858/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/5/858/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Independent Evaluation Group, 2017. "Data for Development," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 28485.
    2. Federico Montesino Pouzols & Tuuli Toivonen & Enrico Di Minin & Aija S. Kukkala & Peter Kullberg & Johanna Kuusterä & Joona Lehtomäki & Henrikki Tenkanen & Peter H. Verburg & Atte Moilanen, 2014. "Global protected area expansion is compromised by projected land-use and parochialism," Nature, Nature, vol. 516(7531), pages 383-386, December.
    3. Fasel, M. & Bréthaut, C. & Rouholahnejad, E. & Lacayo-Emery, M.A. & Lehmann, A., 2016. "Blue water scarcity in the Black Sea catchment: Identifying key actors in the water-ecosystem-energy-food nexus," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 140-150.
    4. Gregory Giuliani & Nicolas Ray & Stefan Schwarzer & Andrea De Bono & Pascal Peduzzi & Hy Dao & Jaap Van Woerden & Ron Witt & Martin Beniston & Anthony Lehmann, 2011. "Sharing Environmental Data through GEOSS," International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research (IJAGR), IGI Global, vol. 2(1), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Ruckelshaus, Mary & McKenzie, Emily & Tallis, Heather & Guerry, Anne & Daily, Gretchen & Kareiva, Peter & Polasky, Stephen & Ricketts, Taylor & Bhagabati, Nirmal & Wood, Spencer A. & Bernhardt, Joanna, 2015. "Notes from the field: Lessons learned from using ecosystem service approaches to inform real-world decisions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 11-21.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Shushanik Asmaryan & Vahagn Muradyan & Garegin Tepanosyan & Azatuhi Hovsepyan & Armen Saghatelyan & Hrachya Astsatryan & Hayk Grigoryan & Rita Abrahamyan & Yaniss Guigoz & Gregory Giuliani, 2019. "Paving the Way towards an Armenian Data Cube," Data, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-10, August.
    2. Mary Thornbush, 2017. "Physical Geography and Environmental Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-5, November.
    3. Gregory Giuliani & Gilberto Camara & Brian Killough & Stuart Minchin, 2019. "Earth Observation Open Science: Enhancing Reproducible Science Using Data Cubes," Data, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-6, November.
    4. Thomas Bolognesi & Andrea K. Gerlak & Gregory Giuliani, 2018. "Explaining and Measuring Social-Ecological Pathways: The Case of Global Changes and Water Security," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-21, November.
    5. Gregory Giuliani & Joan Masó & Paolo Mazzetti & Stefano Nativi & Alaitz Zabala, 2019. "Paving the Way to Increased Interoperability of Earth Observations Data Cubes," Data, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-23, July.
    6. Charalampos Skoulikaris & Yannis Krestenitis, 2020. "Cloud Data Scraping for the Assessment of Outflows from Dammed Rivers in the EU. A Case Study in South Eastern Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-15, September.
    7. Gregory Giuliani & Elvire Egger & Julie Italiano & Charlotte Poussin & Jean-Philippe Richard & Bruno Chatenoux, 2020. "Essential Variables for Environmental Monitoring: What Are the Possible Contributions of Earth Observation Data Cubes?," Data, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-25, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chakraborty, Adrij, 2017. "Colonial Origins and Comparative Development: Institutions Matter," MPRA Paper 86320, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Feb 2018.
    2. Chunrong Mi & Liang Ma & Mengyuan Yang & Xinhai Li & Shai Meiri & Uri Roll & Oleksandra Oskyrko & Daniel Pincheira-Donoso & Lilly P. Harvey & Daniel Jablonski & Barbod Safaei-Mahroo & Hanyeh Ghaffari , 2023. "Global Protected Areas as refuges for amphibians and reptiles under climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. S. M. Niaz Arifin & Christoph Zimmer & Caroline Trotter & Anaïs Colombini & Fati Sidikou & F. Marc LaForce & Ted Cohen & Reza Yaesoubi, 2019. "Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Uses of Polyvalent Meningococcal Vaccines in Niger: An Agent-Based Transmission Modeling Study," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 39(5), pages 553-567, July.
    4. Andrés M. García & Inés Santé & Xurxo Loureiro & David Miranda, 2020. "Spatial Planning of Green Infrastructure for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change at a Regional Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-22, December.
    5. Klein, Thomas Michael & Drobnik, Thomas & Grêt-Regamey, Adrienne, 2016. "Shedding light on the usability of ecosystem services–based decision support systems: An eye-tracking study linked to the cognitive probing approach," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 65-86.
    6. Lamprinakis, L. & Rodriguez, D. G. P. & Prestvik, A. S. & Veidal, A. & Klimek, B., 2017. "31 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18461/pfsd.2017.1705 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON FOOD SYSTEM DYNAMICS A Mixed Methods Approach Towards Mapping and Economic Valuation of the Divici-Pojejena Wetland Ecosystem," 2018 International European Forum (163rd EAAE Seminar), February 5-9, 2018, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 276889, International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.
    7. Pettenella, Davide & Thiene, Mara & Scarpa, Riccardo & Masiero, Mauro & Mattea, Stefania & Franceschinis, Cristiano, 2016. "First economic assessment of ecosystem services from Natura 2000 network in Lombardy (Northern Italy)," 2016 Fifth AIEAA Congress, June 16-17, 2016, Bologna, Italy 242326, Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA).
    8. Wood, Sylvia L.R. & Jones, Sarah K. & Johnson, Justin A. & Brauman, Kate A. & Chaplin-Kramer, Rebecca & Fremier, Alexander & Girvetz, Evan & Gordon, Line J. & Kappel, Carrie V. & Mandle, Lisa & Mullig, 2018. "Distilling the role of ecosystem services in the Sustainable Development Goals," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 29(PA), pages 70-82.
    9. Lima, Letícia Santos de & Ramos Barón, Pablo Andres & Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio & Krueger, Tobias, 2019. "Will PES Schemes Survive in the Long-term Without Evidence of Their Effectiveness? Exploring Four Water-related Cases in Colombia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 211-223.
    10. Schmidt, Katja & Walz, Ariane & Martín-López, Berta & Sachse, René, 2017. "Testing socio-cultural valuation methods of ecosystem services to explain land use preferences," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 26(PA), pages 270-288.
    11. Banerjee, Onil & Crossman, Neville & Vargas, Renato & Brander, Luke & Verburg, Peter & Cicowiez, Martin & Hauck, Jennifer & McKenzie, Emily, 2020. "Global socio-economic impacts of changes in natural capital and ecosystem services: State of play and new modeling approaches," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    12. Peck, Megan & Khirfan, Luna, 2021. "Improving the validity and credibility of the sociocultural valuation of ecosystem services in Amman, Jordan," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    13. Pierre Mokondoko & Robert H Manson & Taylor H Ricketts & Daniel Geissert, 2018. "Spatial analysis of ecosystem service relationships to improve targeting of payments for hydrological services," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-27, February.
    14. Di Pirro, E. & Sallustio, L. & Capotorti, G. & Marchetti, M. & Lasserre, B., 2021. "A scenario-based approach to tackle trade-offs between biodiversity conservation and land use pressure in Central Italy," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 448(C).
    15. Leena Bhattacharya, 2019. "Short-Term Migration and Children’s School Attendance: Evidence from Rural India," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 62(4), pages 659-691, December.
    16. Pham, Thu Thuy & Loft, Lasse & Bennett, Karen & Phuong, Vu Tan & Dung, Le Ngoc & Brunner, Jake, 2015. "Monitoring and evaluation of Payment for Forest Environmental Services in Vietnam: From myth to reality," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 16(C), pages 220-229.
    17. Ruben Smelik & Freek van Wermeskerken & Robbert Krijnen & Frido Kuijper, 2019. "Dynamic synthetic environments: a survey," The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation, , vol. 16(3), pages 255-271, July.
    18. Mannetti, Lelani M. & Göttert, Thomas & Zeller, Ulrich & Esler, Karen J., 2017. "Expanding the protected area network in Namibia: An institutional analysis," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 28(PB), pages 207-218.
    19. Spangenberg, Joachim H. & Settele, Josef, 2016. "Value pluralism and economic valuation – defendable if well done," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 100-109.
    20. Kim, Choong-Ki & Jang, Seonju & Kim, Tae Yun, 2018. "Site selection for offshore wind farms in the southwest coast of South Korea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 151-162.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:5:p:858-:d:99084. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.