Two independent reports on AI in humanitarian action reach the same conclusions from different angles. This piece compares ITU's new early warning report with NASA Lifelines' own GeoAI findings on trust, co-design, and connectivity.
This ITU report examines how AI is strengthening each stage of the early warning cycle, from risk knowledge to preparedness, through five real world deployments including Tonga, Liberia, and Colombia. It pairs well with NASA Lifelines' own GeoAI for Humanitarian Action report, which explores the same trust and adoption barriers across the full crisis lifecycle.
When Nearby Nearby Network came to the ESRB with a challenge of delivering hazard information to rural North Carolina communities before disasters cut off connectivity, a panel of experts identified a stack of NASA and open data products already suited to the task.
This report from Hamish William Patten and NASA Lifelines Advisor Zineg Bhaby unpacks the critical function that statistics can serve in natural disaster response. Their recently published report lays out statistical methods as a foundation for humanitarian analysis and identifies the gaps where future applications can improve preparation for and response to disasters.
The State of Open Humanitarian Data 2026 from OCHA assesses data availability across humanitarian crises using the HDX Data Grids framework. The report details what open data exists by location and category, helping practitioners and decision makers identify gaps in the information landscape for crisis response.
Common Space's Seeing What Matters report presents findings from a global survey assessing demand for an openly licensed, community-tasked satellite mission dedicated to capturing data for humanitarian action. The report helps define where, when, and how high-resolution satellite imagery is needed to serve public interests.
The GeoAI for Humanitarian Action report explores how artificial intelligence and satellite data can strengthen humanitarian decision-making, while identifying the practical barriers that limit adoption. Drawing on community insights, it outlines strategies to build partnerships, tools, and programs that help humanitarian organizations translate GeoAI innovations into real-world impact.
Using corrected nighttime lights from NASA's Black Marble, researchers mapped a decade of global electrification to show worldwide changes over time. The data reveals areas where access to electricity is growing, where gaps persist, and how satellite data can guide the support of communities in need.
The Pacific Disaster Center's National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA) evaluates risk factors, vulnerabilities, and long-term disaster management for countries around the world. The framework advises early warning systems, resilience-building initiatives, sustainable development, and policy.
The UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal is an online international hub providing organizations with space-based information to support all aspects of disaster management. The focus on full cycle disaster support connects humanitarians with the space community.
