SERVIR Southeast Asia Biophysical M&E Dashboard: A Tool to Support Landscape Monitoring
Environmental degradation in Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia, is an alarming issue that poses significant threats to both ecosystems and human well-being. The region is experiencing rapid deforestation driven by agricultural expansion and urban development, leading to substantial loss of forest cover. This deforestation disrupts ecological balance and biological environments, contributing to habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss, and alterations in local microclimates. Concurrently, changes in land use and land cover exacerbate these problems, further fragmenting habitats and impacting species distribution. The increasing risk of forest fires, fueled by climate variability, land use changes, and agricultural burning, adds another layer of concern, contributing to air pollution and posing risks to both natural and human systems.
In response to these growing challenges, a comprehensive monitoring tool is essential for systematically observing and analyzing environmental parameters. Such a tool would provide critical data necessary to address these issues, inform policy decisions, and support sustainable land management practices. Recognizing the need for a robust solution, SERVIR Southeast Asia (SEA)—a collaborative initiative of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)—has developed the “Biophysical Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Dashboard” for Cambodia. This open-access tool is designed to offer comprehensive, near-real-time insights into critical environmental parameters, leveraging advanced technologies to support environmental protection and sustainable management.
The Biophysical M&E Dashboard utilizes a range of cutting-edge technologies to analyze and visualize environmental data. It harnesses the power of Google Earth Engine (GEE), a cloud computing platform capable of processing vast amounts of satellite imagery. GEE is employed to analyze large-scale, open satellite data to map key indicators such as the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), land use and land cover, forest cover, forest fire occurrences, and crop monitoring. The tool integrates these insights with data from GeoServer, an open-source geospatial data publisher, and PostgreSQL, a powerful open-source relational database system. Modern web technologies, including React with NextJS and the Python-based Django framework, are used to develop the user interface and ensure seamless functionality.
The M&E Dashboard is designed to integrate multiple data sources, providing a holistic view of landscape dynamics. It visualizes and analyzes critical aspects such as forest cover changes, land use transformations, vegetation health, and fire hotspots. By offering detailed analytical information at various levels—country, province, district, and designated protected areas—the tool enables users to gain a nuanced understanding of environmental trends. The dashboard’s current capabilities include monitoring forest gain and loss, assessing rice cropping fields, and tracking deforestation and fire hotspots. Future plans include expanding its functionality to support user-defined area levels and the incorporation of socio-economic and vulnerability indicators, further enhancing its adaptability and utility.
In addition to land use and land cover monitoring, the M&E Dashboard incorporates weather and climate information to support sustainable agriculture practices. This integration provides valuable insights into the impacts of climatic conditions on crop health and agricultural productivity, and also a drought assessment framework, aiding in the development of strategies to mitigate adverse effects and enhance resilience.
This paper presents a detailed overview of the architecture, design, and functionality of the Biophysical M&E Dashboard. It outlines how the tool addresses critical environmental challenges in Cambodia, including deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and fire risks. By offering a comprehensive suite of analytical features and visualizations, the dashboard supports informed decision-making and strategic planning for sustainable landscape management. Through its integration of advanced technologies and multi-source data, the Biophysical M&E Dashboard stands as a vital resource for protecting Cambodia’s natural resources and promoting ecological resilience in the face of ongoing environmental pressures.