Space Technology and Geographic Information Systems Applications in adb projects

Abbreviations

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Abbreviations
LISS 
Linear Imaging Self-Scanning
LST
land surface temperature
m meter
mm millimeter
MODIS
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer
MONRE
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
MTSAT
Multifunctional Transport Satellite
NHMS
National Hydro Meteorological Service
NREL 
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
PAGASA
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
PALSAR 
Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar
PRC 
People’s Republic of China
RDMS 
Remote Sensing-Based Drought Monitoring System
RESTEC
Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan
SAR 
Synthetic Aperture Radar
SEBAL 
Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land
ST 
space technology
SUPARCO 
Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission
WGA 
Working Group on Agriculture
WARPO 
Water Resources Planning Organization

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Today, space technology and geographic information systems (GIS) are no longer just fields of advanced 
technological development and scientific research, but they have become valuable tools to help 
development organizations achieve their missions. They can be applied to various development sectors 
of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) including agriculture, rural development, and food security; 
education; energy; environment; climate change; health; public management and governance (especially 
disaster risk management); transport; urban development; and water. They can improve the efficiency 
of ADB operations and effectively address issues in sustainable development in developing member 
countries (DMCs).
Based on this understanding, ADB has implemented many projects applying space technology and
GIS since the 1990s. In July 2010, ADB finalized a letter of intent with the Japan Aerospace Exploration 
Agency (JAXA) to collaborate on disaster management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, forest 
monitoring, and water resource management using space technologies, mainly those involving remote 
sensing. The collaboration field was expanded to include agriculture and urban development in 2012. An 
increasing number of projects using these technologies have been implemented in recent years.
To promote more effective applications in the field of sustainable development, sharing best practices
is very important. This report provides an overview of the space technology and GIS applications in ADB 
to date by introducing some of the past and ongoing ADB projects that have applied space technology 
and/or GIS. It includes information about how the technologies were applied, the service providers, 
and the cost for the application, so that practitioners including staff of development organizations and 
government staff in DMCs can easily apply similar technologies to their projects and/or daily operations.
We hope that this report proves useful to ADB staff, other development partners, and DMCs by sharing 
the information necessary to apply space technology and GIS to their projects and activities.