Geospatial Data Scientist At Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) is an autonomous international organization established for scientific, educational, developmental, and humanitarian purposes with a vision of safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1986 as a technical capacity building center, ADPC has grown and expanded its role to be for scientific, educational, developmental and humanitarian purposes. ADPC employs a wide range of professional expertise typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner.

ADPC develops and implements cross-sectoral projects/programs on the strategic themes of risk governance, urban resilience, climate resilience, health risk management, preparedness for response and resilient recovery. Our strategic themes are complemented and underpinned by the cross-cutting themes of gender and diversity, regional and transboundary cooperation as well as poverty and livelihoods.

Through its work, ADPC supports the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the agenda defined at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, and other relevant international frameworks

For details, please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/

Department Introduction:

The Geospatial Information Department supports stakeholders to increase their uses of geospatial technology, data, and information for supporting decision making related to disaster risk management and climate resilience. The department supports all thematic areas of focus of ADPC to achieve their goals, mainly through:

• Increased accessibility and technical capacity to develop, maintain, and use geospatial information including disaster and climate risk maps, forecasted and real-time disaster data for early warning, and damage data for post-disaster assessment and recovery planning,
• Increased awareness by decision makers on applications of geospatial information in disaster risk management and climate resilience decision making, and
• Geospatial solutions, such as maps, tools, models, and data, customized to the demands of stakeholders

Geospatial Information Department leads the SERVIR Southeast Asia (SERVIR SEA), a 5-year project, co-created by USAID, NASA, and ADPC, to address disaster and climate resilience as well as environmental issues in Southeast Asia. SERVIR SEA’s objective is Expanded and Scaled Climate Actions by using Satellite Data and Geospatial Information in Decision Making, which will be achieved through the following outcomes:

1. Regional platform(s) strengthened and/or established for accelerating, scaling, and/or sustaining adoption of data and information
2. Increased investment from diversified partnership with stakeholders to support the development and use of data and information
3. Increased accessibility of data and information
4. Strengthened capacity of Stakeholders to use data and information

The regional service on Land Cover Monitoring for Forest Protection and Healthy Ecosystems of SERVIR SEA aims to decrease Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from deforestation and forest degradation by the United Nations REDD+. SERVIR SEA is working on enhancing the Regional Land Cover Monitoring System (RLCMS) by utilizing satellite data and remote sensing technology for REDD+ applications and crop mapping in the Southeast Asia region, especially in monitoring crops in Myanmar and Cambodia through the cooperation with USAID’s Mission to Myanmar and Cambodia.

SERVIR SEA will conduct analyses related to uses of satellite data and geospatial information to

1. Study land cover and forest cover change to support sustainable landscape management and forest restoration in SEA region;
2. Biomass mapping and carbon estimation for REDD+ activities and MRV system development,
3. Deep machine learning for mapping various crop types and deforestation alerts in SEA region.

Statement of Intent:

ADPC seeks qualified employee with capability in performing remote sensing data processing using machine learning for land cover, crop types mapping, and land cover change analysis assessment and biomass mapping in the Southeast Asia region.

The Geospatial Data Scientist will be primarily responsible for remote sensing data analyst for development and upgrade of the Regional Land Cover Monitoring System (RLCMS) and its application for sustainable landscape management, REDD+ and food security support in the SEA region.

The Geospatial Data Scientist will work closely and taking inputs from the thematic lead to implement the regional service on Land Cover Monitoring for Forest Protection and Healthy Ecosystems of the SERVIE SEA .

Note:

It is not the intent of this Position Description to cover every aspect of the position requirements, rather to highlight the most important areas of personal and joint responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Responsibilities:

• Apply machine learning and deep learning for land cover model development (RLCMS approaches)
• Update the annual regional / national land cover map for the Southeast Asia region and conduct accuracy assessment.
• Geospatial data integration for forest restoration contribution to community forestry
• Managing the RLCMS system and documentation of the methods and approach
• Contribution for crop types mapping in Myanmar and Cambodia ,
• Contribution for areas estimation of rice and crops with uncertainty assessments in Myanmar
• Analyze the time series land cover and crop cover changes to assess the drivers to deforestation and support REDD+ activities in specific site in Cambodia
• Contribute to the biomass and carbon mapping work in the Southeast Asia region
• Review and provide technical input for all the reports, contribution for tool development of the SERVIR SEA program
• Participate and deliver Google Earth Engine training for partners in the region. Provide technical supports to the Geospatial Information Department on training courses, workshops, and other capacity-building activities in the planning, delivery, and follow-up, as needed
• Travel as needed to countries in Southeast Asia to coordinate the implementation of activities related to ADPC programs.

Corporate Responsibilities:

• Provide technical inputs in developing training courses, workshops, and other capacity-building activities for other ADPC projects and activities
• Represent ADPC in meetings/workshops/events, as requested by the Director, Geospatial Information
• Conduct training and seminar to enhance internal geospatial capacity and communications of ADPC staff
• Proactively support other departments to increase uses of geospatial science in ADPC projects and activities
• Participate in technical and management meetings related to ADPC programs

This job description covers the general responsibilities and representative tasks of this position. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to program priorities and needs.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Integrity: Demonstrates the highest level of commitment and demonstrates respect for persons of concern to ADPC, partners and colleagues in all aspects of work. Ensures that personal and professional behavior is of the highest standard.
• Diversity Awareness: Able to embrace the uniqueness of all individuals along several dimensions such as race, religious beliefs, ethnicity, age, gender, physical abilities, political beliefs, socio-economic status, disability, political conviction, or any other distinguishing features.
• Equality Awareness: Understands that each individual has an equal opportunity to make decisions, participate in social activities, perform any work at the organization and to make the most of her/ his life and talents.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Works constructively within a team and across teams in ways that allow the achievement of shared objectives. Works effectively with colleagues and partners. Fosters a positive and collaborative environment.

Geospatial Information Department Functional Competencies:

• Results Orientation: Focuses on the delivery of agreed results through the effective management of internal and external resources to achieve results. Demonstrates a commitment to both personal and organizational excellence, with an emphasis on results.
• Proactivity/Self-motivation: Keeps abreast of new developments actively seeking to develop oneself professionally and personally. Recognizes the importance of continuous improvement for more effective and efficient working environment. Creates a learning culture.
• Creativity and Innovation: Demonstrates and encourages the development of new ideas/ approaches in own work area. Proposes changes that will improve organizational and staff performance to a common goal.
• Analytical Problem-Solving Skills: Displays analytical thinking by identifying, defining and analyzing information, situations and problems. Arrives at viable solutions through a variety of approaches. Demonstrates critical thoughts, methodical review of implications, intuition and rational conclusions.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications and Specifications

The Geospatial Data Scientist will have the following minimum qualifications:

• At least Bachelor degree in Geosciences, computer science, information technology, geomatics, environmental management, agriculture development or related
• At least 4 years’ experience working with application of remote sensing for land cover, forest cover mapping or natural resource management related field.
• At least 1 year or more with an international organization
• Strong programming skills, experience working with Google Earth Engine, Python and Javascript
• Fluent English writing and communications skills
• Knowledge of the development context of SEA region considered a plus;
• Enthusiastic for research, good team work and a good collaborator.
• Excellent interpersonal and people management skills with experience working in multicultural environments;
• Work experience in Southeast Asian Countries considered favorably;
• Willingness to commit to further training and development as required.

Reporting and Relationships:

The Geospatial Data Scientist will report to the Geospatial service manager of SERVIR SEA. She/he will work closely with the scientists and the service leads of SERVIR SEA.