Earth Observation for the Dutch Caribbean II

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Earth Observation (EO) data is used to understand how our environment and societies are changing over time and can be used for a wide range of applications across industry, government and society. Since 2023, the Netherlands Space Agency (NLSA) offers high resolution Earth Observation (EO) data for the Dutch Caribbean, which can be used to help the region’s societal, environmental and economic ambitions.

Earth Observation (EO) data means collecting information about the Earth’s surface, waters and atmosphere via ground-based, airborne and/or satellite remote sensing platforms. This data is used to understand how our environment and societies are changing over time. It can be used to help the region’s societal, environmental, and economic ambitions. Think of: environmental protection, energy, managing urban areas, regional and local planning, agriculture, fisheries, health, transport, climate change, civil protection, tourism – and more.

The NLSA operates the national Satellite Data Portal, which offers free access to very high resolution EO data covering the territory of The Netherlands to users residing in the country. As of December 2023, the coverage of the Satellite Data Portal includes the Caribbean Netherlands: Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. Since then, NLSA is stimulating the use of EO data in the Dutch Caribbean. In this Thesis Lab, we ask students how they can improve the use of Earth Observation data for the Dutch Caribbean, including investigating potential case studies for further expansion.

Theme 1 – Social impact:

  • How can Earth Observation data be integrated into local practices and decision-making in the Dutch Caribbean? What are strategies to stimulate the use of Earth Observation data among communities, NGOs, and local governments?

Theme 2 – Business opportunities:

  • What are business opportunities for the use of Earth Observation in the Dutch special Municipalities, The Dutch Caribbean, and broader Caribbean region? What are chances for Earth Observation driven entrepreneurship and innovation in the Dutch Caribbean?

Theme 3 – Law and policy:

  • Assessing the use of Earth observation data in the framework of international, regional and/or national environmental regulations. Assessing the status of the application and implementation of the UN space treaties, and other space-related instruments, in the Dutch Caribbean (constituent countries and/or special provinces).

Theme 4 – Case studies:

  • How can we use Earth observation science and/or technology to strengthen ecology (vegetation trends), health (air quality and heat stress), flood monitoring and water quality (such as sargassum and coral monitoring) in the Dutch Caribbean? How can we use Earth observation data to create risk maps for construction purposes in the Dutch Caribbean?

 

Main Challenge

How can we use satellite Earth observation data in the Dutch Caribbean to help the region’s societal, environmental and economic ambitions?

 

Case holders

The Netherlands Space Agency (NLSA) is the governmental Space Agency of the Netherlands. NLSA’s task is to advice upon and realise the national space policy. It hosts the Satellite Data Portal to stimulate use of Earth Observation data that is now also including the Dutch Caribbean.