DeDemmoocrcraatitizzaatiotion n oof f - National … n oof f (a(andnd b byy) ) EaEarth rth...

Democratization Democratization of of (and by) (and by)

Earth Observation Earth Observation

National Remote Sensing and Space Law Center National Remote Sensing and Space Law Center University of Mississippi School of Law University of Mississippi School of Law

www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu

Presented by Presented by Prof. Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz Prof. Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz

to to Earth Earth Observation Business Network Observation Business Network

Vancouver, B.C., Canada Vancouver, B.C., Canada 11 May 2006 11 May 2006

© © Gabrynowicz 2006 Gabrynowicz 2006 Reproduced with Reproduced with Permission Permission

Democratization of (and by) Democratization of (and by) Earth Observation Earth Observation What this presentation is What this presentation is not not: :

A statement that what works for one nation ought to be A statement that what works for one nation ought to be used by all nations. used by all nations.

What this presentation What this presentation is is: : Information about an historical precedent relevant to 21st Information about an historical precedent relevant to 21st

Century Earth Observations Century Earth Observations Because: Because:

How far you can see into the future depends How far you can see into the future depends on how far back you look. on how far back you look.

Winston Churchill Winston Churchill

Democratization of Democratization of (and by) Earth Observation (and by) Earth Observation

The American Experiment The American Experiment • • As data and information about the continent became As data and information about the continent became known, the need to organize emerged known, the need to organize emerged – – States needed to unify before westward expansion to avoid States needed to unify before westward expansion to avoid historical, European historical, European type conflicts type conflicts

• • The logic of geography was a driver The logic of geography was a driver – – The The “ “Continental Congress Continental Congress” ”

• • Literally Literally applied scientific principles to political applied scientific principles to political decisions decisions – – Newtonian physics and whole systems Newtonian physics and whole systems

• • The The “ “American Experiment American Experiment” ” • • The The “ “Science of Constitutions Science of Constitutions” ”


The Political Problem The Political Problem • • The argument since Aristotle The argument since Aristotle

– – Can Can’ ’t have a republic over a large geographic area t have a republic over a large geographic area – – A democracy must be limited to small, geographic areas A democracy must be limited to small, geographic areas

• • “ “democracy democracy” ” is direct government by the people is direct government by the people – – Good news: inclusive of all Good news: inclusive of all – – Bad news: can become mob rule, takes a lot of time Bad news: can become mob rule, takes a lot of time

• • “ “republic republic” ” is government by agent is government by agent – – Good news: efficient, allows citizens to do other things Good news: efficient, allows citizens to do other things – – Bad news: can become distant from citizens, despotic Bad news: can become distant from citizens, despotic

• • The solution: use both The solution: use both


The American Experiment Defined The American Experiment Defined

Apply scientific principles to political problems by Apply scientific principles to political problems by using data derived from actual geography. using data derived from actual geography.

Democratization of Democratization of (and by) Earth Observation (and by) Earth Observation A Democracy Defined in Geographic Terms A Democracy Defined in Geographic Terms

“… “…the natural limit of a democracy is that distance from the natural limit of a democracy is that distance from the central point which will just permit the most remote the central point which will just permit the most remote citizens to assemble as often as their public functions citizens to assemble as often as their public functions

demand demand…” …”

Federalist Paper 14 Federalist Paper 14 Friday, November 30, 1787 Friday, November 30, 1787

James Madison James Madison Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Answered Answered

Democratization of Democratization of (and by) Earth Observation (and by) Earth Observation A Republic Defined in Geographic Terms A Republic Defined in Geographic Terms

“… “…the natural limit of a republic is that distance from the the natural limit of a republic is that distance from the centre which will barely allow the representatives to centre which will barely allow the representatives to

meet as often as may be necessary for the administration meet as often as may be necessary for the administration of public affairs of public affairs…” …”




The Problem in Geographic Terms The Problem in Geographic Terms

“ “Can it be said that the limits of the United States exceed Can it be said that the limits of the United States exceed this distance? this distance?” ”




The Solution: Use the Data! The Solution: Use the Data!

“ “That we may form a juster estimate That we may form a juster estimate… …let us resort let us resort to the actual dimensions of the Union. to the actual dimensions of the Union.” ”




The Data The Data “ “The limits are: on the east the Atlantic, on the south The limits are: on the east the Atlantic, on the south the latitude of 31 the latitude of 31º º, on the west the Mississippi, and on , on the west the Mississippi, and on the north an irregular line running in some instances the north an irregular line running in some instances beyond the 45th beyond the 45thº º, in others falling as low as the 42nd , in others falling as low as the 42ndº º. .

The southern shore of Lake Erie lies below that The southern shore of Lake Erie lies below that latitude. latitude.” ”



Democratization of Democratization of (and by) Earth Observation (and by) Earth Observation The Information Derived from the Data The Information Derived from the Data

“ “Computing the distance between the 31st and the 45th Computing the distance between the 31st and the 45th degrees, it amounts to 973 common miles; computing degrees, it amounts to 973 common miles; computing it from 31 it from 31º º to 42 to 42º º, to 764 1/2 miles; taking the mean for , to 764 1/2 miles; taking the mean for the distance, the amount will be 868 3/4 miles. The the distance, the amount will be 868 3/4 miles. The mean distance from the Atlantic to the Mississippi mean distance from the Atlantic to the Mississippi

does not probably exceed 750 miles. does not probably exceed 750 miles.” ” Federalist Paper 14 Federalist Paper 14

Friday, November 30, 1787 Friday, November 30, 1787 James Madison James Madison

Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Answered Answered

Note the geographic central Note the geographic central point chosen for the Capitol point chosen for the Capitol


Applying the Results to the Problem Applying the Results to the Problem

“ “On a comparison of this extent with that of several On a comparison of this extent with that of several countries in Europe, the practicability of rendering our countries in Europe, the practicability of rendering our system commensurate to it appears to be demonstrable. system commensurate to it appears to be demonstrable.” ”




Applying the Results to the Problem Applying the Results to the Problem “ “It is not a great deal larger than Germany, where a diet It is not a great deal larger than Germany, where a diet

representing the whole empire is continually assembled; or than representing the whole empire is continually assembled; or than Poland Poland… …where another national diet was the depositary of the where another national diet was the depositary of the

supreme power supreme power… …w we find that in Great Britain, inferior as it may e find that in Great Britain, inferior as it may be in size, the representatives of the northern extremity of the be in size, the representatives of the northern extremity of the island have as far to travel to the national council as will be island have as far to travel to the national council as will be required of those of the most remote parts of the Union. required of those of the most remote parts of the Union.” ”




Whole Systems Whole Systems “ “The adversaries of the Constitution ought to The adversaries of the Constitution ought to prove not prove not merely that merely that particular provisions particular provisions in it are not the best in it are not the best which might have been imagined, which might have been imagined, but but that that the plan the plan

upon the whole upon the whole is bad and pernicious. is bad and pernicious.” ” Federalist Paper No. 65 Federalist Paper No. 65 Friday, March 7, 1788 Friday, March 7, 1788 Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton

The Powers of the Senate Continued From the New York Packet The Powers of the Senate Continued From the New York Packet


Science and Governance Systems Science and Governance Systems Newtonian Physics and the Constitution Newtonian Physics and the Constitution

E.g., Checks and Balances = Newton E.g., Checks and Balances = Newton’ ’s Third Law s Third Law


The First Data Policy? The First Data Policy?

Thomas Jefferson, along with John Adams, refused to Thomas Jefferson, along with John Adams, refused to include books in the Revolutionary War trade embargo. include books in the Revolutionary War trade embargo.


Lessons Learned Lessons Learned • • Geographic logic transcends political boundaries Geographic logic transcends political boundaries

– – Basis of federal form of government Basis of federal form of government • • Whole rather than parts Whole rather than parts • • Federal versus local/state Federal versus local/state

• • Demarcations based on geography less likely to lead to Demarcations based on geography less likely to lead to conflict conflict

• • Continental observations justified a political structure, Continental observations justified a political structure, specifically, a democratic republic specifically, a democratic republic

• • Used what is today recognized as geospatial data and Used what is today recognized as geospatial data and whole systems whole systems

• • Recognized importance of speed of information Recognized importance of speed of information


The Bottom Line The Bottom Line

Data is the raw material of information Data is the raw material of information and information is the raw material of democracy. and information is the raw material of democracy.


The Analogy for Today The Analogy for Today

Frontier : Continent :: Space : Planet Frontier : Continent :: Space : Planet Place of Observation : Object observed :: Place of Observation : Place of Observation : Object observed :: Place of Observation : Object observed Object observed

Democratization of Democratization of (and by) Earth Observation (and by) Earth Observation Looking Forward: Things to Do Differently Looking Forward: Things to Do Differently

• • Use broader concept of inclusion Use broader concept of inclusion – – Strive for the widest, most open data access policies possible Strive for the widest, most open data access policies possible

• • Respect and engage local people and communities Respect and engage local people and communities • • Appreciate and address historical concerns and fears Appreciate and address historical concerns and fears

– – Reasons for geospatial information being state secrets, e.g. Reasons for geospatial information being state secrets, e.g. • • Integrate networks with hierarchies and orthogonal Integrate networks with hierarchies and orthogonal structures structures

• • Scale to 21st Century speed of information Scale to 21st Century speed of information • • Utilize legal concepts and norms developed since 18th Utilize legal concepts and norms developed since 18th Century Century


Looking Forward: Contemporary Possibilities Looking Forward: Contemporary Possibilities • • Organize transborder progress by building on Organize transborder progress by building on voluntary agreements voluntary agreements – – Disasters Charter Disasters Charter – – CEOS CEOS – – GEO/GEOSS GEO/GEOSS – – Subscription based monitoring Subscription based monitoring

• • Identify geographic features that allow logical Identify geographic features that allow logical transborder progress transborder progress – – Watersheds, e.g. Watersheds, e.g.


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