In recent years the space community has set up several regional and global emergency mechanisms to support disaster response operations through the provision of maps derived from satellite imagery. This section of the UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal provides information about the following emergency mechanisms: the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) - Mapping, Sentinel Asia and SERVIR. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) also facilitates access to relevant mapping products through its Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT).
The understanding of the organizational frameworks of these mechanisms, their activation procedures and workflows is a prerequisite to take advantage of the products they provide.
In order to support emergency reponders in using space-based data, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UESCAP), UN-SPIDER, UNOSAT, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management, space agencies and national disaster management authorities in ASEAN countries have published a handbook that provides procedural guidlines for sharing space-based data during emergencies. The publication highlights the need to establish standard processes in order to properly utilize space data and has been developed in close collaboration with operational staff based on best practices in the ASEAN region. "Sharing Space-based Information: Procedural Guidelines for Disaster Emergency Reponse in ASEAN Countries" can be accessed on the ESCAP website.
