Welcome to IEDRO: Saving data, saving lives

The Problem

Large volumes of hydro-meteorological data exist in non-digitized and inaccessible form. Such data are at risk of simple disintegration and decay, or are being discarded because paper-based records take up valuable office space. Theses records have the potential to fill in large gaps in the global climate record, particularly in developing countries where records are fragmentary.

Our Purpose

IEDRO is at the forefront of environmental management. Our volunteers want to create a safer and healthier global society. We do this by collecting historical environmental data that is in danger of destruction and ensuring it is made available to scientists worldwide.

We strive to rescue and digitize at-risk historical environmental data throughout the world by:

1. Locating and rescuing weather and other environmental data stored on perishable media;
2. Digitizing historical environmental data; and
3. Ensuring the digitized data are available for operational and research applications to its host country as well as to the international scientific community.

IEDRO History

In 2000, Dr. Sharon Nicholson representing Florida State University approached the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s National Weather Service's International Activities Office (IAO) to set up a project for locating and rescuing historic weather observations in Africa. IAO Chief Dr. Martin Yerg provided the initial funding for the effort through U.S. donations to the World Meteorological Organization's Voluntary Cooperation Program (VCP). Shortly thereafter, Richard Crouthamel, D.Sc., assumed the responsibility for managing the project. He focused on six African countries: Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, and Zambia. Comuters, digital cameras, copy stands, and software were purchased and shipped to each of the six countries. NOAA employees Larry Nicodemus and Mark Seiderman from NCDC, Wasilla Thiaw, PH.D. from NCEP, and Ken Clark from IAO traveled to each of the six countries. The group installed computers and instructed the staff from each National Meteorological Service on data rescue and imaging. Since that time these six countries have been imaging and sending thier historic weather observations to NOAA for digitization.

In 2004, NOAA reduced the funds available to data rescue and digitization activities. In light of this, Dr. Richard Crouthamel retired from the IAO and formed IEDRO to carry on this important work using private donations as well as some federal funds.

Since that time, IEDRO gained U.S. Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) status; and became a major player in the international field of environmental data rescue and digitization, working closely with the World Meteorological Organization, NOAA, and the weather services of many other countries.

The data rescued by the International Environmental Data Rescue Organization (IEDRO) enables the meteorological and scientific communities to provide more accurate severe weather forecasting and to understand climate change.  This knowledge offers the world community a greater ability to more accurately predict long-range weather patterns, and thus it enables meteorological professionals to:

Prevent famine and starvation. Provide more accurate lifesaving flood forecasts Prevent the spread of airborne and insect-borne disease. Construct and reinforce buildings, bridges, and public services to withstand predicted severe weather. Better understand the nature and extent of global warming and climate change, as well as the rate at which our climate is changing. Gain a clearer understanding of human history.

See who benefits from our work.

Contact us.