IMEO Remote Sensing Analyst

Result of ServiceSatellite data analysis, satellite tasking, and methane plume attribution to specific sources. Work LocationRemote Expected duration12 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe UN Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) is a data-focused, action-oriented initiative that drives deep reductions in methane emissions – the second biggest contributor to global climate change and a key opportunity to reduce warming in the near-term. IMEO’s mission is to provide the open, reliable, and actionable methane data needed to cut emissions at the speed and scale necessary to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. To do this, IMEO is harnessing a methane data revolution under way thanks to rapidly advancing technology and momentum for methane action. IMEO collects, integrates, and reconciles data from methane-detecting satellites, scientific measurement studies, rigorous industry reporting through the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), and national emissions inventories. These initiatives are game-changers for climate action – and as a core implementing partner of the Global Methane Pledge, IMEO is shaping the future of methane mitigation. The consultant's main task will be to analyze and validate the emission alerts that MARS receives on a daily basis, collect the necessary information to notify the relevant stakeholders of the detected emissions and follow up on the different cases of super emissions that MARS finds. To do this, the consultant will need to have high attention to detail, a good ability to understand satellite images of different formats and in different scenarios, and good skills to properly label methane plumes and identify different types of false positives present in the methane retrievals. This position will have a special focus on the validation of methane emissions from the coal sector. In addition, the consultant will support the process of integrating new satellite data into the system as they become available and implement possible improvements to the methane retrieval that MARS currently obtains from different satellites. The consultant will also be responsible for exploring new areas using satellite imagery to find new yet unidentified emission sources and to routinely task hyperspectral images in areas of interest to IMEO and MARS. This position will report to the Program Management Officer, IMEO Methane Science Studies Coorindator. Qualifications/special skillsA bachelor's degree is required, preferably in geomatics, remote sensing, natural sciences, or a related field. Minimum of two years of proven experience in the analysis of high spatial resolution satellite data. Proven experience in satellite image labelling. Knowledge of geospatial data. Knowledge of the main sources of methane emissions. Knowledge of methane emission sources from the coal sector. Knowledge of the oil and gas sector will be an asset. LanguagesFull fluency in English. Additional language fluency is a plus. Additional InformationObjectives • Validating potential plumes detected by AI and preparing the relevant information for notification of plumes. • Support data ingestion from different satellites used to detect high-resolution methane plumes and implement improvements whenever there is an opportunity. • Explore new areas of potential emissions. • Support quality control of the plumes detected by MARS. • Support IMEO’s SMP efforts Output Expectations • MARS alerts: keep the MARS daily alert list updated and address all alerts that come up each week • Data tasking: request images from on-demand data missions (e.g., PRISMA and EnMAP) regularly, and extract all images of interest to MARS from the missions' archives. • New area exploration: explore at least one new area of potential emissions (e.g., new TROPOMI hot spots, unexplored oil and gas fields, or coal mining areas) every two months. Performance Indicators • The MARS alert list is updated regularly • In the quality control process of validated images, there should be no images with emissions validated as images without plumes, and enhancements flagged as plumes should not be false positives. • False positives flagged as real emissions will be a key performance indicator, as well as the accuracy of plume labeling (properly characterizing methane plumes). • Data ingestion from targeted missions needs to be intensive. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.