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Morocco’s new satellite aims to prevent and manage natural disasters
Thu Nov 22 2018
Morocco launched a new satellite on 20 November which aims to assist with a range of tasks including the prevention and management of natural disasters, monitoring changes in the environment and desertification, as well as border and coastal surveillance.
Mohammed VI-B, a remote sensing Earth observation satellite, was put into orbit via Arianespace’s Vega launcher which lifted off from Guiana ...
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UN-SPIDER International Expert Meeting discusses use of big space data for disaster risk reduction and emergency reponse in Africa
Sun Nov 11 2018
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), through its Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), conducted an International Expert Meeting on 12 November at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany. “Towards Big (Space) Data in Support of Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Response in Africa” aimed at contributing to an increased...
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China-France Oceanography Satellite to assist with disaster management
Wed Nov 7 2018
China and France launched a new joint Earth observation satellite on 29 October which aims to assist with a range of tasks including global marine monitoring, disaster management, and risk reduction as well as tracking the effects of climate change.
The China-France Oceanography Satellite (CFOSat) was put into orbit via a Long March 2C rocket which lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch...
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New methodology to create maps for decision-making support after earthquakes
Mon Nov 5 2018
Spanish and Ecuadorian researchers have developed a new methodology to estimate faults and volcanoes that can be activated in a region after an earthquake. The approach consist in evaluating changes of static stress on the surrounding faults and volcanoes and producing maps of potentially activated faults and volcanoes.
The main goal of the study is to achieve an effective transfer of knowledge...
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UN-SPIDER and National Council for Science and Technology of Guatemala co-organize seminar on 20th anniversary of Hurricane Mitch
Wed Oct 31 2018
The United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) and the National Council for Science and Technology of Guatemala (CONCYT), through the National Secretariat for Science and Technology (SENACYT), co-organize a seminar in Guatemala from 30 to 31 October about the technological and institutional progress made in Guatemala in...
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UN-SPIDER contributes to USGIF report on Geospatial Intelligence and Resilient Communities
Wed Oct 31 2018
The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) has recently released a new report on “Building Resilient Communities Through Geospatial Intelligence”. The report highlights the importance of raising awareness about the value of space-based information for early warning systems and risk and disaster management. Moreover, it suggests the need for a better definition of GEOINT within...
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UN World Data Forum calls for funding mechanism to strengthen national statistics systems
Wed Oct 31 2018
A declaration adopted by a wide range of stakeholders at the second United Nations World Data, calls for an increase in financing for better data and statistics for sustainable development. The Dubai Declaration aims to establish a funding mechanism under the mandate of the United Nations Statistics Commission to raise resources to address the data needs for the full implementation of the 2030...
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New United Arab Emirates satellite aims to assist disaster relief efforts
Mon Oct 29 2018
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched a new satellite on 29 October which aims to assist with a range of tasks including aiding relief efforts after disasters.
KhalifaSat, a remote sensing Earth observation satellite, was put into orbit via a H-2A rocket which lifted off from the the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.
The satellite will spend five years in a Low Earth Orbit where it will...
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Eighth UN-SPIDER Beijing conference discusses enhancing disaster preparedness for effective emergency response
Wed Oct 24 2018
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), through the United Nations Platform for Spaced-Based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), is conducting the eighth edition of the United Nations International Conference on Space-based Technologies for Disaster Risk Reduction from 24 to 26 October in Beijing, China. The event is organized together with...
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New report highlights trends in economic and human losses caused by disasters
Tue Oct 23 2018
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) have released a new report that highlights the global trends in disaster losses in the period between 1998 and 2017.
“Economic Losses, Poverty & Disasters1998-2017” shows the significant increase of economic losses caused by climate-related disasters since 1970....
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Delta State University joins network of UN-SPIDER Regional Support Offices
Tue Oct 23 2018
Delta State University became the 23rd member of the network of UN-SPIDER Regional Support Offices (RSO) on 1 October. As an RSO, Delta State University will communicate and coordinate with UN-SPIDER on a regular basis, engage in outreach and capacity-building efforts, and contribute to the programme’s technical advisory support activities.
Through its Geospatial Information Technologies Centre (...
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UN-SPIDER conducts Institutional Strengthening Mission to Ghana
Mon Oct 15 2018
The United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) is conducting an institutional Strengthening Mission (ISM) to Ghana from 15 to 19 October. The mission is carried out in cooperation with the Ghana National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and upon the invitation of the Government of Ghana. Thirty participants from more than...
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UN-SPIDER facilitates use of space-based information for disaster risk reduction
Sat Oct 13 2018
Disasters cause tremendous loss of lives and assets around the world. Over the last twenty years, more than 1.35 million people have died, while over 4 billion have been displaced, left homeless, injured or in need of emergency assistance as a result of disasters according to a new report by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of...
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German Aerospace Center releases 3D representation of Earth for free download
Tue Oct 9 2018
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has released a 90-metre resolution global elevation model from its TanDEM-X mission for scientific data use. The data is free to download via the new Earth Observation Center (EOC) download service.
Digital Elevation Models (DEM) support disaster management efforts by allowing to map and modell natural hazards and risks that are influenced by topography such as...
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CONAE launches new SAOCOM 1 satellite for effective Earth observation and disaster management
Tue Oct 9 2018
The Argentina National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) launched a new Earth observation satellite that will support disaster management efforts. SAOCOM 1A is the first of a constellation of two radar satellites. The remote sensing mission aims to provide timely information for disaster management as well as monitoring services for agriculture, mining and ocean applications.
The SAOCOM 1A uses...
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Satellite-based system to monitor droughts/dzuds handed over to Mongolia
Tue Oct 2 2018
A drought/dzud monitoring system known as “DroughtWatch-Mongolia” has been officially handed over to Mongolia on 17 September by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
DroughtWatch-Mongolia is a system based on satellite data which aims to provide real-...
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Emergency mechanisms provide mapping products for Indonesia earthquake and tsunami
Mon Oct 1 2018
The International Charter “Space and Major Disasters” and the Copernicus Emergency Management Service Mapping have been activated on 29 September after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in the central Indonesian Island of Sulawesi.
At least 844 people have been killed and 64,000 displaced according to reports.
The cities of Palu and Donggala are the worst affected areas by the earthquake and a tsunami...
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Famine Action Mechanism uses data including satellite imagery to predict worsening food security
Mon Oct 1 2018
The United Nations, the World Bank, the International Committee of the Red Cross and prominent technology companies have jointly launched the new Famine Action Mechanism (FAM). The Mechanism uses a range of data including satellite imagery to predict famines, ultimately aiming to prevent them.
Launched on 23 September, the FAM is a still-evolving algorithm that will use analytics to identify...
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ISRO launches programme offering training opportunities in nanosatellite development
Wed Sep 26 2018
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched a new programme to offer educational training in space technology to engineering and science graduates. The application period for the first round of the UNispace Nanosatellite Assembly & Training (UNNATI) will close on 30 September. Further rounds are foreseen in 2019 and 2020.
The selected candidates will acquire knowledge about...
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World Bank project maps and models flood risk in Niger
Wed Sep 26 2018
The government of Niger, in partnership with the World Bank and a team of local volunteers, steps up the gathering of data on Niamey’s exposure to floods using drone and open source data to support disaster preparedness.
The initiative started with a team of volunteers, students and young professionals who used an open source mobile application to build a database on exposed people and assets in...
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EO College publishes new SAR Tomography tutorial
Fri Sep 21 2018
A new online SAR tutorial offered by EO College, a joint education initiative for Radar Remote Sensing by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, provides insights into 3D Synthethic Aparture Radar (SAR) analysis. The value added of 3D SAR analysis lies in the combination of images taken from different viewing angles and the possibility to combine these images to...