February 24, 2013 | Read Time: 1 minute
What she did: Arlene Ducao, a researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-founder of the DuKode Studio, co-founded OpenIR, which works to make public data easier to access, use, and understand. Its initial project, which uses infrared technology to study flooding and deforestation in Indonesia, is a first step in helping people in ecologically vulnerable regions figure out what to do about such problems.
Why she did it: For years, Ms. Ducao worked with infrared satellite maps to examine topics like changes in wildlife ecosystems, climate change, and sea-surface temperature. She struck on the idea that data from infrared maps would provide valuable insight into the study of natural disasters as well.
How she did it: She worked closely with the MIT Media Lab to find people who could develop ways to make environmental data more accessible and understandable. Her business partner and co-founder of the DuKode Studio, Ilias Koen, helped develop the main features and capabilities for OpenIR’s first project in Indonesia.
What she accomplished: The OpenIR team is holding workshops with environmental leaders throughout Indonesia to develop ways to apply data to real-life challenges. Ms. Ducao expects that researchers will be able to incorporate infrared satellite data into online maps, providing a more comprehensive view of ecological challenges and more insight into potential solutions.
