rasdaman newsletter 10/2025
Saving Lives - Taiwan´s Integrated Disaster Management
Taiwan, highly exposed to typhoons, landslides, floods, and earthquakes, has transformed its disaster management with the Taiwan National Federated Research Data Repository. At its core is rasdaman, the pioneer datacube engine, which integrates satellite imagery, UAV data, and IoT sensor streams across agencies, breaking long-standing silos and enabling real-time analytics.
Historically, Earth observation data was collected in isolated systems, hampering rapid decision-making during emergencies. To overcome this, the Taiwanese National Center for High-Performance Computing (NCHC), supported by public and academic partners, launched a federated data infrastructure. The repository provides a common, high-performance platform where agencies share multi-source geospatial data without maintaining costly stand-alone systems. Interoperability, scalability, and precise access controls ensure both security and broad usability. A Mandarin interface and simple ingestion tools boost adoption among both technical and non-technical staff.
The rasdaman backbone has enabled advanced applications such as real-time AI flood monitoring from camera feeds and 3D GIS simulations combining UAV thermal imagery with urban and natural features. These tools support timely interventions and extend to other domains like mining oversight, agriculture, environmental compliance, and research.
While initial skepticism arose over data security and unfamiliar technologies, consistent demonstrations, training, and localization built trust. Today, the rasdaman-driven repository is a cornerstone of Taiwan’s national spatial data infrastructure—enhancing resilience, enabling evidence-based policymaking, and fostering sustainable urban and environmental planning.
contact: Prof. Dr. Peter Baumann