Mediterranean Regional Information Network (MedRIN)

Mediterranean Regional Information Network (MedRIN)

Medrin group

Welcoming MedRIN to the GOFC-GOLD family of networks

On behalf of the NASA Land-Cover/Land-Use Change Program – the primary sponsor of the international GOFC-GOLD Program – I’d like to welcome the new Mediterranean Regional Information Network MedRIN to the GOFC-GOLD family of networks. Developed in 1997 under the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), the Global Observations of Forest Cover initiative was originally intended to test the concept of the Integrated Global Observing System (IGOS) to improve the use of Earth Observation data to address major problems of global concern and to improve coordination of national programs. Additionally, it was directed at improving cooperation between providers and users of Earth Observation data for regional and global applications. Later on, GOFC became one of the Panels of the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS), and was further named GOFC-GOLD to include other landcover dynamics in addition to forest cover change.  Traditionally, its sponsors have been such international entities as Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC), European Space Agency (ESA), NASA and other agencies and institutions. The backbone of GOFC-GOLD are its Regional Information Networks (RINs) and Implementation Teams (IT) for Fire, with its office at the University of Maryland (College Park, MD, USA) and for Landcover, with its office at Wageningen University (The Netherlands). There are about a dozen RINs operating over the worlds. The aim of GOFC-GOLD leadership to ensure the functionality of these networks, revitalizing the older and enhancing the newer ones.

                                                                                                                    Dr Garik Gutman 

                                                                                                                    Program Manager for the NASA Land-Cover/Land-Use Change (LCLUC) Program

MedRIN Objectives

An initiative for forming a new regional information network for the Mediterranean Region has been started, following a series of discussions with European, African and American colleagues. This would be a network, which may be coupled upon our joint decision and a formal request, with the framework of the Global Observations of Forest Cover and Land Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD; https://start.org/programs/gofc-gold/) and would serve as a liaison between Land Cover Land Use Change (LCLUC) remote sensing scientists and stakeholders in the Mediterranean region.

Regional Network Activities

The Mediterranean Regional Information Network (MedRIN) constitutes one of the GOFC-GOLD Regional Networks and will keep its members abreast with the latest advancements in Earth Observation applications based on NASA and ESA satellite data and data products. The Network will support tackling regional and local challenges, as described by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). MedRIN will not replace existing networks in the region but will leverage additional networking capacity and build on the existing networks and systems with actions and ways that may only be of support to a peaceful utilization of Earth Observation in citizen’s everyday life.

Specifically, the objectives may include (and to be discussed further at the meeting):

  1. better coordination and linkage of monitoring systems and databases across Mediterranean,
  2. strengthening and upgrading regional/national EO networks,
  3. alignment of multi-modal and multi-source data compliant to international norms,
  4. utilization of Copernicus and relevant freely distributed services in the region by end users,
  5. contribution to free publicly-available data through interoperable databases and services.

These will be enriched and fine-tuned based on your experiences, wishes and needs for the MedRIN.

View Members of MedRin

SCERIN-MedRIN Joint GOFC-GOLD Network Workshop, 2024

Register for and attend the July 16-19 Joint Workshop of GOFC-GOLD SCERIN and MedRIN here: <https://www.scerin.eu/scerin2024/>

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US Contact Information

Address
  1. Dr. Florian Max Schwandner
    Earth Science Division Chief
    NASA Ames Research Center
    Mail Stop N-245-4
    Building N245, Room 122
    Moffett Field, California 94035
    Email: Florian.m.schwandner.nasa.gov
    Office: 650-604-3408
     
    Coordinator Emeritus
    2. Vincent G. Ambrosia
    Sr. Research Scientist / Adjunct Faculty
    School of Natural Sciences
    California State University - Monterey Bay (CSUMB)
    Mail Stop 245-4; Bld. 245; Rm. 128;
    NASA-Ames Research Center
    Moffett Field, CA. 94035-0001
    Email: vincent.g.ambrosia@nasa.gov
    Office: (650) 604-6565
    Fax: (650) 604-4680

Regional Contact Information

Address
  1. Dr. Ioannis Gitas
    Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 
    Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment
    Greece
    Tel. +30 2310 992699 
    Fax +30 2310 992677
    Email: igitas@for.auth.gr 

  2. Dr. Diofantos Hadjimitsis Vice Rector of Academic Affairs Professor Department of Civil Engineering & Geomatics Cyprus University of Technology 2-8 Saripolou,
    Achilleos I Building, 1st Floor,
    3036 Lemesos P.O.Box: 50329,
    3603 Lemesos, Cyprus
    Tel. +357 25 002548 (direct line) or 25002549 (through secretary)
    Fax. +357 25 002661
    Email: d.hadjimitsis@cut.ac.cy , diofantosh@gmail.com

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