NODES will mobilize the tools of citizen and data science combined with Earth observations to monitor, analyze, and foster progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To realize this vision, NODES will exploit novel data ecosystems in which several actors interact via infrastructure, analytics, and applications to produce, analyze, exchange, and consume data.

Three main cross-fertilizing pillars characterize the research focus of NODES: 

  • Advancing the field of citizen science: NODES will remain at the forefront of citizen science from conceptual advancements to innovations in citizen science practice, including the development of new means to acquire, analyze, and openly share citizen science data, as well as how citizen science can contribute to the SDGs and sustainability.
  • Enriching Earth observation: NODES will utilize new types of Earth observation technology (e.g., high-resolution imagery, drones, and the Internet of things (IoT)) and develop applications that focus on the interplay between Earth observation and citizen science using Geo-Wiki tools, various forms of remote sensing, and on-site observation.
  • Exploiting the digital revolution: NODES will harness the opportunities arising from the digital revolution by exploiting advancements in computing capabilities, data science (e.g., machine and deep learning), environmental informatics, and the geospatial sciences, among others, to enhance integrated systems science research and generate new and innovative data sets for further insights.

Models, tools, datasets

Overhead aerial view of city streets

Earth Observation & Citizen Science (Geo-Wiki)

Aerial of crops

Picture Pile

Projects

Image

Urban ReLeaf - Citizen-powered data ecosystems for inclusive and green urban transitions

Space satellite orbiting the earth

Open-Earth-Monitor Cyberinfrastructure (OEMC)

Staff

Myroslava Lesiv profile picture

Myroslava Lesiv

Research Scholar (NODES)

Gerid Hager profile picture

Gerid Hager

Research Project Lead (NODES)

Fernando Orduña-Cabrera profile picture

Fernando Orduña-Cabrera

Research Scholar (NODES, EM)

Katya Perez Guzman profile picture

Katya Perez Guzman

Researcher (NODES, SI)

News

Satellite image of crops and fields

21 September 2023

Using satellite data to enhance global food security

Accurate estimates and forecasts of crop area and yield play an important role in guiding policy decisions related to food security, especially in light of the growing impacts of climate change. IIASA researchers and colleagues highlight the value of integrating remote sensing and data sharing for timely agricultural information critical for food security and sustainability planning in a new paper.    
Plastic pollution on a beach with sea in background

19 September 2023

Turning the tide: Ghana's innovative approach to tackle marine plastic pollution with citizen science

Working with IIASA researchers, Ghana has adopted a citizen science approach to addressing the problem of plastic pollution in marine environments, becoming the first country to integrate this type of data on marine plastic litter into its official monitoring and reporting processes. A new study presents this innovative approach on Ghana’s citizen science journey and offers a pathway that can potentially be adopted in other countries.
Citizen Science

09 August 2023

Unlocking the power of citizen science to monitor health and wellbeing targets

IIASA researchers and experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) have conducted a systematic review of health and wellbeing-related indicators, as well as citizen science initiatives, to explore the potential of citizen science for mobilizing action toward the achievement of health and wellbeing related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the WHO’s Triple Billion Targets.

Events

Focus

Appel orchard with green grass

29 September 2023

Reshaping the local frontiers of farming and biodiversity

Managing land for agriculture has shaped civilization, but it has also led to biodiversity decline and other problems that today threaten the future of humanity. The EU Horizon 2020 FRAMEwork project is supporting a transition to biodiversity sensitive farming by uniting farmer clusters and citizen observatories to protect sensitive ecosystems while ensuring food security.

Internet information technology conceptual image with data transmission and processing over a world map.

24 July 2023

Rethinking AI: from geopolitical chessboard to shared commons

2023 IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program participant, Jalal Awan, explains how reframing artificial intelligence as a common good co-created by global users and stakeholders could help harness its transformative power for the benefit of all.  

26 June 2023

Citizen science: Co-creating a better future

Options Magazine, Summer 2023: Citizen science is the new buzzword. Science is no longer confined to ivory towers, it is something that anyone and everyone can participate in. With numerous citizen science initiatives around the world, you can be anything from an astronomer for a day, counting stars in the night sky, to a marine biologist decoding whale sounds.  
Citizen Science- Main Image

Publications