To complement existing activities in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region related to the use of Earth Observation (EO) data and technologies, and to support the continued development of local capabilities and capacity building, the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre will develop twelve EO-based pilot services under three thematic areas, which are focused on harnessing Copernicus data for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and risk and recovery mapping. Developed in close collaboration with regional stakeholders, the services will be handed over to local actors for continued implementation after the end of the pilot demonstration phase.
‘Landslide Susceptibility Mapping’ is one of four services which will be developed in the region under the geological hazards thematic area. It will strengthen the region’s technical capabilities related to landslide exposure and impact assessments, which will be applicable to other areas in the LAC region. The service will ultimately bolster the resilience of LAC countries to landslides through improved preparedness, prevention, and response measures.
Each service will be first demonstrated in a pre-operational phase in a specific area of interest, or ‘demonstrator’, with the support of selected institutions who will help tailor the algorithms to best address their specific needs and contexts. Once the service is validated, it will be scaled-up for application in other areas of interest.
In this framework, the landslide susceptibility mapping will be demonstrated in a small area of Peru in the department of Ancash, which is prone to landslides and many other geological hazards. The first meetings marking the beginning of activities related to the service took place in August 2024, with the participation of CONIDA as the stakeholder and liaison between the service development team and the future users of the service.
The meetings were held with staff of the National Institute for Civil Defense of Peru (INDECI) under the Ministry of Defense, as well as with the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute (INGEMMET). INDECI’s track record in disaster management and response makes it a valuable strategic partner thanks to its ability to provide important insights into the local particularities of landslides. INGEMMET’s vast experience in the mapping of landslides and other ground movements, as well as its extensive knowledge of geological phenomena, positions the institute as a key collaborator in the co-development of the service.
Background Information
The Copernicus LAC Panama Centre’s activities take place within the overall context of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, which is a strategic framework for promoting cooperation between the EU and the LAC region on digital and space issues under the EU Global Gateway umbrella. Within this context, the European Space Agency (ESA) is coordinating the Centre’s implementation on the basis of a Contribution Agreement with the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission, and in close collaboration with Panama’s government, MIRE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Government Innovation Authority (AIG), and SENACYT (National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation).