FAQ

General

What is Google Earth Engine?

Google Earth Engine is an online environment monitoring platform that makes available to the entire world a dynamic digital model of our planet that is updated daily. It stores petabytes of satellite data and allows high-performance tools to analyze and interpret this information that can then be visualized on a map, ranging from rainforest changes in the Amazon to water resources in the Congo. Imazon has worked with the Earth Engine team to create the SAD Deforestation Alert System.

What is Imazon?

The 'Institute of Man and Environment in the Amazon' (IMAZON) is a nonprofit research institute established in 1990, based in the city of Belém in Brazil. Their site is imazon.org.br. Among the main research activities are Imazon the diagnosis of the socio-economic uses of land in the Amazon, the development of methods for evaluation and monitoring of these uses, the performance of demonstration projects and the analysis of public policies for land use, and developing scenarios and models of sustainable development for these economic activities.

Imazon contributes to policies around zoning control of territories and use of natural resources in the Amazon. In addition, IMAZON evaluates current environmental policies through analysis of scenarios of land devastation and its potential impacts. The institution integrates technical committees, assists decision makers in the elaboration of public policies and issues opinions on emerging issues in the regional debate.

Imazon is the only non-governmental organization which monitors deforestation independently of government. Bulletins with deforestation rates for the entire Amazon region are released each month.

When is the workshop?
The workshop will be held on November 8-10, 2011. The workshop will run from roughly 9:00am to 4:30pm on each day.

Which costs are covered as part of the workshop, and what are participants expected to pay on their own?
The workshop training and materials are provided free to participants, as well as the meals of breakfast and lunch, November 8-10. The participants cover the cost of any travel to and during the workshop, such as airfare, hotel accommodations, etc.

Is there an agenda? What will be covered?
We plan to cover the SAD Deforestation Alert System, Open Data Kit for mobile data collection, and Google Earth Engine. See our Agenda page for more info. 

Can anyone attend the workshop? 
The workshop is designed for deforestation scientists and remote sensing specialists and limited to 40 participants who are selected through Google's and Imazon's invitation process.  Please note space will be very limited -- we cannot accept any walk-in, drop-in, or unconfirmed participants.

In what languages will the training be given?
Regretfully, we can only offer the training in English at this time. 

Travel and Logistics

Where is the workshop being held? How do I get there?
The workshop will be held at the Google Sao Paolo office in Brazil. See our Location & Directions page for more info on the location. 

What hotel is recommended for out-of-town participants?
Recommendations for nearby hotels can be found on the Accommodations page.

Will any meals be provided to participants?
Breakfast and lunch on all 3 days will be provided to participants free of charge.

Is there a dress code?
Google engineers traditionally dress informally (T-shirt and jeans or trousers). Please dress accordingly, or business casual if you prefer.