Artist’s rendition of Cosmo-SkyMed. Photo: Thales Alenia Space

E-GEOS, a joint venture between Telespazio and the Italian Space Agency, signed a contract with the government of Saint Lucia for setting up an early warning system to support the management of weather-related emergencies that frequently hit the Caribbean island.

E-GEOS aims to provide a complete “geo-information center” on the island — combining the technological capacities of the Italian Cosmo-SkyMed satellite constellation with data generated by weather radar, and the company’s experience in the strategic sector of emergency mapping. According to the release, E-GEOS is able to provide pre- and post-event satellite maps covering the whole globe within few hours, supporting rescue operations following catastrophic weather events, including hurricanes.

The new “geo-information center” and related platforms and services will help allow local authorities to increase the alert capacity in case of extreme weather events, and to provide a rapid evaluation of damage after the event itself. The center will be operated by the Saint Lucia Meteorological Services (SLUMET) Weather Center on St. Lucia and by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), responsible for managing emergencies.