G-P12 · ABOUT · aboutGCRI dossier · service level R0
GCRISpace and Earth ObservationIn development
Mandate and publisher

Mandate and publisher

Space and Earth Observation is published by The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI), a research, development and policy institution, working across Canada and the United States. This page sets out the platform's mandate, who answers for it, the limits of its role and its current state.

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In this dossier6 parts
  1. 01In briefThe short answer
  2. 02MandateReliable evidence from space, and resilient space services
  3. 03PublisherWho is responsible
  4. 04LimitsWhat the platform does not do
  5. 05Key termsTerms used on this page
  6. 06How it is designed to workFrom question to validated evidence

GCRI · In development · service level R0

STEM methods
7
Canonical methods this field applies
Topics
8
Subject pages in the field
Counterparts
7
Platforms in shared fields at GCRI, GRF and GRA
Report series
2
Nexus Reports series it contributes to
01In brief

The short answer.

Space and Earth Observation is a specialist platform of The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation for space and Earth observation as well as climate and hazards. Its mandate covers space systems and the Earth-observation technologies used for risk intelligence and sustainable development. GCRI publishes it, answers for its content and takes no decision on anyone's behalf. It is in development at service level R0, and activities open as each is ready.

02Canvas

Mandate to authority.

Canvas · mandate to authorityDesign, not a record
How Space and Earth Observation is governedA mandate sets the platform's scope; an editor and reviewers govern what it publishes; programmes and the community supply the work; the integrity route handles corrections; authority over decisions stays outside. Design of the governance, not a record.

Fig.How the platform is governed, from its mandate to the authorities who decide. Design, not a record.

03Geography

People and hazards in the Arctic.

For mandate and publisher, in GCRI's spatial-intelligence reading, the map opens on true-colour imagery, population density and night lights with true colour from NASA GIBS, framed on the Arctic; every other NASA layer, live feed and forecast waits in the layer list.

The interactive map needs JavaScript; the layer list and sources are below.

Layers 3

People and hazards, for this page

Latest available

NASA GIBS / EOSDIS · ASTER GDEM (METI, NASA) · Blue Marble (NASA) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Natural Earth

Loading the latest NASA imagery.

Drag to move. Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll, pinch or the buttons to zoom; hover for the values under the pointer; reset returns to the region.

For mandate and publisher, in GCRI's spatial-intelligence reading, the map opens on true-colour imagery, population density and night lights with true colour from NASA GIBS, framed on the Arctic; every other NASA layer, live feed and forecast waits in the layer list.Satellite and model products as NASA publishes them, each with its own date; indicators, not assessments of any place; claim ceiling INTEGRATED.

Data: NASA GIBS · ASTER GDEM · Blue Marble · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Natural Earth · Copernicus Sentinel-2 L2A · NASA HLS S30Sources and licences

  • We acknowledge the use of imagery provided by services from NASA's Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA's Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
  • We acknowledge the use of imagery provided by services from NASA's Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA's Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
  • VIIRS near-real-time products (flood, land surface temperature, snow cover, corrected reflectance), NASA LANCE; imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
  • Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University. 2018. Gridded Population of the World, Version 4 (GPWv4): Population Density, Revision 11. NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). CC BY 4.0
  • VIIRS Black Marble night-time lights, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; distributed by the NASA Level-1 and Atmosphere Archive and Distribution System (LAADS DAAC); imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
  • MODIS land products (vegetation indices, gross primary production, land cover), NASA LP DAAC and LANCE; imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
  • ASTER GDEM is a product of METI and NASA (ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V003, NASA LP DAAC); imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
  • Made with Natural Earth. Free vector and raster map data @ naturalearthdata.com. Public domain
  • © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via NASA GIBS (coastlines, boundaries, roads and place names). Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). ODbL
  • Blue Marble, NASA Earth Observatory; imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
  • Context on the globe and flat map: coastlines, boundaries, roads and place names from NASA GIBS reference layers (OpenStreetMap data, ODbL, © OpenStreetMap contributors); Blue Marble imagery as an optional base; 3D terrain and the elevation read-out from the ASTER GDEM elevation colour index (5 m to 200 m classes, exaggerated for legibility). Boundaries are drawn as published and imply no position on any territory.
  • Globe: MapLibre GL JS 6.9.1, BSD-3-Clause, © MapLibre contributors.
  • Observed (EO): Copernicus Sentinel-2 L2A (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2026), Microsoft Planetary Computer
  • Observed (EO): NASA HLS S30 (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2026). We acknowledge the use of imagery provided by services from NASA's Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA's Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS).
  • Optional layers (35 sources in the layer list: live, forecast, observed and context) print their provider credit on the map and here when switched on; forecasts are model output and derived indices are estimates.

Layers and dates

  • True colour: VIIRS NOAA-20 corrected reflectance, NASA LANCE · 13 Oct 2026
  • Population density, 2020: Population: CIESIN, Columbia University, Gridded Population of the World v4.11 (2018), NASA SEDAC, CC BY 4.0 · static
  • Night-time lights, daily: VIIRS Black Marble (VNP46A2), NASA LAADS DAAC · 12 Oct 2026
  • Land cover type (IGBP), yearly: MODIS Terra and Aqua land cover (MCD12Q1), NASA LP DAAC · 2024
  • Land surface temperature, day, 8-day composite: VIIRS NOAA-20 Level 3, 8-day, NASA LANCE · 14 Sep 2026
  • Flood water, 3-day composite: VIIRS Global Flood Product, NASA LANCE · 14 Oct 2026

04Mandate

Reliable evidence from space, and resilient space services.

The platform exists to strengthen the science of Earth observation for risk intelligence and sustainable development, and to understand the risks to the space systems that society depends on. It puts validation, uncertainty and rights at the centre of satellite evidence.

Field

Scope

Space and Earth observation, with links to climate and hazards.

Community

Who takes part

Remote-sensing scientists, space engineers, geospatial analysts and disaster scientists.

Outputs

What it is designed to publish

Earth observation method guides, land and ocean observation cases and space-system risk briefs.

05Publisher

Who is responsible.

The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI) publishes Space and Earth Observation and answers for its content under the review and correction rules in trust, rights and status.

  • Status: Space and Earth Observation is in development. Activities, records and services are published as each one opens.
  • Service level: R0, information and enquiries.
  • Why a dedicated platform: remote-sensing research is a distinct scientific community, separate from the Earth observation platform (EOP) in Nexus Foundry, which is a shared renderer.
  • STEM stewardship: the platform stewards four methods in the STEM Commons, beginning with Earth observation and remote sensing.
06Limits

What the platform does not do.

  • It does not regulate, license, certify or approve any satellite, data product, operator or organization.
  • It does not operate satellites or ground stations and does not sell or licence data.
  • It does not carry out surveillance of individuals, and its methods respect privacy and the rights of the people and places observed.
  • It does not give financial advice. The use of satellite evidence in insurance and finance is examined as sector understanding at Insurance Nexus at GRA and Reinsurance and Catastrophe at GRA.

Taking part, hosting or sponsorship gives no authority or influence over findings.

07Key terms

Terms used on this page.

Each term as this page uses it. Where a standard-setting body defines the term, the wording follows that body.

TermDefinition
Service level R0The current service level of Nexus pages: information and enquiries only. An enquiry receives a reference and a named next step; it creates no membership, contract, assignment or commitment.
Conflict of interestA situation in which financial, professional or personal interests could compromise, or appear to compromise, judgement in research or review.
Remote sensingAcquiring information about an object or area from a distance, typically by satellite or aircraft sensors.
Analysis-ready dataSatellite data processed to a minimum standard so that users can analyse it without further preprocessing.
08How it is designed to work

From question to validated evidence.

  1. 01

    Question

    A question is framed with its users and scoped in research and evidence.

  2. 02

    Method

    Sensor choice, processing and validation are documented in methods and uncertainty.

  3. 03

    Review

    Named specialists review results and the stated accuracy before publication.

  4. 04

    Publication

    Outputs appear on the publications page with their data sources and licences.

09Questions

Questions and answers.

Is the platform a separate organization?
No. It is a specialist platform of The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI), which publishes it.
Is the platform operating?
It is in development. The current service level is R0: information and enquiries.
Who can I contact?
Write to research@therisk.global or see contact the specialist team. The acknowledgement gives a reference and names the next step.
Related

Around Space and Earth Observation.

Space and Earth Observation

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The current service level is R0: information and enquiries. An enquiry receives a reference and names the next step; applications, payments, compute allocations and registrations open only when their team, terms and review capacity exist.

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