Funds offered by the NASA earth science division / earth action disasters program and facilitated by marshall space flight center to the university of alaska fairbanks will continue the proactive…

NASA's Earth Science Division, through the Marshall Space Flight Center, awarded a $235,244 research grant to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to advance the development of foundation models leveraging Earth observations for rapid and accurate disaster damage assessment. The project will utilize synthetic aperture radar and optical land surface observations to improve the timeliness and accuracy of damage estimates to structures, settlements, and local ecosystems resulting from natural disasters. This collaborative research initiative, which runs through January 27, 2027, involves partnerships with NASA Headquarters, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the European Space Agency, IBM Research, and Oregon State University.

The grant supports UAF's mission as a land, sea, and space grant institution with extensive expertise in Arctic research and innovative Earth observation applications. This award aligns with NASA's Earth Action Disasters Program, which focuses on developing advanced technologies and methodologies to support rapid response and recovery efforts following natural disasters. No set-aside designation was applied to this contract award, reflecting the competitive nature of the solicitation and UAF's standing as a premier research institution within the federal contracting landscape.

Funds offered by the NASA earth science division / earth action disasters program and facilitated by marshall space flight center to the university of alaska fairbanks will continue the proactive and focused development of foundation models that use earth observations, specifically synthetic aperture radar and optical land surface observations, to improve the timeliness and accuracy of damage estimates to structures, settlements, and local ecology that result from natural disasters. This effort will be collaborative with NASA headquarters, NASA marshall space flight center, the european space agency, IBM research, and oregon state university as collaborative partners.