Pilot Services

The use of Earth Observation (EO) technologies by institutions in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region to address local environmental, humanitarian, economic, and societal challenges has been steadily growing. To complement these existing activities based on the use of EO data and technologies, and to support the continued development of local capabilities and capacity building, the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre will develop three streams of EO-based pilot services focused on harnessing Copernicus data for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Risk and Recovery Mapping, which will be handed over to local stakeholders for continued implementation after the end of the pilot demonstration phase.

To ensure that the unique needs, requirements, gaps, and priorities of the region underpin the development and direction of the pilot services, their development is based on stakeholder consultations and will be assessed for validity through various use cases. The pilot services will leverage EO data to complement existing regional systems while helping to boost the benefits for local communities.

Hydromet Service

The hydrometeorological pilot service will focus on leveraging Copernicus data to better understand, prepare for, and respond to hydrometeorological challenges in the LAC region. This pilot service aims to help local authorities and communities better address these challenges in the context of a changing global climate.

Copernicus data helps public authorities identify and monitor the extent and level of damage caused by events such as floods, drought, or wildfires, by, for example, delineating areas affected by the event or providing early warning services. Data from Copernicus also delivers key information on the medium- and long-term impacts on communities and ecosystems after such events. The practical uses of this data are multifold: in addition to informing response and recovery efforts, it can also support preparedness and prevention by helping authorities identify risks and complement early warning systems in place, thereby increasing resilience.

Geological Hazards Service

This pilot service will focus on harnessing Copernicus open data to help authorities and populations in the LAC region better prepare for, mitigate, and respond to various geological hazards. These hazards include sudden phenomena, such as landslides or earthquakes, and slow phenomena, such as ground subsidence.

Data from Copernicus satellites helps monitor changes in the Earth’s surface, indicating to authorities areas vulnerable to existing and future hazards and supporting assessments of the risks to communities in the LAC region. This information can inform decision-making among public authorities to help prevent and mitigate geological hazards.

Exposure Service

The Exposure pilot service will help entities in the LAC region identify and quantify the exposure of assets, such as buildings, infrastructure, and populations, to various natural or human-caused hazards by leveraging EO data from Copernicus. By assessing the potential impact of hazards on these assets, authorities can benefit from more informed decision-making during risk management and disaster preparedness efforts, leading to more resilient communities. This information can also support public authorities in creating or updating policies and regulations to ensure a safer and more sustainable use of resources.