DigiGEO Wildfire-Health Nexus
Challenge
Wildfires are escalating globally due to climate change and land use shifts, causing cascading health-environment-socioeconomic crises. Current systems face critical gaps:
The WHO estimates wildfire smoke causes 340,000 premature deaths annually, while the World Bank projects $100B+ yearly economic losses by 2050. Vulnerable populations face five times higher respiratory risks, and biodiversity hotspots lose keystone species irreversibly. A unified science-to-action framework is urgently needed.
Solution
The Wildfire-Health Nexus integrates nine modules across three functional tiers. Real-time monitoring (EYE) feeds predictive analytics (FAST, EMIT) to assess fire and emission dynamics. Damage mapping (MAP) couples with long-term projections (SCALE) to guide ecological restoration (ECOR), while emergency (RESP), economic (ECON), and health (LIFE) modules translate insights into actionable protocols.
Aligned with GEO’s Earth Observation Value Chain, we establish standardized interfaces enabling modular interoperability. Regional demonstrations in China and Senegal validate full-cycle solutions—from early detection to ecosystem recovery—through tight integration with important GWP projects (e.g., GWIS, GOS4POPs, HEALTH-CoP). Annual Nexus Reports synthesize cross-module findings, advancing global best practices for wildfire resilience.
From observation to policy action, we close the wildfire-health governance loop.
Intended Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact
The Wildfire-Health Nexus will fundamentally transform wildfire governance by:
- Catalyzing cross-domain collaboration through integrated fire-health-ecosystem response protocols, establishing the first end-to-end solution covering prevention, real-time response, and long-term recovery.
- Setting global standards with open-access data products (e.g., harmonized exposure indices) and annual State of Fire & Health Reports, advancing the field’s methodological rigor.
- Exemplifying GEO’s Earth Observation Value Chain by demonstrating how integrated data flows can drive actionable policies.
This systemic approach will redefine best practices for translating Earth observations into multi-sectoral resilience, positioning the Wildfire-Health Nexus as the benchmark for nexus-based environmental health interventions.
Objectives for 2025–2030
- Finalize nine-module roadmaps through regional workshops (Asia/Africa).
- Establish Integrated Demonstration Zones in China and Senegal.
- Form Science-Policy Steering Group with observers from international organizations (e.g., GEO, WHO, WMO, and UNEP).
- Deliver first-generation products per module.
- Draft Integrated Experiment Plan through collective workshop.
- Develop cross-module validation framework.
- Achieve 90% uptime for core modules in demo zones.
- Operationalize automated report generation (AI-assisted).
- Certify over three national agencies adopting standards.
- Deploy full-stack solutions in demo zones.
- Institutionalize biennial Nexus State Reports.
- Transfer system to over five GEO Members.
- Institutionalize Nexus Solutions Marketplace for:
- Commercial service providers.
- Community innovation adaptations.
- Establish GEO Wildfire Resilience Certification.