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Source-This post on Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) Programme has been created based on the article “What is Copernicus Emergency Management Service, called in to locate Raisi’s chopper?” published in “The Indian Express” on 22 May 2024.
Why in News?
Following a helicopter crash in East Azerbaijan province carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the European Union activated its Copernicus EMS rapid response mapping service in response to a request from Iran, as part of a collaborative effort.
About Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) Programme
1. About Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) Programme: It was originally launched as the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Programme (GMES) in 1998.
2. The program employs a comprehensive suite of data sources, including satellites, and terrestrial, airborne, and maritime measurement systems, to offer environmental information useful to researchers, policymakers, public authorities, international organizations, and both commercial and private users.
3. This information supports a range of applications, such as climate change response, disaster management, and agriculture.
4. The space component of the program comprises a constellation of satellites known as the Sentinels and the Contributing Missions.
This is supplemented by a ground component, which consists of in-situ sensors that facilitate access to data from the Sentinels and Contributing Missions.
2. Components of the Service: It has two component that are mapping component and Early Warning Component:
i. Mapping component provides maps and analysis based on satellite imagery.
a) Rapid Mapping (RM): It offers timely maps and analyses within hours or days for immediate response needs.
b) Risk and Recovery Mapping (RRM): It produces detailed maps for long-term disaster management, focusing on prevention, preparedness, disaster risk reduction, and recovery, usually within weeks or months.
ii. Early Warning Component: It issues alerts and provides near-real-time assessments of environmental threats such as floods, droughts, and forest fires.
3. How does rapid mapping work?
i) This service involves the acquisition, processing, and analysis of satellite imagery, geospatial data, and pertinent social media content in a rapid manner.
ii) It offers four types of “products”: one pre-event reference and three post-event products (first estimate, delineation, and grading). It includes:
a) Reference Product which gives quick information on the area of interest and assets before the emergency/disaster takes place.
b) First Estimate Product provides a quick assessment of the most affected locations after the disaster has taken place.
c) Delineation Product supplies information on the impact, extent, and update on the situation after the disaster has taken place.
d) Grading Product which provides damage assessment, spatial distribution, and extent after the disaster has taken place.
iii) Each product includes a set of deliverables consisting of maps and a vector package of spatial data.
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