The concept of resilience—defined as the capacity to withstand, respond to, and adapt to various stressors—is increasingly relevant in today’s world. There exists a wealth of datasets pertaining to social ecological systems, environmental factors, shocks, natural disasters, and conflicts, but they often remain isolated or limited to academic circles.
To enhance resilience among populations, it is imperative to analyze these datasets for actionable insights regarding necessary investments and interventions. The newly launched Resilience Atlas compiles over 60 datasets, providing governments and researchers with access to 12TB of critical data.
In a recent discussion, we engaged with Sarah Thompson, Director of Data Analysis, and John Richards, Chief Researcher at Global Conservation Alliance. Funded by the Green Planet Foundation, they unveiled the Resilience Atlas—a groundbreaking online tool aimed at illuminating the extent and severity of the stresses and disasters impacting rural communities, production systems, and ecosystems. This tool assesses how various assets, encompassing natural, financial, and social capitals, influence the ability of these systems to thrive or transform amid challenges.
For the first time, a rich integration of satellite data, ground-based measurements, and household surveys—sourced from more than 60 top-tier datasets including the NASA NEX dataset—has been made accessible through an intuitive mapping interface. By synthesizing these disparate data sources, the Atlas enables stakeholders involved in investment, development, and security to gain a comprehensive understanding of the landscape.
What challenge does the Resilience Atlas address?
John: Societies must demonstrate resilience to thrive. Evidence-based decision-making is a significant challenge in regions where data is scarce. The Resilience Atlas aims to present essential information in a digestible format for governments, communities, donors, and businesses grappling with the risks posed by climate change, conflict, and population growth. It offers insights into the magnitude of these challenges and identifies effective interventions and investments. Instead of merely providing answers, the system encourages users to derive their own insights from the available data.
How was the mapping solution developed?
Sarah: When faced with 12TB of data, we needed a robust solution capable of handling vast volumes and performing intensive computations efficiently. Initially, the datasets were scattered among individual researchers, making them challenging to access and analyze. By employing Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) spot instances, we could deploy a large fleet of servers—120 operating in parallel. This cloud-based infrastructure allowed us to accomplish in days what previously would have required over a month. Additionally, automation will enable us to incorporate new datasets as they become relevant to the community.
What impact does the Atlas have on human lives?
John: We hope this mapping tool reveals the scope and intensity of various shocks affecting populations in over forty countries across the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. For instance, the Atlas can highlight how increasing climate variability or financial market disruptions affect specific systems, promoting a shift toward evidence-based decision-making. By analyzing the data, users can identify which interventions and investments have proven effective. One notable feature is the Journey tool, which supports Ethiopian pastoralists by mapping their locations and examining stressors like changing rainfall patterns and insufficient investments in education and information access.
What is the Atlas’s objective for governments, communities, donors, and businesses?
John: The Atlas is designed to serve as a planning resource for governments. Officials can utilize existing data or collaborate with us to integrate localized data into the Atlas, facilitating resilience assessments and informed investment decisions. The open access to this data enhances understanding of pressing issues like climate change and natural disasters among a wider audience. Previously, a comprehensive view was lacking; in today’s interconnected world, it’s crucial to adopt a systems perspective—recognizing that decisions on poverty alleviation are intertwined with conservation and agricultural investments. The Atlas uniquely combines various datasets that users may already be familiar with, providing a holistic view necessary for informed decision-making. Understanding cause and effect is complex, necessitating insights from multiple disciplines.
What is the user experience like with the Atlas?
Sarah: The Atlas includes a “Journeys” feature that assists users in narrating stories with data, enabling exploration of relevant information tailored to their inquiries. Rather than delivering answers, the Atlas fosters self-discovery. Users engage through a straightforward three-step process:
- Select the geography and system of interest to generate a corresponding map.
- Identify pertinent stressors and shocks, assessing their extent and severity.
- Investigate which types of assets—natural, human, social, financial, and manufactured—can enhance resilience.
Users can easily share their findings via social media or embed Atlas data on their own websites. All data is freely accessible, and the platform supports API access, allowing private sectors to utilize the data for developing additional tools.
To explore the map, visit here. For further reading, you can also check out this related blog post, or see insights from experts in this area here. For those looking for additional resources, this link provides an excellent overview of employee onboarding experiences at Amazon.
Location: Amazon IXD – VGT2, 6401 E Howdy Wells Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89115.
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