VALUABLES

VALUABLES is a collaboration with NASA to measure how satellite information benefits people and the environment when it is used to make decisions.

The Consortium for the Valuation of Applications Benefits Linked with Earth Science (VALUABLES) is a cooperative agreement between Resources for the Future (RFF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). We are based at RFF’s Washington, DC headquarters.

Created in 2016 with a $3.5 million award from NASA, we are working to quantify and communicate how the use of satellite information in decisions can improve outcomes for people and the environment. The consortium brings together economists and decision scientists, NASA scientists and remote sensing experts, and members of the wider Earth science community.

Our work is motivated by the science of the value of information (VOI), a microeconomic approach to determining what information is worth by assessing the difference in how people make a decision with and without this information.

Our efforts center around two types of activities: conducting case studies, known as impact assessments, and developing educational materials and activities designed to support the Earth science community in quantifying the societal value of its work.

Impact Assessments

To demonstrate the societal benefits provided by remotely-sensed information—and information from Earth-observing satellites in particular—we conduct rigorous case studies called impact assessments that quantify how the use of Earth observations improves outcomes for people and the environment across a range of application areas. These application areas include water quality, health and air quality, disaster response, and climate observation. Learn more.

Educational Tools and Resources

In addition to producing impact assessments, consortium researchers are developing a VOI framework the scientific community can use to design impact assessments for their applied research. This framework forms the basis of our tutorials, webinars, workshops, and digital media products. It structures our work to help Earth scientists better understand the terms, concepts, and methods they can use to develop rigorous impact assessments for specific satellite data applications. Learn more.

VALUABLES Consortium Community

Find experts working with the VALUABLES Consortium.

Impact Assessments

Measuring the socioeconomic benefits that Earth observations provide.

Tools & Resources

Educational materials and activities to support the Earth science community.

Featured Publications

Journal Article — Mar 29, 2019

Monetizing the Value of Measurements of Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity Using the Social Cost of Carbon

This study shows how real options theory in combination with the social cost of carbon may help to calculate the value of information regarding equilibrium climate sensitivity and estimate the relative advantages of two different Earth Observing Systems.

Journal Article — Nov 5, 2018

Probabilistic reasoning about measurements of equilibrium climate sensitivity: combining disparate lines of evidence

Lacking the ability to evaluate the advice, public media striving for balance can unwittingly promote the idea that conflicting advice can simply be ignored. Behind this perspective is a lack of understanding among the general public about the role of disagreement in science.

Working Paper — Sep 12, 2018

Using Satellite Data to Fill the Gaps in the US Air Pollution Monitoring Network

This paper uses new satellite data to assess fine particulate matter concentrations and finds that 24.4 million more Americans than previously thought live in counties that do not meet the annual health standard set under the Clean Air Act.

Featured Events

Webinar — Jan 17, 2019

Using the Social Cost of Carbon to Value Earth Observing Systems

Presented at the RFF-CMCC European Institute

Conferences & Panels — Dec 10, 2018

2018 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting

Join the VALUABLES Consortium at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting to learn more about our work to quantify the socioeconomic benefits of Earth observations when they are used to make decisions.

Webinar — May 23, 2017

Understanding the Benefits of Observing Earth from Space

RFF Fellow Yusuke Kuwayama introduced RFF’s Consortium for the Valuation of Applications Benefits Linked with Earth Science (VALUABLES), a cooperative agreement between RFF and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Featured News

Press Release — Dec 26, 2018

Resources Radio: Sensing Pollution with Satellites

A podcast with Alan Krupnick and Daniel Sullivan

Press Release — Sep 12, 2018

New satellite data show twice as many Americans live in counties not meeting fine particulate air quality standards than previously thought.

Media Highlight — Oct 25, 2017

VALUABLES

Impact Assessments

Educational Tools and Resources

VALUABLES Consortium Community

Impact Assessments

Tools & Resources

Featured Publications

Monetizing the Value of Measurements of Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity Using the Social Cost of Carbon

Probabilistic reasoning about measurements of equilibrium climate sensitivity: combining disparate lines of evidence

Using Satellite Data to Fill the Gaps in the US Air Pollution Monitoring Network

Featured Events

Using the Social Cost of Carbon to Value Earth Observing Systems

2018 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting

Understanding the Benefits of Observing Earth from Space

Featured News

Resources Radio: Sensing Pollution with Satellites

New satellite data show twice as many Americans live in counties not meeting fine particulate air quality standards than previously thought.

2017 NASA Water Resources Team Supports Water Resources Management

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