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UNESCOS Remote Sensing activities - towards the operational use of Remote Sensing
Kumon Tokumaru, R. Missotten, V. Moustafaev and M. Hashizume
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
1. General
UNESCO is engaged in outer space activities related to Remote Sensing, communication and basic space science. In preparation of the International Space Year, UNESCO took an important step by becoming an affiliated member of SAFISY (Space Agencies forum for the International Space year) with a view to strengthening its Remote Sensing activities for the promotion of international cooperation.
Some of the organization’s Remote Sensing activities in the field of training and research support are as follows :
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Training
UNESCO has a long-term involvement in Remote Sensing education, especially for developing countries, and organizes annually postgraduate courses related to geology, hydrology, ecology and marine sciences, in cooperation with scientific institutes, NGOS and UN bodies.
Short ad-hoc course, workshops and seminars are organized to strengthen the indigenous training capacity of developing countries for better use and management of natural resources.
A new development in training is the preparation of computer-based learning modules on the use of Remote Sensing data in the field of oceanography. These modules are for worldwide distribution. Receiving scientists are invited to develop new lesson materials with the objective of creating an international Remote Sensing education network.
- Research Support
UNESCO’s research support activities are being carried out in the framework of several international programmes such as the International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP), International Hydrological Programme (IHP), Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme and those of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) such as the ocean and climate programme and Marine pollution Monitoring programme. These programmes receive voluntary contributions from Member States as well as from the United States and Great Britain.
UNESCO also organizes interdisciplinary programmes to elucidate complex problems that our modern and rapidly – evolving society are facing. An example is the programme “Geo-information for environmentally sound management of natural resources” which focuses on Remote Sensing and GIS integrated anlaysis in the ecological, hydrological and geological areas. In cooperation with the International Institute for Aerospace Survey and reserves in Cibodas (Indonesia) , Amboseli (Kenya) and Wuyishan (China).
- Geological Application of Remote Sensing (GARS) Programme.
In the framework of Geological Application of Remote Sensing (GARS) programme, UNESCO has been supporting programmes in Latin America and in Africa. Landslide Vulnerability Assessment in Andean Mountains was implemented by eh ITC, BRGM (French Geological Survey) and Instituto Geografico “Agustin Codazzi” (IGAC, Columbia) in collaboration with other national geological institutes in the region. A regional decision-makers workshop (4 days, Dec. 1989), a regional technical experts workshops (9 weeks, Oct – Dec. 1991) and the First International Symposium on Remote Sensing and GIS for Natural Risks (Mar. 1991) were successfully held.
Detection of Mineral Resources using Multi-Spectral Sensors in Africa is being implemented by the Royal Museum on Central Africa (MRAC, interpretation were conducted. Data processing laboratories were established in five African Countries (Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Uganda).
New initiates and proposals from Asian Remote Sensing community would be highly appreciated.
- Inter-Agency Cooperation in UN Systems
UNESCOS actively participates in coordination meeting on outer space activities within the UN system. This year’s meeting will be hosted by UNESCO at its Headquarters in Paris from 5 to 7 October. Joint activities in Remote Sensing will be discussed during the meeting in accordance with the deliberations of the precedent meetings.
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