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Cynthia M. O'Carroll                 May 6 , 2003
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
(Phone: 301-614-5563)
Cynthia.m.ocarroll{at}nasa.gov

RELEASE:  03-52

NASA SCIENTISTS AWARDED 2003 ASPRS DISTINGUISHED JOHN I. DAVIDSON
AWARD

Drs. Assaf Anyamba, Robert Mahoney and Compton J. Tucker of NASA's 
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., are the first place 
recipients of the 2003 John I. Davidson President's Award for 
Practical Papers presented by the American Society of Photogrammetry 
and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) for their paper "Mapping Potential Risk of 
Rift Valley Fever Outbreaks in African Savannas Using Vegetation 
Index Time Series Data."

This paper was selected for its practical value in demonstrating the 
capability of using satellite data for near-real time monitoring of 
eco-climatic conditions necessary for outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever 
in Africa. This work is part of a collaborative effort between NASA 
and the Department of Defense's Global Emerging Infections System 
which attempts to monitor and predict outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever 
early enough to prevent them or reduce their impact on society.

The presentation of the award will take place on Thursday May 8th at 
the Awards Luncheon during the ASPRS 2003 Annual Conference in 
Anchorage, Alaska, May 5-9, 2003. The award consists of a Pewter 
Tankard and cash to be divided between the NASA researchers and 
coauthors Drs. Kenneth Linthicum and Patrick Kelly.

Founded in 1934, the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote 
Sensing is a scientific association serving over 7,000 professional 
members around the world. The mission of the ASPRS is to advance 
knowledge and improve understanding of mapping sciences and to 
promote the responsible applications of photogrammetry, remote 
sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and supporting 
technologies.

The lead author, Assaf Anyamba, is a native of Kenya, received his 
PhD in Geography in 1997 from Clark University, Worcester, MA, and 
received an MS in Geography in 1992 from Ohio University, Athens. He 
currently works as a Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology 
Center/University of Maryland Baltimore County (GEST/UMBC) research 
scientist and studies the Earth's surface interannual variability 
using data form satellites. Previous awards include a Harvard 
University/National Museums of Kenya Scholarship (1988), a NASA 
Graduate Student Fellowship in global change research (1993-1997), 
and a NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship 1997-1998. He is an avid soccer 
player and fan, and has high hopes of one day marketing his famous 
Kenyan ginger-spice power tea, a favorite among his co-workers.

The NASA/Goddard co-authors are Compton J. Tucker, head of the Global 
Image Mapping and Modeling Studies (GIMMS) group of the Biospheric 
Sciences Branch, and Robert Mahoney who works for the GIMMS group 
through Global Science and
Technology Inc of Greenbelt, Md. The other co-authors are Kenneth 
Linthicum, the Supervising Public Health Biologist, Vector-Borne 
Disease Section, Southern Region California Department of Health 
Services and Col. Patrick W. Kelly, Director of the Division of 
Preventative Medicine at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

The paper, "Mapping Potential Risk of Rift Valley Fever Outbreaks in 
African Savannas Using Vegetation Index Time Series Data," appeared 
in the Journal, Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 
February 2002; 68-2, pp. 137-145).

For more information about this work:

http://www.geis.ha.osd.mil/GEIS/SurveillanceActivities/RVFWeb/index.htm


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Chief, Office of Public Affairs
NASA/GSFC, Code 130

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