The SSTDM 2014 International Workshop is structured to focus on potential collaborative projects being developed in each of the selected five disaster scenarios. We would like to see that we have well-defined projects, roadmaps, goals, and mission statements, come out of these activities. Therefore, the SSTDM 2014 International Workshop has a unique flow-down format which emphasizes, as its primary deliverables:

(i) A collaborative project framework proposed for joining as a stakeholder
(ii) The functional issues, costs, timeframes, funding opportunities and benefits &
(iii) The envisioned benefits to socio-economic and technology-development pursuits.

Hence a major portion of the workshop will deliberate on the strengths of potential partners from India and international community within the thematic areas and then quickly forge ahead to map the technology gaps. Following categorization is meant to structure the workshop sessions along three purposeful tracks:

• Track 1: System architecture, Lessons Learned, and Challenges
• Track 2: Small Satellite and Sensor Technology Status
• Track 3: Discussion and Identification of Collaborative Projects:

The first half-day of the Workshop will provide participants with the raison d’être of the workshop covering global earth observation of systems of systems providing both “Global Perspective of Why, Where, and How,? as well “Challenges and Needs from Users perspective focusing on Natural Disaster Management Strategies in India?.

The goal of the subsequent Sessions and the Panel talks from Indian and world-class experts is to update participants on the state-of-the-art in (a) disaster monitoring technologies and (b) sensors and instruments technologies, as well needs and lessons learned from small satellite missions such as CYNGSS, identify technology Gaps and current challenges related to international collaboration.

Poster sessions featuring presentations from student teams and world experts will further complement the topics covered in the sessions.

The topics covered in the sessions and panel discussions from part 2 will feed into the third part of the workshop: participants will apply the knowledge acquired during the prior sessions and collaborative project white papers, towards formulating and implementing project roadmaps. Finally, as a measure of success of the event, each project team leader will present the findings and outcome from respective collaborative projects.