As we approach 2010, we see that taken as a whole, the world community operates sufficient numbers and varieties of Earth observations satellite systems to make enormous contributions to improving human security and to make a striking positive difference in the lives of billions of people around the world. The benefits to society worldwide are potentially very great.To deliver these benefits efficiently and effectively, space system operators will have to be better integrated with service providers, both public and private. Together, they will need to develop the appropriate tools to turn data into useful information and appropriate services inexpensively and expeditiously. They will also have to collaborate more deeply and effectively with ground system operators and value added organizations around the world.In the public sector, if local communities and individuals are to realize the full benefits possible from Earth observations, they will need to have the tools to be able to contribute local information to the publicly available resources. Such local information can provide much greater analytic depth to the overhead imagery, improving the capabilities of Earth observations to contribute to human and environmental security. Yet the greatest benefits could well accrue to the private sector with applications associated with individual safety, disaster response, etc. emerging. Improved knowledge of localized severe weather from car-based sensors, delivered via commercial companies, represents just one example. Fortunately, the development of modern communication tools such as smart phones, netbooks, and other wi-fi and internet devices provide the new information tools needed to improve citizen inputs to information derived from Earth observation data. Such inputs have been termed Community Remote Sensing (CRS) . CRS also encompasses new opportunities for sensing, analyzing, validating, and sharing remotely sensed information of all kinds.This paper examines the role of Earth observing systems for serving human security needs as defined by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and explores solutions to some of the current hurdles that impede the delivery of services to people. In particular it discusses the role that CRS can play in making Earth observations truly responsive to human needs at the local level.
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