Acquisition, analysis and distribution of real-time multi-sensor satellite data, in a high performance computing environment, for disaster mitigation applications: Case studies from the NATO science for peace funded Kamal Ewida Earth Observatory in Egypt, the Electronic Geophysical Year (eGY)-Africa

The paper presents an implementation of the current state-of-the-art, with respect to acquisition, analysis and distribution of real-time remotely sensed data from multiple polar orbiting and geostationary earth observing satellite sensors, deploying high performance computing for time-critical disaster mitigation applications. The authors also describe the prototype Kamal Ewida Earth Observatory (KEEO), now under development at Cairo University and at Al Azhar University in Egypt, as a technological exemplar of indigenous expertise, real-time remote sensing, near-real-time spatial data products, supercomputer access from Egypt's space agency-NARSS, partnerships with multi-lateral agencies (e.g. UN WHO, Electronic Geophysical Year (eGY)-Africa), sensor data archives from the United States Geological Survey (USGS)-supported AmericaView, funding from NATO's Science for Peace Program and collaborative research with Bogaziçi University's Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (KOERI) in Istanbul, Turkey and with Purdue University's Rosen Center for Advanced Computing's Purdue Terrestrial Observatory (PTO) in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.