Description

 Floods are the most common and widespread of all weather-related natural disasters. Lasting for minutes or even weeks, a flood can place a huge burden on a community, including loss of life, damage to infrastructure and economies, and long-term impacts on peoples’ health and well-being. When combined with hydrologic models, remote sensing observations and Earth system models can support both flood monitoring and prediction efforts to significantly improve preparedness and response planning.

This three-part training will include an overview and demonstration of flood monitoring tools based on remotely sensed optical observations, NASA near real-time Global Flood Product, and Observational Products for End-users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA). Additionally, the training will introduce a streamflow prediction tool, the Group on Earth Observations Global Water Sustainability (GEOGLOWS) model, which provides global, historical, and 15-day streamflow predictions. We will guide participants through hands-on exercises to access and visualize selected flood data.

Prerequisites

• Fundamentals of Remote Sensing

Objectives

By the end of this training attendees will be able to:

• Identify datasets in NASA Global Flood Product, which is based on remotely sensed optical observations;
• Use the webtool, NASA Worldview, to access and visualize flooded regions from Global Flood Product, available from multiple satellites, from 2021 to near-real time;
• Identify OPERA dynamic surface water extent data for flood detection derived from optical and SAR observations;
• Access and visualize OPERA dynamic surface water extent data for flood events using NASA Worldview;
• Identify the capabilities of GEOGLOWS River Forecast System (RFS) for global streamflow prediction;
• Use GEOGLOWS Hydroviewer to access globally available retrospective and predicted streamflow for selected rivers.

Target Audience

Local, regional, federal, and non-governmental organizations involved in flood and water resources management, emergency responders, disaster relief and rescue operators, flood insurance companies, and real estate and infrastructure building organizations. 

Students and academics who are interested in learning about remote sensing of flood monitoring and predictions.

Course Format

• The complete course consists of three 1.5-hour parts, with Part 1 offered on June 18, Part 2 on June 23, and Part 3 on June 25.
• On each day, there are two opportunities to take the course (identical offerings):
  • Session A: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT (UTC-4)
  • Session B: 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT (UTC-4)
• Each part will include a 30-minute live Q&A.
• Those who attend Parts 1, 2, and 3 and complete the homework by the due date will receive a certificate of attendance.

Part 1: Overview of Global Flood Product Derived from NASA Optical observations

June 18, 2026

• Introduction

• Overview of NASA Global Flood Product

• Access and Visualize Global Flood Products 

• Summary and Q&A

ARSET Instructors

Amita Mehta

Guest Instructors

Dan Slayback, NRT Global Flood Product Research Scientist (NASA GSFC)

Part 2: Overview of Monitoring Floods using OPERA Surface Water Extent based on Optical and SAR Observations

June 23, 2026

• Introduction
• Overview of OPERA Dynamic Surface Water Data Product 
• Visualize Dynamic Surface Water from Optical and SAR Imagery
• Summary and Q&A

ARSET Instructors

Amita Mehta

Guest Instructors

Renato Frasson (NASA JPL)

Part 3: Overview of GEOGLOWS for Monitoring and Predicting Flood Risk

June 25, 2026

• Introduction
• Introduction to GEOGLOWS
• Access Streamflow Data using GEOGLOWS Hydroviewer
• Summary and Q&A

ARSET Instructors

Amita Mehta

Guest Instructors

Rachel Huber Magoffin (Aquaveo LLC) & Riley Hales (BYU Hydroinformatics Research Lab)