Day: June 19, 2012

Esri Homeland Security Summit to Feature Expert Presentations, Demos, and Networking Opportunities

/ Matt Artz

Esri logoIssues of National Importance Covered during July 21–24 Event in San Diego

The 2012 Esri Homeland Security Summit promises to provide a unique opportunity to collaborate with and learn from Esri’s public safety staff, partners, and users. The summit will be held July 21–24 at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego, California.

The Plenary Session will feature these speakers:

  • Rick Driggers, chief technology officer, Department of Homeland Security
  • Carla Boyce, director, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Integration Center
  • Joe Adduci, senior GIS project manager, Argonne National Labs
  • Alexander Fuchs, information management officer, Frontex Situation Center
  • Mike Sena, director, Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, and president, National Fusion Center Association

“We’re emphasizing interaction with global homeland security and national defense professionals,” said Paul Christin, homeland security industry manager, Esri. “We want people to connect to and join our global network of peers. It’s a terrific opportunity to stay on top of the latest best practices and proven technology deployed to achieve mission success.”

Attendees will learn how to extend the value of geotechnology in meeting mission requirements. By attending training sessions and demos, users will discover how to gain true situational awareness using one comprehensive system, get the right resources to the right place at the right time, and make informed decisions for a quicker and safer response.

In addition, a number of social events are lined up to foster collaboration and sharing among attendees, including the National Security Social and the Homeland Security Summit Welcome Social. People will be able to meet and connect with others to form lasting relationships.

Other highlights include those below:

  • Comprehensive demonstrations of ArcGIS 10.1, Esri’s most significant software release to date
  • Lightning Talks designed for executives and frontline staff
  • Presentations showcasing the value of GIS through enterprise, cloud, mobile, and web solutions
  • Two days of Esri User Conference access, including admission to the opening Plenary Session, Esri Public Safety Showcase area, and Esri homeland security and public safety speaker tracks

Learn more about the event and register at esri.com/hss.

[Source Esri press release]

Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Earth Networks Present “Taking the Pulse of the Planet: Observing Networks to Support Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation” at Rio+20

/ Matt Artz

Earth Networks, the operator of the largest weather, lightning and climate observation networks, announces that its President and CEO Bob Marshall and Scripps Institution of Oceanography Director Dr. Tony Haymet will make a presentation entitled Taking the Pulse of the Planet: Observing Networks to Support Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation on June 19 in conjunction with Rio+20: United Nations Conference on Sustainable Developmentin Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Earth Networks, in close collaboration with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is deploying a global greenhouse gas monitoring network that will observe and measure atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane trace gases on a regional-to-local scale as never before. To address climate change and mitigation challenges faced by countries around the world, Earth Networks is deploying advanced early warning systems utilizing its global automated weather networks.

During the presentation, Marshall and Haymet will provide information on the following topics:

  • Advances in weather technologies enabling early warning systems, including a cost-effective proxy radar solution for improved severe weather prediction, precipitation monitoring and forecasting,
  • An update on the progress being made by Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Earth Networks in the global deployment of the Earth Networks GHG network and new data findings, and
  • How the use of detailed emissions data will provide policy makers and researchers with data to understand the variability of GHGs in space and time.

WHAT: Taking the Pulse of the Planet: Observing Networks to Support Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation presentation at Rio+20.

WHERE: Room UN 3, Barra Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

TIME: 1:15-2:45 pm on Tuesday, June 19.

FOR MEDIA: Media may schedule one-on-one interviews. To schedule an interview, please contact Rachel Hunt 301-250-4046, rhunt@earthnetworks.com or Jennifer Gilmore at 301-250-4239, jgilmore@earthnetworks.com.

Visit the conference website: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.html

[Source: Earth Networks press release]

Cost–benefit Analysis of Ecological Networks Assessed through Spatial Analysis of Ecosystem Services

/ Matt Artz

Journal of Applied EcologyJournal of Applied Ecology, Volume 49, Issue 3, pages 571–580, June 2012

Adrian C. Newton, Kathy Hodder, Elena Cantarello, Lorretta Perrella, Jennifer C. Birch, James Robins, Sarah Douglas, Christopher Moody, and Justine Cordingley

“The development of ecological networks could enhance the ability of species to disperse across fragmented landscapes and could mitigate against the negative impacts of climate change. The development of such networks will require widespread ecological restoration at the landscape scale, which is likely to be costly. However, little information is available regarding the cost-effectiveness of restoration approaches.

“We address this knowledge gap by examining the potential impact of landscape-scale habitat restoration on the value of multiple ecosystem services across the catchment of the River Frome in Dorset, England. This was achieved by mapping the market value of four ecosystem services (carbon storage, crops, livestock and timber) under three different restoration scenarios, estimating restoration costs, and calculating net benefits.

“The non-market value of additional services (cultural, aesthetic and recreational value) was elicited from local stakeholders using an online survey tool. Flood risk was assessed using a scoring approach. Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) was conducted, incorporating both market and non-market values, to evaluate the relative benefits of restoration scenarios. These were compared with impacts of restoration on biodiversity value.

Spatial variation in species richness index

Spatial variation in species richness index (standardised number of BAP species per ha) across the Frome catchment under (a) the pre-project baseline (PP), (b) LS 30, (c) LS 30–60 and (d) LS 60. Maps classes range between 0 and 1 where 0 = lowest biodiversity value, 1 = highest biodiversity value.

“Multi-Criteria Analysis results consistently ranked restoration scenarios above a non-restoration comparator, reflecting the increased provision of multiple ecosystem services. Restoration scenarios also provided benefits to biodiversity, in terms of increased species richness and habitat connectivity. However, restoration costs consistently exceeded the market value of ecosystem services.

“Synthesis and applications. Establishment of ecological networks through ecological restoration is unlikely to deliver net economic benefits in landscapes dominated by agricultural land use. This reflects the high costs of ecological restoration in such landscapes. The cost-effectiveness of ecological networks will depend on how the benefits provided to people are valued, and on how the value of non-market benefits are weighted against the costs of reduced agricultural and timber production. Future plans for ecological restoration should incorporate local stakeholder values, to ensure that benefits to people are maximised.”