Can public satellite data management provide an opportunity to develop the function of environmental hazards prediction in the civil protection system?

Introduction

The Civil Protection System designed by Zamberletti has helped Italy to manage environmental crises by means of the implementation of a systematic vision in which the main strategy was prevention and on-site interventions. This is a well-performing system, but it could be optimized if the use of satellite data were integrated at all different hierarchical levels.

Currently, a major limitation in the use of public satellite data is data fragmentation in different repositories, as the volume of satellite data has increased significantly over the last twenty years, making it necessary to understand how data were collected and stored and how public and private users can exploit them.

Methods

The evolution of satellite data collection has been studied as a support for the development of a methodological approach to public satellite platforms data management by means of a data lifecycle model (DLM) that considers privacy, security and quality criteria.

Results

A framework has been defined for assessing the characteristics of an appropriate data management cycle, on the basis of which it is possible to identify how to address organizational, technical, and legal critical issues.

Conclusion

Prevention and intervention on site are now established practices, while a prediction strategy is still not completely adopted as a function of the Augustus Method of the Civil Protection Institution. An environmental satellite data DLM may allow for a shift from a prevention to a prediction policy.