**[NASA Earth Science Enterprise]{.smallcaps}**

**[Applications Division]{.smallcaps}**

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

*Ecological Forecasting Project on*

Regional Visualization and Monitoring System (SERVIR)

*Sistema Regional de Visualizacion y Monitoreo*

***SERVIR Project Plan: FY2003-FY2008***

*(v .1.3)*

*9/20/05*

![](media/image1.pct){width="1.1901574803149606in"
height="0.9838582677165354in"}![](media/image2.png){width="1.3200787401574803in"
height="1.1456692913385826in"}

*Earth Science for Society*

> *Accelerating the realization of economic*
>
> *and societal benefits from Earth science,*
>
> *information, and technology ...*

**[Table of Contents]{.underline}**

1 Purpose and Background [3](#purpose-and-background)

2 Project Goals & Objectives [3](#project-goals-objectives)

3 SERVIR Project Team [5](#servir-project-team)

4 Roles and Responsibilities [7](#roles-and-responsibilities)

5 Deliverables and Schedule [9](#deliverables-and-schedule)

6 Signature Page [13](#signature-page)

# Purpose and Background

SERVIR[^1] is a decision support center that intensively utilizes
satellite imagery and other data sources for ecological forecasting and
disaster management in Mesoamerica. It is currently utilized by
scientists, educators, local NGOs and policy makers to monitor and
forecast ecological changes, and respond to disasters such as forest
fires, red tides, tropical storms, and floods. SERVIR also provides
user-friendly, interactive tools geared towards students and the general
public. A SERVIR development facility is located at the Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and a SERVIR operational facility
is based at CATHALAC[^2] in the City of Knowledge, Republic of Panama.

The SERVIR concept was conceived and initiated under the NASA
REASoN/CAN, "A Regional Monitoring and Visualization System for Decision
Support and Disaster Management Applications for the Mesoamerican
Biological Corridor and Beyond." NASA/REASoN funding is strictly for
SERVIR technology and application development by US scientists and
researchers. Joint US Agency for International Development (USAID) funds
were provided to SERVIR under a Participating Agency Service Agreement
(PASA) entitled, "A System for Monitoring Land Cover Change for Use in
Determining Carbon Emissions and Regional Modeling of Climate Change
Scenarios in Central America" to implement the SERVIR technical
infrastructure at CATHALAC, related training, and additional application
development related to carbon management in Mesoamerica. Other key
SERVIR partners include the, the Central American Commission for
Environment and Development (CCAD) and the World Bank.

In December of 1998, NASA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with the CCAD, which is comprised of the environmental ministries of
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and
Panama. The CCAD, under World Bank funding, has developed the
Mesoamerican Environmental Information System (SIAM) with a National
Node facility in each country and a steering committee called CT-SIAM.
The vision of SIAM is to coordinate environmental and spatial
information in the region by coordinating among public, private,
government, and non-profit institutions. The CCAD has officially
designated SERVIR as its regional geospatial facility, with the National
Nodes functioning as the national counterpart. This Project Plan
addresses activities proposed under NASA/REASoN, hereinafter referred to
as the SERVIR Project.

# Project Goals & Objectives

> The following are the primary goals of the SERVIR project:

-   To develop a SERVIR test bed facility at the Marshall Space Flight
    Center to benchmark NASA and non-NASA funded application
    capabilities to address environmental management and disaster
    response in Mesoamerica.

-   To have a fully operational and independent SERVIR regional facility
    located in Panama by the end of FY 2008, providing decision supports
    tools, products, and services throughout Mesoamerica.

-   To ensure fully functional SERVIR National Nodes in each Central
    American country which are coordinated with the SERVIR regional
    facility.

-   To develop a living SERVIR web page to include: 1) a data archive
    and distribution system, 2) online maps via WMS 3) thematic decision
    support tools and 4) 3D visualization incorporating items 1-3.

-   SERVIR will be a model for other regional decision support systems
    of systems around the world and serve as a GEOSS case study for the
    Americas

The following are objectives of the SERVIR project

-   To intensively utilize several NASA Earth Science data products,
    technology, and other spatial data as inputs to produce new value
    added information products and tools for use by Central American
    regional decision makers (CCAD and others); government environmental
    ministries and mapping institutes; scientific and educational
    institutions; conservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
    and the general public. For example, SERVIR will utilize near
    real-time feeds of MODIS, ASTER, and other satellite sensor data to
    provide continuous coverage of the Mesoamerica. SERVIR will also
    utilize GOES data to provide every 30 minute feeds and customizable
    animation for improved weather forecasting.

-   The SERVIR MesoStor archive and distribution system will be
    expandable to meet increasing demand by its end-users, and will be
    fully OpenGIS compliant. SERVIR's MesoStor system has been operating
    in beta release since October 2004 and operationally since February
    2005.

-   To provide a baseline interactive map capability of Mesoamerica
    using eighteen (18) regional layers of data with a resolution scale
    of 1:250,000. These layers will be integrated with satellite sensors
    such as Landsat and ASTER. The SERVIR team developed these framework
    data layers through its partnership with the World Bank, national
    environmental ministries and the national mapping/geographic
    institutes within Mesoamerica. SERVIR will begin incorporating these
    frame work data layers according to FGDC (Federal Geographic Data
    Committee) metadata standards in December 2004.

-   To develop an accurate translation of SERVIR's top-level (or
    primary) web pages into the Spanish language will be completed by
    March 2005.

-   To utilize the following data sets and models for decision support
    to ascertain prediction, detection and extent: MODIS data products
    for fire; MODIS and SeaWiFS data products for red tides (based upon
    availability); GOES data products for hurricanes and floods; TRMM
    data products for famine early warning; MODIS and GOES data products
    for volcanoes (using in-situ data from the USGS); MM5 and RAMS
    models for climate variability; and ERDAS Imagine, ArcGIS,
    Intergraph and IDL software for interpreting imagery data.

-   To utilize Skyline visualization products (Terra Explorer Pro, Terra
    Builder, and Terra Gate) and NASA's open-source World Wind
    visualization software to incorporate decision support products in a
    3D environment.

-   To develop a Verification & Validation/Benchmark report for three
    SERVIR products (red tides, fires, and climate change) by December
    2005, as a joint document created by NASA and its Central American
    partners. This report will include the following information: a
    description of the design and implementation process for integrating
    NASA data products into the SERVIR environment; verification that
    NASA data products meet SERVIR's technical requirements; validation
    that NASA data products meet the functional needs of SERVIR's user
    community; methods and metrics used to gauge success; data
    collection and user feedback results; analysis of findings; and
    lessons learned. Quantitative assessments will be emphasized in this
    report to the greatest extend practicable. Due to the nature of
    SERVIR's impact on its user community, qualitative assessments will
    be described when quantitative assessments cannot be determined.

-   To train Central American scientists and researchers by June 2006 to
    utilize the data products and technology of SERVIR enabling them to
    generate their own similar but different projects when new events in
    their countries arise;

-   To leverage the Central American Integration System (SICA) to enable
    many other users to become part of its operations and data
    distribution network. (For example: regional banks, other
    commissions of SICA---such as the sister organization of CCAD which
    addresses agriculture and fisheries (OPESCA); national ministries
    such as ministries of health which address flu outbreaks every March
    & September/October due to the changing seasons, etc.);

-   To serve as a focused information system for Central America;

-   To provide a more level playing field for discussing regional
    environmental and planning issues by acting as an honest information
    broker not as an advocate; and

-   To helped in the quantification and visualization of the economic,
    political and human impacts of the region.

# SERVIR Project Team 

The SERVIR Team, as defined under the NASA REASoN project includes the
individuals listed below. Nevertheless, there are several other SERVIR
partners and collaborators which are discussed in the following section.

Principal Investigator Dr. Thomas Sever will orchestrate SERVIR's
overall direction, enforce the highest standards in ethics and research
quality, monitor overall progress relative to established milestones,
promote the dissemination of results, and work to ensure that
information regarding SERVIR is being communicated as broadly as
possible.

Daniel Irwin will have overall day-to-day responsibility for ensuring
the success of SERVIR and will serve as its principal point of contact
and act as liaison to CATHALAC, the CCAD, the World Bank, USAID and
other related institutions.

Dr. Sara Graves will be responsible for the design, implementation and
operation of the SERVIR node located at the NSSTC in Huntsville,
Alabama, USA.

University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) tasks include specification,
procurement, installation and maintenance of equipment, performing
systems administration, and providing system configuration and
procedures documentation for the MSFC testbed SERVIR node. UAH is also
responsible for metrics collection and reporting, as required by the
REASoN program, developing and implementing data ingest procedures,
product generation scripts, data archive procedures, subsetting tools
and other decision support applications, metrics collection/reporting
procedures, training to Central American counterparts, and the SERVIR
website. UAH will also participate in SEEDS and Federation meetings

Science Systems Applications Inc. (SSAI) holds the responsibility for
determining certain NASA and other data sources applicable to SERVIR's
decision support data product development as well as developing decision
support products including fire monitoring and burn scar, active
volcanoes, Central America today, etc.

## SERVIR Partnerships and Collaborations

Although SERVIR was conceived and initiated under NASA REASoN, the
effort has become significantly larger due to the partnership and
collaboration of various individuals and institutions. Partnerships are
defined by a formal relationship whereby the entity is providing data,
services, or support to SERVIR under a grant, subcontract, or other
financial agreement. A collaboration involves no formal agreement nor
exchange of funds, but a common vision is shared to provide data and
services through SERVIR.

### SERVIR Partnerships

-   CATHALAC is the non-profit regional institution in Mesoamerica that
    is responsible for the operational SERVIR facility. Emilio Sempris
    is the Director of CATHALAC and is responsible for coordinating
    SERVIR activities in Panama and ensure political leveraging among
    Panamanian and Mesoamerican institutions. CATHALAC has obtained
    additional support for SERVIR from the following organizations:
    Cable & Wireless Panama, EGE Fortuna S.A. Tierras Altas S.A., and
    the City of Knowledge Foundation. NASA and CATHALAC have signed a
    letter agreement stating each party's responsibilities as related to
    SERVIR.

-   USAID funds were provided to SERVIR under a Participating Agency
    Service Agreement (PASA) entitled, "A System for Monitoring Land
    Cover Change for Use in Determining Carbon Emissions and Regional
    Modeling of Climate Change Scenarios in Central America" to
    implement SERVIR technical infrastructure at CATHALAC, related
    training, and additional application development related to carbon
    management in Mesoamerica.

-   CCAD is comprised of the environmental ministers of the seven
    Central American countries. CCAD also manages SIAM---the Central
    American Environmental Information System which maintains a National
    Node facility at each environmental ministry. SERVIR is officially
    designated as the geospatial facility for SIAM and maintain a joint
    work plan.

-   The World Bank is strong advocate of SERVIR and was critical during
    the startup phase by funding fire monitoring products and workshops.
    The World Bank will support staff and consultants at the SERVIR
    facility in Panama and provide funding for trainings and workshops.

-   The Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST) at the
    University of Arkansas has received funds under the NASA/USAID PASA
    to develop SERVIR MesoStor capabilities at CATHALAC and to develop a
    land cover and land use change system for carbon management to be
    used by Central American scientists

-   Oak Ridge National Laboratory has received funds under the
    NASA/USAID PASA to develop climate change scenarios for Central
    America for years 2005, 2010, 2015, 2025. The climate change
    scenarios are based on greenhouse gas increases and land cover
    change.

-   The Institute for the Applications of Geospatial Technologies (IAGT)
    at Cayuga Community College has received separate funding through a
    US Congressional Budget mandate to develop 3D visualization
    capabilities for SERVIR utilizing the Skyline Software applications
    suite and NASA World Wind. It is planned that an IAGT employee will
    be based at SERVIR in CATHALAC for an extended period in early 2006
    to directly training staff at the operational facility.

### SERVIR Team Collaborators

SERVIR is collaborating with the following institutions, on a no
exchange of funds basis, who share a common vision to provide data and
services:

-   The Nature Conservancy

-   Conservation International

-   University of Maryland

-   University of South Florida

-   USGS/EROS

-   The Costa Rican Institute of Biodiversity (INBio)

-   The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)

-   The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
    Organization (UNESCO)

-   The Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN)

-   The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

#  Roles and Responsibilities 

The SERVIR project operates under the following top--level Work
Breakdown Structure (WBS):

> 1.0 **SERVIR Project Management** (Lead -- Irwin D., with Sever T.,
> Graves S)
>
> 2.0 **Establish Regional Coordination and Standards**
>
> 2.1 Metadata Developed for Standard Map Layers (Lead - Guillen R.)
>
> 2.2 Standard Map Layers Ingested in to MesoStor (Lead - Cothren J.)
>
> 2.3 Standard Map Layers Published to Web using Arc-IMS
>
> (Lead - Guillen R., with Irwin D.)
>
> 3.0 **Develop and Maintain Agreements with Collaborating
> Institutions**
>
> 3.1 Extend NASA/CCAD memorandum of understanding (Lead - External
> Relations Office TBD with Turner W.)
>
> 3.2 Agreement documenting understanding as to the roles in SERVIR of
> CATHALAC and CCAD (Lead -- Sempris E.)
>
> 3.3 NASA provides CATHALAC with necessary hardware/software equipment
> (Lead - Irwin D., Sempris E.)
>
> 3.4 Provide CATHALAC with Cable and Wireless for Internet Connectivity
> (Lead - Sempris E.)
>
> 3.5 Team up CATHALAC with Fortuna Hydropower Company and other
> entities for SERVIR Operations at CATHALAC (Lead - Sempris E.)

4.0 **Completion of NASA/MSFC/NSSTC Node**

> (Lead - Hardin D., with Irwin D., Sever T., Graves S.)

5.0 **CATHALAC Facility Renovated and Operational** (Lead - Sempris E.)

6.0 **Establishment of Regional SERVIR Facility in Panama**

> 6.1 Regional Node Core Application Development
>
> 6.1.1 Development of MesoStor System

-   MesoStor Installed in CATHALAC

> (Lead - Cothren J., with Sempris E., Irwin D.)

-   MesoStor Complete and Available to Public

> (Lead - Cothren. J., Irwin D., with Sempris E, Garcia A.)
>
> 6.1.2 Central American ASTER Dataset Available to Public
>
> (Lead - Sever T., with Irwin D.)
>
> 6.1.3 Development of SERVIR Webpage

-   Initial Release of SERVIR Website from NSSTC

> (Lead - Hardin D., with Graves S.)

-   SERVIR Spanish Website Made Available to Public

> (Lead - Hardin D., with Sempris E.)

-   Transfer of Active Mirror Webpage to Regional Node

> (Lead - Graves S., with Hardin D., Sempris E.)

-   Full Handoff of Webpage to CATHALAC

> (Lead - Graves S., with Sempris E.)
>
> 6.1.4 SERVIR Fire Products Operational and Made Available to Public
> (Lead - Gubbels T., with Justice C., Davies D., Irwin D.)
>
> 6.1.5 SERVIR Internet Map Service/Server On-Line
>
> (Lead -- Hardin D, with Irwin D.)
>
> 6.1.6 Interactive 3D Streaming Visualization Capability Online
>
> (Lead -- Coughlin J., Irwin D.)
>
> 6.2 Regional Node Site Identification and Facilities/Personnel
> Installation in Panama Completed
>
> (Lead -- Irwin, D., Yeager C.)
>
> 6.3 Regional Node Inaugural Event at CATHALAC
>
> (Lead - Sempris E., with Irwin D., Kreiger, D., Turner W.)
>
> 6.4 Regional Node Made Operational
>
> (Lead - Irwin D., with Sempris E.)

7.0 **Carbon Management Products Incorporated into SERVIR and Made
Available to Public** (Lead - Cothren J.)

8.0 **Establishment of Climate Change Scenarios Capability**

> 8.1 Operational Modeling Capability Installed in CATHALAC
>
> (Lead - Perez J., with Sempris E.)
>
> 8.2 Ensure Central American Researchers Can Use Current Observation
> Data and Run Regional Climate Models for Different Scenarios (via
> Workshop) (Lead - Oglesby B., with Erickson D.,Sever T.,Hernandez
> J.,Perez J., Irwin D.)

9.0 **Develop Fires Monitoring Capability for SERVIR**

9.1 National Nodes Requirements Analysis (D.Irwin)

9.2 Product Development Based on Analysis (SSAI)

10.0 **Develop Red Tides Product for SERVIR**

10.1 National Nodes Requirements Analysis (D.Irwin)

10.2 Product Development Based on Analysis (M He)

11.0 **Prepare SERVIR Verification and Validation/ Benchmark Report**

> (Lead - Turner W., NASA HQ with Hood T.)

12.0 **Regional Node Training Workshops** (Lead - Irwin D., with Sever
T.)

# Deliverables and Schedule

This section provides a description of SERVIR's deliverables according
to its Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). The SERVIR Project will be
completed in fiscal year 2008.

**WBS 2.0**

-   Metadata Developed for Standard Map Layers (10/2003)

-   Standard Map Layers Published to Web using Arc-IMS (2/2004)

-   Standard Map Layers Ingested in MesoStor (10/2004)

**WBS 3.2**

-   CATHALAC provided with necessary hardware/software equipment by NASA
    (6/2004)

-   CATHALAC (agreement) with Cable and Wireless for Internet
    Connectivity (10/2004)

**WBS 4.0**

-   Completion of NASA/MSFC/NSSTC Node (8/2004)

**WBS 5.0**

-   CATHALAC Facility Renovated and Operational (10/2004)

**WBS 6.1.1**

-   MesoStor Installed in CATHALAC (10/2004)

-   MesoStor Complete and Available to Public (2/2005)

**WBS 6.1.2**

-   Central American ASTER Dataset Available to Public (2/2005)

**WBS 6.1.3**

-   Initial Release of SERVIR Website from NSSTC (2/2004)

-   SERVIR Spanish Website Made Available to Public (2/2005)

-   Transfer of Active Mirror Website to Regional Node (1/2006)

-   Full Handoff of Website to CATHALAC (6/2008)

**WBS 6.1.4**

-   SERVIR Fire Products Operational and Made Available to Public
    (3/2004)

**WBS 6.1.5**

-   SERVIR Internet Map Service/Server Online (1/2005)

**WBS 6.1.6**

-   Interactive 3D Streaming Visualization Capability Online (2/2005)

**WBS 6.2**

-   Regional Node Site Identification and Facilities/Personnel
    Installation in Panama Completed (4/2004)

**WBS 6.3**

-   Regional Node Inaugural Event at CATHALAC (2/2005)

**WBS 6.4**

-   Regional Node Made Operational (9/2005)

**WBS 7.0**

-   Carbon Management Products Incorporated into SERVIR and Made
    Available to Public (10/2005)

**WBS 8.1**

-   Operational Climate Capability Installed in CATHALAC (10/2006)

**WBS 8.2**

-   Central American Researchers Can Use Current Observation Data and
    Run Regional Climate Models for Different Scenarios (via Workshop)
    (9/2006)

**WBS 9.0**

-   SERVIR Fires Products Available on Webpage (3/2005)

**WBS 10.0**

-   SERVIR Red Tides Products Available on Webpage (3/2005)

**WBS 11.0**

-   SERVIR Verification and Validation/ Benchmark Report for fires, red
    tides, and climate products (12/2005)

**WBS 12.0**

-   Regional Node Training Workshops Complete (10/2008)

## Budget 

NASA REASoN funds are approximately \$2,727,000 over five years and
broken down in the following annual disbursement: \$556.5K, \$600K,
\$600K, \$600K, \$370K. Subcontracts have been developed for UAH and
SSAI. UAH annual disbursement over five years is approximately: \$326.1,
\$273.3, \$310.9, \$310.9, \$290.2. SSAI annual disbursement over five
years is: \$131.5, \$146.0, \$154.1, \$154.1, \$59.2. Subcontract
disbursements are subject to change depending on project needs.

## Exit Strategy/Project Termination

The development and implementation of the SERVIR decision support system
will be completed by fiscal year 2008. To foster capacity building among
Central America SERVIR node personnel, training sessions (such as
"train-the-trainer" and workforce development programs focusing on the
application of new data products and technologies) shall be provided
throughout SERVIR's project lifecycle. The SERVIR node at CATHALAC will
have the responsibility for hosting the majority of capacity building
courses with the exception of certain workshops to be held at the NSSTC
development node.

The long term success of SERVIR depends on mainstreaming its
capabilities in the environmental decision making processes of
Mesoamerica. Development agency support (e.g. World Bank, USAID, etc.)
are expected for the long term continuation of SERVIR. Moreover,
CATHALAC will charge---on a non-profit basis---for SERVIR products and
services. This is defined in the letter agreement between NASA and
CATHALAC.

## Performance Measures

# Progress on the SERVIR project shall be assessed by: {#progress-on-the-servir-project-shall-be-assessed-by .unnumbered}

#  {#section .unnumbered}

# Producing useful decision support products that provide high-quality information for decision-makers in Central America;

# Incorporating feedback from CCAD and CATHALAC representatives into each development stage of SERVIR;

# Providing close interaction with CCAD and CATHALAC to define decision support and sample products for assessment before finalizing production;

# Measuring the number of SERVIR users, consumers, and data sets; 

# Measuring the number of products delivered;

# Measuring the number of services rendered, delivery times etc.;

-   Measuring the degree of sustainability achieved by SERVIR node users
    as a result of successful training sessions;

-   Measuring the degree of automation of data (such as the degree of
    data distribution) for better weather forecasting, disaster
    prediction, health effects, agricultural efficiency and land-use
    effects;

-   Measuring the number of data set citations in peer-reviewed journals
    or other publications;

-   Measuring the number of and percent change of collaborations among
    CCAD data centers, researchers and end-users resulting in data set
    quality improvement;

-   Completion of the SERVIR verification and validation/benchmark
    report.

-   Acceptance of SERVIR as a functioning monitoring and visualization
    tool by the Governments and people of Central America and agreement
    to continue its operation beyond the fifth year of this five-year
    project.

# Signature Page

+------------------------------------------------+----+---------------+
| Thomas Sever                                   |    | Date          |
|                                                |    |               |
| SERVIR Principal Investigator,                 |    |               |
|                                                |    |               |
| National Space Science and Technology Center   |    |               |
|                                                |    |               |
| NASA Marshall Space Flight Center              |    |               |
|                                                |    |               |
| Huntsville, Alabama                            |    |               |
+------------------------------------------------+----+---------------+
|                                                |    |               |
+------------------------------------------------+----+---------------+
| Daniel Irwin                                   |    | Date          |
|                                                |    |               |
| SERVIR Research Scientist                      |    |               |
|                                                |    |               |
| National Space Science and Technology Center   |    |               |
|                                                |    |               |
| NASA Marshall Space Flight Center              |    |               |
|                                                |    |               |
| Huntsville, Alabama                            |    |               |
+------------------------------------------------+----+---------------+
|                                                |    |               |
+------------------------------------------------+----+---------------+
| Woody Turner                                   |    | Date          |
|                                                |    |               |
| Ecological Forecasting Program Manager         |    |               |
|                                                |    |               |
| NASA Applied Sciences Program                  |    |               |
|                                                |    |               |
| NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC              |    |               |
+------------------------------------------------+----+---------------+
| Ronald J. Birk                                 |    | Date          |
|                                                |    |               |
| Director, Earth Science Applications Division  |    |               |
|                                                |    |               |
| NASA Applied Sciences Program                  |    |               |
|                                                |    |               |
| NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC              |    |               |
+------------------------------------------------+----+---------------+
|                                                |    |               |
+------------------------------------------------+----+---------------+

#   {#section-1 .unnumbered}

[^1]: SERVIR is derived from the Spanish name of the capability: Sistema
    Regional de Visualizacion y Monitoreo. SERVIR is also a Spanish verb
    meaning "to serve" or "to be useful". This is precisely the intent
    of this project -- both in terms of information and access to data.

[^2]: CATHALAC is the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin
    America and the Caribbean.