United Nations and India Workshop on the Use of Earth Observation Data in Disaster Management and Risk Reduction: Sharing the Asian Experience

Background:

With endorsement of 187 States on "Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction: 2015-2030", there is need to recognize the current challenges in the use of Earth observation technologies in disaster risk reduction. The UNOOSA co-organised a working session on "Earth observation and high technologies to reduce risks" at World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) to promote the role of Earth observation for its inclusion in the "Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction: 2015-2030". UN-SPIDER works at demonstrating how the use of Earth observation can strongly support the full cycle of disaster risk management and how it can provide means for users and providers to better communicate their needs and capabilities. With this aim, the workshop will demonstrate operational programmes and tools on use of Earth observation data to address disaster management cycle including understanding disaster risks, responding to emergencies, assessing damage and loss and providing inputs to mitigate disasters. The workshop will provide opportunities for enhanced collaboration among the Asian countries for effective utilization of earth observation in disaster management.

Objectives and expected outcomes:

The United Nations/India Workshop on the Use of Earth Observation data in Disaster Management and Risk Reduction: Sharing the Asian Experience aims to:

• Demonstrate operational programmes and tools that make use of Earth observation data to address the disaster management cycle, including understanding disaster risks, responding to emergencies, assessing damage and loss and providing inputs to mitigate disasters;
• Synthesize experiences and lessons learnt by Asian countries, the most vulnerable region, and converge it to make effective use of Earth observation for disaster management;
• Promote the use of Earth observation in disaster-prone areas in order to prepare, mitigate and respond to natural disasters, plan and build more resilient infrastructure and allow for a more sustained, inclusive and sustainable growth, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
• Discuss the way forward in international cooperation on space technologies and disaster management in preparation for UNISPACE+50.

The workshop should provide insight on technology, models, methods, tools and operational programmes utilizing Earth observation data in natural disasters management, especially covering important stages such as mitigation planning (hazard and risk assessment), early warning, emergency response, disaster recovery and damage assessment.

The expected outcomes include the following:

• Exchange knowledge and lessons learned by experts and disaster managers
• Understand technology trends including upcoming satellites and sensors
• Discuss ways to access advanced Earth observation data
• Provide a platform for the countries and intergovernmental organisations to develop bilateral and multilateral cooperation
• Provide opportunities for enhanced collaboration among Asian countries for effective utilization of Earth observation in disaster management.

Workshop sessions:

• Session 1: Addressing challenges in utilizing Earth observation in disaster management - Recent Experiences
• Session 2: Operational systems and tools to support disaster management
• Session 3: Earth observation for pre-disaster risk assessment to contribute to prevention and mitigation planning
• Session 4: Earth observation for early warning, emergency response and damage assessment
• Session 5: Advanced Earth observation technologies, research and innovations in disaster management
• Session 6: Opportunities for capacity-building (training and institutional)
• Session 7: Foster international cooperation in Asia for promoting use of Earth observation in disaster management

Target audience for the workshop:

Disaster managers, policy makers, providers of space technology solutions/tools/applications from governments, academia, research, NGO and corporate sector.